Thoughts on the Patriots Scandal

Ok. For those who don't know, the New England Patriots have been accused by the New York Jets of using a camera to record defensive signals. I'll put into layman's terms what this means. The story goes that a Patriots employee videotaped the defensive coordinator for the Jets on the opposite sideline, and took note of the hand signals and gestures he was sending out to the defense on the field. Using this video evidence, the Patroits would be able to determine which hand signals correspond to which type of defensive package and play(whether it's a blitz, a rush from the left, dropping back into pass coverage and double teaming receiver x, etc) and then adjust their play to take advantage of that. Think of it like knowing where your opponent is going to put his pieces before you start playing Battleship. After the game, the videocamera was confiscated and sent to the Comissioner's office to determine whether or not he had actually been taping the NY coordinators. I chose to refrain from commenting until more details came out, and Monday night before going to bed, I saw that ESPN reported that the video supported the Jets' claim. I've been trying to figure out the possible reasoning for doing this, and where I stand on it, and now I'm going to attempt to put it down here.

First, there is the rumor that apparently this isn't an isolated incident, and it's something that the Patriots/Head Coach Bill Belichick has been doing for years:

Steelers coaches, who asked not to be identified, have suspected for a long time that the Patriots used such a device to gain an illegal advantage, although they did not file a complaint with the league.

One assistant said the Steelers changed their defensive signals whenever they played against New England because of their suspicions.

These same coaches have also stated that it's something Belichick has been doing since he was a head coach for the Cleveland Browns back in the early 90s. Current Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had the following to say:

You hear rumors of things of that nature. It’s nothing new. In terms of confirming it, it’s never been confirmed in any instance to my knowledge. But usually where there is smoke, there’s fire. Those rumors are founded on something. So it’s not totally shocking, no.

And on a radio interview, San Diego Chargers RB Ladanian Tomlinson had this exchange with an interviewer when asked if the allegations surprised him:

Tomlinson: "Not really, because there's been stuff that's been going on for the last couple of years. People in Miami, the Jets, have been complaining about something that the Patriots have done. Either get in their playbook somehow, or bringing a player in just because they're playing them that week. So it really doesn't surprise me that they're trying to gain an edge any way they can."

Mason: "LT, do you consider that cheating?"

Tomlinson: "I guess it's a form of cheating. Yeah, I guess. I don't know if there's a particular rule that says you can't do that, but everybody knows it's really not right to do it. So it is a form of cheating even though it's not said to be."

Mason: "So this stuff doesn't surprise you because people have been talking about it with Belichick for a while now."

Tomlinson: "Yeah, it's been topic of conversation for the past couple of years or so. "

A New York paper has posted one possible start to the exposure of the videotaping:

NEW YORK -- A story in Wednesday's New York Daily News claims that Jets coach Eric Mangini, a former New England assistant under Bill Belichick, came armed with keen knowledge of the team's surveillance methods -- and finally decided to act.

"[The Jets] knew they did it," the Daily News wrote, citing a person with knowledge of the situation, who sent the newspaper an e-mail. "They caught the guy a year ago, but couldn't do anything about it. When Eric came, he said that's what they used to do. Bill is going to be [ticked] at Eric. He kissed and told." ?

And now belated accusations have popped up from the Packers, Lions, and Bills. The other teams stated that they either didn't have enough evidence to take further action, or didn't want to do so under the circumstances of the game results(35-0 and 28-6 losses), to make it seem like they were making excuses. I'm not going to get into why they didn't have evidence before, but now raise their voices up. Not to say it didn't happen, because all signs are pointing to the truth. But at this point, all 31 teams could say that it's happened to them, and they would be riding solely on the shoulders of the Jets, the only ones with actual proof. However, from reading interviews and articles with other sportswriters and former/current head coaches, this is very similar to the steroids scandal in baseball: Everyone does it, the Patriots just happened to be the ones caught, and now they're going to be the face of it, similar to McGwire and Bonds in the MLB. An article posted on ESPN during a cheating special back in early August had the following:

Stealing audibles, for example, is quite common. Current Detroit Lions president Matt Millen was a master at that during his 12-year career. He apparently could hear 10 audibles and know what each one meant by the start of the second half.

