If the Patriots never got caught cheating would people hate them so much?

Question

I'm just wondering if that is why everyone is so against them. If this cheating thing never occured would people just be like "wow they are a really great team" or would they still be trashing them and talking about how they run up the score?

Just a side note: noone said anything when San Diego Scored 41 - 3 over Denver, i think it was week 5, wouldn't that be "running up the score"?

Answer 1

I think the hatred has been stewing against Belichick for a while, and the whole Videogate scandal was just a way for them to release that pent-up emotion. It's still a very lame excuse to criticize the team, though, and to try questioning their Super Bowl titles. Even if someone believes they did cheat more than any other team, it would be ridiculous to not recognize their greatness.

As for the whole issue of running up the score, it's like some fans and other teams have forgotten that this is professional football. These guys are in to win, and if your team can't stop someone else for putting up 50+ points, then why should the Pats be blamed? This is a business, and the Pats are currently the dominant group. I can't imagine Coke letting up on Pepsi if their sales were crushing their rivals, so why should the Pats cut any slack to anyone? Besides, if everyone wants to jump on Belichick for his transgressions, then I'm all for him giving them the finger by letting his team crush everyone else.

Answer 2

For some that may be why they dislike the Patriots, for others, like myself, I already disliked them, so the cheating didn't affect my opinion one way or the other. But don't confuse dislike with a lack of respect. They don't always go hand in hand. I respect what the Patriots are capable of, but that doesn't mean I like them. Many, many fans have this attitude, they respect the Pats but they don't like them. Just as there are a lot of Pats fans who may respect what other teams can do, but that doesn't mean they like them.

Certain fans also have to be factored into this equation. EVERY team has their classless fans, and the Patriots are no exception. Some Pats fans have done their fair share of trash talking and "hating" on other teams. So, why do they expect to be treated any different from fans of other teams?

Not all fans behave this way, but the ones that do, tend to be the loudest and most obnoxious. It's an unfortunate part of football, when your team wins and wins a lot, a ton of jacka**es come out of the wood work and annoy everyone, not just fans of opposing teams. Trust me, there are plenty fellow Colts "fans" I'd like to tell to put a sock in it.

As far as the running up the score, I think the whole thing is ridiculous nonsense and everyone should shut up about it.

Answer 3

I doubt that the Pats would have as many "haters" if they would've never got caught cheating, but yes there still would be plenty of people rooting against them only because everyone loves to hate the team on top! It's always been that way.
But to answer your, "no on said anything about SD running up the score on Denver" well, that's a little different. The Pats were up by 38 points and still throwing the ball deep. That's unsportsmanlike, and flat out classless football!! And yes, I'm going to say it, what do you expect from a coach who is willing to cheat against one of his ex coaches and after he was warned for "illegally taping games"

Answer 4

I think the cheating has a pretty big impact on how fans feel about the Patriots. Especially those fans of teams that lost to the Pats in a crucial game (Super Bowl or playoffs) during the Belicek era.

I think the cheating taints their championships quite a bit. They were still a great team but they had a decided edge and therefore are not truly deserving of those Super Bowls.. Each of their Super Bowls were so close, its easy to argue that a play here or there could have decided it and we all know the Pats had unfair advantage in each game.

It taints there legacy, no one will ever be able to speak about the Patroits decade of dominance (2000s) without mentioning the spygate scandle. They won 3 (4) Super Bowls, yea but.......

Those are just the facts, nobody says yea but about the Packers, Steelers, 49ers or Cowboys.. but they will forever say 'yea but' when speaking about the Patriots..

Answer 5

fans are fanatics usually when it comes to home teams , hell i am a bills fan and look what we have endured the last several seasons, yet we still live for another day. nice win yesterday bills 13 jets 3. but what gets me if N.E. cheated why ? they are the best in the N.F.L. go figure! as far as running up the score i don't care! if you're on a roll enjoy the ride.

Answer 6

Hard to say. Would the Patriots still run up the score every game? Would they still look like just were doing that to get records? I am sick of Farve because I think he just came back for the records. Most teams up 42-0 in the 4th would already be putting in the back-ups and soon just run the ball and let the play clock go to 1.

Answer 7

You can't deny the winning streak....the cheating just questions their credibility....if you hated them before the cheating scandal adds to it! If you loved them before you just dismiss the cheating and say everyone does it. Fans will justify anything for The Team.
As far as San Diego is concerned....a fluke.

Answer 8

They got caught at the beginning of the season... That has nothing to do with how they have played since then... The Patriots are a dominant team, and everyone is just using the cheating thing as an excuse.

Answer 9

People hate the dominant teams and Belichik is a butt so that doesn't help the Patriots either. I don't think the cheating thing had much effect on anything.

Answer 10

prior to the spygate and the hgh thing, it was their lack of class in winning and losing that eminates from their head coach and permeates the entire organization.

week after week, they score at will early and often... now they choose to throw a couple in at the end for luck. up 38 to ZERO in the 4th qtr, tom brady is in the game and PASSING.... calling timeouts, etc. like it is the playoffs and they need this score to win the game.

it'd be different if the pats were handing the ball off and kevin faulk was breaking tackles, but this is wide open offensive calling in every attempt to score on every possession. bellichick should drop down to the college level where scoring 50+ in a game helps you towards some end goal.