Did the Patriots cheat to win Superbowl 39?
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Well, as we found out a couple weeks ago Rodney Harrison cheated by using steroids(human growth hormone.) Whether he was on the juice during that game... who can tell?
Then today, maybe an even more damning story broke. ESPN has confirmed that the Patriots cheated in their week one game against the Jets by illegally taping their defensive calls.
The NFL is also investigating the possibility that the Patriots were stealing the Jets' radio communications.
Yahoo! Sports found that few in the NFL are surprised to hear the news.
"You hear rumors of things of that nature," Tomlin said, noting it often comes from the "New England family." "In terms of confirming it, it's never been confirmed in any instance to my knowledge. But usually where there is smoke, there's fire. Those rumors are founded on something. So it's not totally shocking, no."
This isn't a new allegation either. Last year the Packers complained to the NFL last year that they had caught the Pats videotaping their signals. The word is that Commissioner Goodell is considering several punishment options including the loss of multiple draft picks, fines for the team and several employees, or suspension of the coach and members of his staff. Frankly, if the NFL finds that the Pats did indeed break the rules... why would they not forfeit the game?
It should be noted that there are several examples of teams that have been stripped of wins or even titles following proof that they had been cheating. The champions of the Italian soccer league Serie A were stripped of two titles after it was proven that they had been bribing referees. Here in the US, the NCAA has stripped 7 teams of national titles after it was proven that they had broken various rules.
Ultimately, if the Eagles were retroactively awarded a superbowl it would be completely meaningless. So I'm certainly not advocating that, plus I know it would never happen. In the end it's about that moment, that victory, that parade afterward, the year of gloating, the raising of the banner. Without that, a title would mean nothing. That said, I still think that the possible punishment of retroactively awarding the Jets a win if it's proved that the Pats cheated should be considered. That would be a greater deterrent to cheating than any fine, suspension, or even loss of picks would do.
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by dave in san mateo on
Sep 12, 2007 12:50 AM EDT
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Well
Although this is great.

by JasonB on
Sep 12, 2007 8:50 AM EDT
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logo
by dave in san mateo on
Sep 12, 2007 12:48 PM EDT
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Or this...
by JasonB on
Sep 12, 2007 1:28 PM EDT
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I agree
Give them a loss, suspend Belichick, take draft picks, fines
and much much more
It makes you wonder what else they did.
Theres a rumor that they mic'd there d-linemen so they could learn the offensive audibles.
This could get real big quick.
by jaybird13 on
Sep 12, 2007 1:28 AM EDT
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One more reason for me to hate Belichick
I know you cant judge a book by its cover, but Belichick just always looks like a friggin snake
by 700 Level on
Sep 12, 2007 6:57 AM EDT
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Open Admission to Cheating in Super Bowl XXXVI
by Andrew on
Sep 12, 2007 9:53 AM EDT
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Bellichick is a scumbag
You guys are right, forcing the Pats to forfeit the game against the Jets is the only way to truly deter this sort of behavior, but we all know that's never going to happen.
Expect some fines, a loss of a draft pick, and possibly a suspension. We might also see some new rules about who can or can't be on the sidelines during a game, and some more thorough screening procedures to ensure that no one brings electronic recording equipment to the games.
by rhy on
Sep 12, 2007 10:06 AM EDT
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you punish a cheater
you cheat and get caught, then you lose. simple as that. belicheck should at least be suspended for a large amount of the rest of the season.
if you're a player and you do HGH or roids and get caught, you get suspended. by taping the opposing team's coaches, the patriots coaches could basically "enhance" their own play calling. So i think it should be treated in a similar manner.
by PoorSports on
Sep 12, 2007 10:50 AM EDT
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Patriots didnt "cheat" In SB 39
We must remember that the rule in which the Pats are accused of violating is only a recent rule (this year) and as such was not in effect at the time of SB 39. I don't agree with what the Pats did, legal or otherwise. I think there should be a santuary around the coaches and people shouldn't be trying to steal signs. I got no problem with players (and coaches) picking up reads on the field of play via playing or game film. But to me trying to decode coaches play calls is another thing. However it is naive to think that other teams aren't trying to pick up and steals signs, so this is simply a part of the game. Ever wonder why coaches hide behind thier play card when they talk? Its part of the game, was legal up until last Thursday, and was avialable to ALL teams before last Thursday, and as such if other teams do not avail themselves of the technique, does not make is an unfair playing field or that teams that do it cheat. Its is only unfair playing field if one person does not have what another has . . . Also, one must break rules to cheat. There was no rule in place at the time of SB 39.
I do hope the Pats get sanctioned . . .
by Yehoodi on
Sep 12, 2007 1:28 PM EDT
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Idiots
Mangini is the one that should be thrown out - he did the same thing when he worked for Bill - and he got a head coaching job because of it. But now know one will ever trust him again.
So you eagle fans should concentrate on trying to win games, try "cheating" - maybe it'll help.
by PatsFan on
Sep 14, 2007 12:10 PM EDT
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Sorry
by JasonB on
Sep 14, 2007 1:52 PM EDT
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Don't you mean "win*"?
by BrianS on
Sep 14, 2007 2:12 PM EDT
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