When the NFL caught the Patriots cheating. Does any one think the NFL was being a little harsh on the Patriots??
2007-11-06 17:37:29 · 14 answers · asked by Daniel M 3 in Sports ➔ Football (American)
The NFL wants more than anything for the Pats to start losing, so they were pretty harsh. On the other hand it seems the NFL wants the Colts to win. How about the terrible pass interference calls on Sun. How about piping in the crowd noise, stinks when the CD skips though. Ha-Ha. Let's see how hard the commisioner comes down on them. It won't happen.
2007-11-07 03:19:27 · answer #1 · answered by jo m 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The claim that the Patriots "almost never ran screens" during the 2004 statement is laughably untrue. Screen passes have been the bread and butter of the Patriots offense over the years.
While some of em may have been checkdown dumpoffs, or quick hits to wide receivers on or just behind the line of scrimmage, Brady attempted 69 passes behind the line of scrimmage in 2004. The overwhelming majority of em were undoubtedly screens. Anyone who's watch the Patriots would know that.
Likewise, the Eagles blitzing tendencies are pretty great. Brady remarked that they blitzed "every down" and that really isn't all that untrue. They are and were a very aggressive pass-rushing team. They've been mostly successful with that approach. The difference between the Patriots and every other opponent is that the Patriots handled it better than most opponents have.
2007-11-06 18:52:12 · answer #2 · answered by Tim C 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The rule on not using cameras to capture signs was announced by the Commissioner this past year. Sure it was always bad sportsmanship, but the punishment of a fine and loss of draft pick was just recently announced. The Patriots was the first team punished for that infraction and the league threw the book at them. They have been under a microscope since and probably have been the cleanest team in the NFL since.
Ironically, the loss of the draft pick may not be such a bad punishment since they got the 49ers pick in a trade and that pick will be worth a lot more than the Patriots own, now forfeited, pick.
2007-11-06 18:03:22 · answer #3 · answered by mattapan26 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Actually, not harsh enough if you ask me. Who's to say how many games they cheated in? Brian Dawkins, safety for the Eagles, said the Patriots knew almost every time when they were gonna blitz in the Super Bowl. The Pats ran screen pass almost every time the Eagles blitzed he said. The Pats hardly ever ran screens that year, but ran a lot of them that SuperBowl.
If the cheating was during a lot of games, in the playoffs, and SuperBowl, I think they should forfeit the rings for that year.
I think Bellichek should also have been suspended. I don't understand how this isn't a bigger deal than it is actually.
Saying that other teams probably cheat too is a giant cop out. They all haven't been caught. The Patriots have.
2007-11-06 17:54:47 · answer #4 · answered by Joe R 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
No, they weren't harsh enough. They fined Belicheat $500,000 and the team $250,000 and they lost a first round draft pick.....Belicheat's fine was about right, but the team only got fined $250,000??? That's like fining me $5!!! That is change to them. The Patriot fans are all trying to say that everyone cheats, but if that is so, then why are the Patriots the only ones getting fined.
New England is a classless team who plays dirty every chance they get. If you saw last week's game vs. the Colts, then you probably also saw one of New England's linemen stick his leg out to trip a defensiveman who was going to sack Brady.......what the hell is that? You can't trip a rusher! Luckily, the ref saw it and made the correct penalty call.
Then, they had the audacity to say that the Colts were piping fake crowd noise in because it was too loud. (CBS took full responsibility for the feedback disproving that theory). They have no room to be pointing fingers......CHEATERS!!!
2007-11-07 05:03:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, the NFL wasn't just fining the pats, it is sending out a message to every team in the nfl. Cheat and get harsh consequences.
2007-11-07 12:28:18 · answer #6 · answered by Bob b 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think they were too harsh, however it amazes me that anyone would believe that the other 31 teams don't cheat in some way or form as well... winning is just too much a part of the business and teams will do anything they can to gain an advantage...
2007-11-06 17:48:39 · answer #7 · answered by [z]ther 5 · 4⤊ 1⤋
No one can say for sure becuase Goodell did not go public with his reasoning. Filming the signals was common place to at least Manning (as he cited the need to get call personally as coaches were filming hand signals: cited in ESPN the magazine in august).
By not disclosing the severity of the infraction everyone speculates. The only one s who know for sure are Goodell and Belechick. I think we know how Belechick feels based on his coaching this season and his interaction with outspoken critics. I can't wait to see the handshake between BB and Mangini.
2007-11-06 18:04:10 · answer #8 · answered by toddrick 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I think its funny how Pats fans try to pass the blame of being caught cheating onto other teams by saying that other teams cheat. That is what people who get caught doing things they shouldn't be doing do. They try and pass blame. Your team cheated and got caught, and that is the bottom line.
2007-11-06 17:57:59 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 1⤋
as a long time Pats fan---ya it was fair-it was a rule and they broke it-------------now as far as the EAGLES whining about the superbowl loss please. If McNabb acted like they were down by 3 rather than up by 3 in the last 3 minutes they might have won. How come no team that beat the pats say ya they cheated.....give it a rest
2007-11-07 03:17:05 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