Don shula, head coach of the undefeated 1972 Dolphins said the Partriots should get an asterisk if undefeated?

Question

He said they should get an asterisk because of the spying against the jets. Your thoughts on the matter?

the article
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=Ag9TuJhlZz4Z53Ys_qIFP65DubYF?slug=dw-shulaonpats110607&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

Even if they did, spy they still need to be execute (like making a tackle)

Answer 1

Old Shula's worried that his record is about to be erased. Too bad. The Patriots were caught on the first game of the year and were immediately sanctioned. They are not now cheating. No reasonable person could argue that the Patriots only beat the Jets by cheating. The Patriots would have been the Jets without stealing signals, same as they have since without any allegation of cheating against the rest of their schedule. Enough smoke already. The Patriots are as good as their record indicates.

Answer 2

If there's an argument to be made for the asterisk, it'd be on everything prior to 2007. All reports have said the Patriots' cameraman was caught 8 minutes into the first quarter of the first game of the year. All speculative and anecdotal evidence offered by coaches and analysts suggests there was no real way to turn this evidence around and use it in-game, but that it was more geared towards the next meeting with that team./coach/coordinator.

Even if it was usable in game for the 2nd half, the Patriots would've been unable to do that because the camera was confiscated and the cameraman was being detained by NFL security.

Before the next game, the league handed out a punishment of $500,000 in fines for Belichick, $250,000 for the organization, and the likely loss of a first round draft pick (since it's almost impossible for them not to make the playoffs as of Week 10). This punishment was criticized by some as too lenient for not including some kind of suspension, but it was certainly stiff enough to remove the motivation to continue the taping.

On top of that, the league and every team in the league now knows specifically to be on the lookout for filming or pretty much any other "shenanigans" that the Patriots may try. When you shine a light this bright on something like that, it's kindof hard to assume they could get away with it.

So the motive and the opportunity to continue these practices essentially got eliminated a whopping 8 minutes in the first of what would be 19 victories (assuming the Patriots do go undefeated, which is no given).

Final verdict? It's grasping at straws from a guy who wants desperately to preserve his team's legacy. The '72 Dolphins played the 3rd easiest regular season schedule (by opponent winning percentage) in NFL history. They had 2 games against 8-6 teams, and 3 against 7-7 teams. Everyone else was 5-9 or worse.

As is, their legacy is still called into question whenever someone makes the reasonable argument that the 15-1 '85 Bears were better.

If a team were to pull off a perfect season in this era of the NFL,where, players are bigger, stronger, and faster than ever, there's a salary cap, free agency exists, the NFL schedules are balanced each year to prevent this kindof run, and *ahem* scouting methods of opponents are far more sophisticated, you'd have to give that team the nod over the 1972 Dolphins.

Shula isn't an idiot. He knows this. It'd be pretty tacky if he continues this line of reasoning if the Patriots do manage to go 19-0 this year. Hopefully someone explains the hole in his logic or how he will be perceived before it gets to that point.

He deserves to be remembered as a great coach, not a bitter old man.

Answer 3

I'm a Pats Fan so i'm a bit biased but I will giv this a try.

In august,Peyton Manning did an article with espn the magazine In the article he tells how he has to go and get plays directly from the coordinator because "several coaches film the signs". He then goes on to name three coaches including Belechick. He speaks with a nonchilantness that leads one to believe it is all part of the game.

Now fast forward, everyone appalled, fines draft picks sh-- talking all around the league all because BB did this after a memo from the league said not to. He was caught in week one by an ex coach who new where to catch him.The Patriots had a well known(apparently) camera man out in the open filming signs

To me this seems as if thiswas a common occurance in the NFL. BB did not take the warning seriously and His ex assistant coach used it as aid in the game by ratting him out. Remember, it was only the second quarter when security was told to apprehend the cameraman. I don't think anyone in that game knew how big spygate would become.

Hence some bitterness by Belechick about something he feels is insignifigant that was used to discredit him. I might be bitter too.

If my speculation on what went down was the way it went down, then no. This is so overdramatized. Goodell just made the situation worse by giving a hardass penalty with no explanation as tothe signifigance of the so called crime.

No * and no more talking about an overlown story.

Answer 4

Yeah, he said that. His opinion is biased though because he coached the only undefeated team. Just ignore him. An asterisk is unnecessary. I think it's unnecessary in Bonds' case too. People need to think about the RECORD itself instead of technical stuff. Who cares if he might have used steroids? Pitchers do it too and he could have faced a LOT of them. In my opinion, the Patriots did something terribly wrong by video taping the coaches on the sideline and Goodell QUICKLY fined them so it wouldn't be explored further. I think there'smore to the story, but that's just me. Now, the Patriots still haven't lost and teams can still disguise there defensive calls. No asterisk.

Answer 5

Please read the article the entire article. IF your going to take a gun and shoot somebody.However someone stops you. Should you go to jail for murder??
They stopped and got the spy cam before it got into anybody else hand other then the person who used the cam.
So where they going to spy against the Jet's Yes. DID they NO!!!! They were fined for their spying attempt. NOT for spying. IF they it was caught after the fact then the Penalty would have more sever!!!!
This happened the very first game of the season. So there is absolutely no games that there actually cheated. Especially seeing as the NFL is keeping a close eye on them and every game they Play!! IF you also read the complete article is states very clearly that New England is in the clear this year.

Answer 6

Don Shula is a way better coach then Bill Belicheck will ever be. Shula is right there should be an asterisk in front of it if they go undefeated. The Patriots cheated so did the Colts I don't buy either excuse given by the new commisoner who's become pathetic. He'll punish the one's who haven't even been convicted of a crime but gives a slap on the wrist to a coach and a team caught cheating. I don't buy the excuse that CBS created the noise. Which is just bs.

Answer 7

Shula sounded like a bitter old man upset at the fact that the legacy of the 72 Dolphins might be surpassed.

P.S. I'm not a Patriots fan either

Answer 8

Don Shula is a legend. And you can't argue with a legend. Its good someone with some legit is finally saying something about it. The pats can do however well they do, but the fact of the matter is people lost a lot of respect for them because the got caught cheating.

Answer 9

Shula's comment is only part right.
No matter what NE does or doesn't do this 07-08 season including whatever Brady accomplishes...
THEY SHOULD GET AN ASTERISK with an expanation that not only did the Patriots and Belichick get caught cheating, but in his FAKE APOLOGY, Belichick TRIED TO JUSTIFY HIS CHEATING.
Belichick et al is only sorry that he got caught,
You can be that he won't stop cheating, he'll just be more careful not to get caught.

Answer 10

If the Patriots are able to go undefeated they deserve it without an asterisk.. The game is a lot different then it was in 1972. There are faster, bigger players then there was in the seventies. I don't think they will do it, but if they do they earned it.