Is signal-stealing really that big of a deal?

Question

Not in my book. It's part of the game. You can steal signals in baseball, why not football?

The fact that they recorded them has no bearing on the issue. How is that any different than using binoculars. Look at the signal, figure out what it means, right it down. It's part of the game.

If anyone is to blame, it's the opposing teams for not keeping their signals hidden or shielded.

Oh, and I am NOT a Pats fan.

I never said Belichick shouldn't be punished. Yes it is against the rules and they broke them.

But lets stop with all the "asterisk" talk about their Super Bowl wins and their dynasty.

Answer 1

Everyone is making WAY too much of this. Especially considering that the NFL provides overhead pictures of the offensive and defensive set-ups for each team to study during the game. They don't even really need the signs; they can tell a lot just by the way they line up. I'm also sure each team has spies that try to pick-up the other team's signals during the game and scouts that do it even when the two teams aren't even playing each other.

ALL Teams are ALWAYS looking for a competitive advantage though I'm really not clear how this would give the Pats an advantage during a game. What...was the guy running tapes back and forth across the field?

So it's against the rules to tape the other team's signals...I get it. But for me it's about as egregious as a player trying to get a competitive edge by holding or bumping the receiver too far from the line of scrimmage during the game. Give them a 10 or 15 yard penalty and get on with it…or are we going to begin calling every penalty on the field cheating too?

Answer 2

Agreed, the * crap is just because Bonds is such a big deal right now, sign stealing would be such a small part, but lets face it, teams do anything to gain an edge.

The Dolphins acquired the pats audibles last season, and used it to beat the Pats, and are the pats crying about it, no, despite the fact that the game cost them home field advantage in the AFC championship game, and Manning has proven time and time again he can't play in New England Cold.

And it's not like every team still doesn't have a person watching the signs trying to decipher the code, it happens in College too, that's why there are 3 sending in the play in NCAA, 2 dummy's 1 real.

Answer 3

Stealing signals is not the problem here. The problem is recording the signals. The patriots were on the Jets side recording these signals. The coaches do try to hide their signals by covering up so the opposite side or the booth can not see them. The Patriots were able to record siganls by entering the jets sideline and getting the signals from different angles. The recordings could then be viewed at halftime giving the Patriots an advantage. In essence, the recordings allow for further study rather than trying to figure things out on the spot. Whether you think its a big deal or not.....it is against the rules and the rules were broken.

Answer 4

Every team was warned at the begining of the season on this issue,Belichick chose to ignore such warning,he knows he did wrong and now must pay,that's all there is to it,if the teams feel they need to spy on each other to get an edge,they should bring it up at the start of the season for a vote so everyone knows what the score is,maybe then each team can hire their own spy

Answer 5

The deal is an explicit NFL rule was broken. The official NFL rule regarding coaching video states, "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game." It was a rule that the commissioner himself re-iterrated to teams before the season even began.

The recording has EVERY bearing on the issue. It's the rule and that's fact.

Answer 6

No one should be cheating not the dolphins no 1 I think they are going too make an example of them show that It will not be tolerated for any team not too mention this is not the first time the patriots have been caught cheating last year greenbay rign a bell the same guy thats saying we dont care I think they will give that game too the jets taking draft pics not so sure

Answer 7

Considering that all teams were warned against doing exactly that, yes then it is a big deal. They knowing broke the rules to their advantage. What makes it worse, I think, is that the QB has the radio in their helmets so that gives them instant access to info from the sidelines. If coaches on the sidelines know the D coverage (from stealing signals) it would be a huge advantage to a QB walking up to the line prior to the snap.

Answer 8

No "signal stealing" isn't that big of a deal. Yes, it's part of the game. Coaches try and watch the signals being sent in by the opposing coaches from THEIR OWN sideline! They don't hire a freaking cameraman to videotape the signals from the opposing team's sideline. Give me a freaking break. Why don't you just email the opposing coach and ask him for their playbook, wouldn't that be so much easier?

Sincerely,
Wake up and smell a cheater when you see one!!!!

Answer 9

No...Its not...and maybe when the Patriots win the Super Bowl again, Patriot haters will shut the hell up about the issue...I've been saying its bad blood between Belichick and Mangini, and thats all it is...Belichick shouldn't have allowed a camera on the sidelines...That was wrong...and the NFL dealt with it, and Belichick apologized...Move on, people...The speculaton about the Super Bowls is just lame as hell...and one of the Patriots SB victims, Andy Reid said the Eagles just got outplayed and the camera speculation in the Super Bowls is just out of line...

Uh...and M G...Belichick did apologize to the fans...You obviously didn't hear or read his statement...

Answer 10

The fact that they recorded it has all the bearing in the world on the issue because the Commish specifically warned every team not to do it. When an authority figure warns you ahead of time on a particular issue and you break the rule anyway, you would be foolish not to expect a very harsh penalty.