[maxpower_hd]

I don't know how many of you are Patriots or football fans. I have been a Pats fan since I was a little kid having grown up here in MA.

I must say that I am very dissapointed that they would stoop to illegal tactics to steal play signals and be so cavalier about it after the league has warned all the teams about recording signals. A team with this much talent should not have to cheat in order to win. It seems to me that they were very obvious about what they were doing.

I do believe that this is not an isolated incident and that other teams have been doing these sorts of things as well, they just haven't been caught. Steeling play signals is part of the game and that is why the signals are often changed and they cover their mouths when speaking to other coaches over their head sets. It is the illegal method employed to do it that is questionable.

This would have been one of the most exciting seasons for a Pats fan to enjoy with all the personnel changes and improvements to the team. Now it has been heavily tarnished. The only things that could repair the damage is if the league somehow determined that the charges are false or somehow in the coming weeks they find that this is a league wide problem with all or most teams being guilty of the same thing. I have a feeling both scenerios are near impossibilities.

Of course I will still get together with my buddies and watch my favorite team play but it won't feel the same when they win, especially if they are fortunate enough to make it to the Super Bowl. I am curious to see how it plays out in the media and also to see what else is found during the investagations both with the Pats and other teams throughout the league.

Thanks for allowing a frustrated fan vent.

[Red Rider]

As a long-time and, well, insane 49ers fan (since 1964, so no bandwagoneer)I have to say I do think that the Patriots/Bellichek cheated....but even I don't think it was any kind of big deal. I don't think, as you do, that all teams do it - at least not the video from the sidelines. The other teams probably have better spying equipment! Ya don't have to be on the sidelines to get a good look at the opposing sidelines.

The Pats problem was that the NFL had told ALL teams not to do it in specifically the way the Pats did do it. So they should be punished for that reason alone - being too stupid to not be. But does it "tarnish their Super Bowl victories" as some are saying? Nope. I heard Dan Reeves talk about this today and he said the same things I suspected:

1 - Knowing what the play is going to be - defense or offense - on the sidelines ain't the same thing as knowing it on the field.

2 - Every team tries this every year (just not as blatant as the Pats violation), and most give it up as a fruitless endeavor. They find they're better off with their players on the field reading the formations than this stuff.

So I have to honestly say if my team was caught doing it, I wouldn't give a rodent's butt, except worrying they were too stupid and might hurt their long term goals for a 99.99% wasted effort.

If I were you, I'd only be troubled about the punishement of my favorite team in this case. You'll take crap, too, from fans of other teams, but so what.

[voodoochild]

Sorry Max but I don't like the Pats.....I'm so sick of hearing about the golden boy Brady and the mastermind Bellicheck. If they cheated and got caught because they were being stupid, then oh well, suck it up and take your punishment. If they didn't then drop it and move on. I've been a die-hard Raiders fan since I was a kid, stupid I know but I can't help it. Whatcha gonna do? Enjoy the season and hope they do well. Vent all you want.......we don't mind!

[bcnasty]

Pats fan and got to say all teams do it. The only reason they got caught is Mancini now coaching the Jets knows how the Pats do it. Did it make the news last year when the Jets front office got caught with a Patriots play book, or the illeagal way the Jets aquired the services of Curtis Martin and only had to give up a draft pick as punishment by the league. Everyone has seen coaches on the sidelines when sending in signals cover their mouths with a play list so they can not have their lips read and this has been going on way before this year. Sour grapes by an azz that left the Patriots due to not being given a chance by the Patriots leadership.Heck, the Pats cut a player last thursday, he was picked up by the Jets friday and released on Monday. Now why do you think that was done ?This is a bullsh*t charge and for anyone to say this taints the superbowl wins is a stretch at best. Has everyone forgoten the first time they played last year when it looked like every play New England tried the Jets knew and then the deal with the play book and signals was found. Why wasn't anyone calling for the coach Mancini to be suspended then. Bad blood between a good coach and a wanna be coach that on his own merritt could be great but is in a constant tangent over bad blood with him and the Patriots onership.
just my two
BC

[Peyts]

Sorry, Maxpower, but I HATE the Patriots more than someone would detest an ex-wife! I have ALWAYS hated the Patriots... I mean, I like Brady and a bunch of the other players... BUT I REALLY CAN'T STAND THE PATS. That being said, I think that this turn of events is great, as I believe that this is not the first time that the Pats have "employed this method" of 'winning' games, especially divisional games. I am truly happy that the Pats (and Belichek) have been exposed.

Sorry, just my opinion.

[voodoochild]

Hey Peyts, do you dislike the Patriots??

[Peyts]

Originally Posted by voodoochild

Hey Peyts, do you dislike the Patriots??

Why would you say that?!

[voodoochild]

Originally Posted by Peyts

Why would you say that?!

Ohhhh, I dunno just a hunch!

[bdfin]

Many methods have been used along time before this incident came to light. Sure they should be punished because it's not right, but I don't hate em for it. It's not like the players were better because of it. You still have to throw, catch and run the ball and they have done that well.
Now if I was gonna hate a team it wouldn't be the Pats........ sorry chucktx it would be the cowboys..... but I don't even hate them. Just hated the Americas Team BS they got labled with. Maybe South Americas team, but not mine.....har har..

[mwelych]

Sorry Texans, but I feel the same too. I HATE Dallas, the SELF-proclaimed americas team. I never had a chance to vote... As for die hard fans, I see lots of fare-weather fans every where, jumping on the bandwagon when they are doing well. I have been a Vikings fan since I can remember. I know 0-4 in Super Bowls, and a defeat by Atlanta in '98 or '99 in the NFC championship game. Oh well... Still love those Vikes and Detroit beat them in O.T. today.

[chucktx]

y'all aint botherin me with hates or not hates. i dont have a favorite team...i like football and usually watch on mon. nites.....dont seem to have the time to watch on the weekends.........06 eg with 30k on it........ anyway as far as cheating......if ya get caught, prosicuted to the fullest extent of the law. i also think that real football is played at the college level.......or even better, highschool!!!!