Yes, that's the same Matt Millen that just came out of the woodwork to jump on the accusation bandwagon against the Pats. But wait, there's more:

When Marty Schottenheimer coached the Cleveland Browns in the late 1980s, he routinely sent a scout to watch the signals opposing teams used to relay messages from coaches to players. When the scout returned, Schottenheimer's staff would watch the game film and match the signals to the plays that followed.

Edwards said the same is true today. It's common for coaches to watch standard game tapes (which include shots from the press box and end zone angles), sideline tapes (which usually wind up on highlight shows and include footage of players and coaches talking on the sidelines) and even the television shows of opposing coaches for tips.

These men then watch the footage with the same scrutiny FBI agents reserve for reviewing a wiretap recording.

"We want to hear what's being said in case you hear an audible or a [defensive] check," Edwards said. "Coaches have a saying: "Anything you say can and will be used against you.'"

So it would seem that all of these teams crying foul, saying that the Patriots took advantage of them, have been pulling the same tricks themselves. But rather than wanting to be the first team exposed(and thus become the permanent face of the problem), when the news of the complaint by Mangini surfaced, they jumped onboard to stack the case against them.

Now, first I need to clarify something. Don't for a second think I'm condoning this. I think it's fucked up, especially given that(There's no way of saying this without sounding like an egotistical, obnoxious sports fan) the teams accusing us of cheating are teams that we could easily beat. The Packers last year, 35-0. They simply weren't a good team, they've been in a rebuilding stage for 2, 3 years now. The Jets on Sunday. Whether you know the defense or not, it doesn't take away from the fact that some players are simply more talented than others. Randy Moss, on his lone touchdown catch of the day, outran 3 Jets defensive players. Note, I didn't say sprinted past. Tom Brady heaved the ball high up and downfield, and the video clearly shows Randy running alongside 3 Jets defenders, slowly but surely gaining on them, and eventually passing them, before making the reception. You don't need to know the defense if your players are simply better than those of the opposing team. How is it that if Belichick was doing this back in his Cleveland days the best he could do was a 36-44 record? It's clearly not having as large an impact as the media wants you to believe. There's no denying it will give you an edge, but the fact is that the outcome rests more on the players and their level of talent; ie, you couldn't record and study these signals, then try and go undefeated with Charlie Frye throwing to Todd Pinkston. I'm not defending what happened, but I'm trying to be the voice of logic.

Similar to what happened with Bonds and McGwire, the very day this news broke, people instantly began clamoring that they should be stripped of their Superbowl titles, or that an asterisk should be put next to the Patriots name. The downside to something like this, a major event, and being the face of it, is that it is going to lay a cloud of doubt over everything you have ever done, and everything you ever will do. As I said before the season, on paper, this team looks like nothing short of a massive injury to a key player will keep them from making it to the Superbowl and winning it. And say they do? It will be completely meaningless, because despite the sanctions that will be imposed by the Comissioner, everyone and their mother will remain completely convinced that the Patriots cheated in every single game. We could have NFL officials on our sideline for every single second, from kickoff until time runs out, and ridiculous accusations would fly. The Pats have someone filming from the stands, the Pats paid the guy in the blimp, etc. This is the part that's more aggrivating for me, that it's going to completely strip these players of their accomplishments and achievements. Tom Brady was going to be a legimate MVP contender this year with his offensive weapons. Randy Moss could be considered a longshot for Comeback Player of the Year. And they could both have record setting seasons. But do you think that they'd get the awards? Hell no, this scandal is going to permanently lay a dark cloud over their heads. Even if this was orchestrated by 3 guys, and the players had no idea, they just executed the plays relayed to them, the scandal and blame will follow them wherever they go.

For those that don't know, a brief history of the team and organization. The Pats have always been like the guy in high school that walks the line perfectly. He's cool, he gets along with everyone, funny, smart. But he doesn't have an ego, doesn't have a flashy personality. He'll just show up, do his work, associate with his friends, and that's it. That's been the Patriots organization. In 2001, their first Superbowl under Belichick, they decided against the previous tradition of coming out individually and opted to be introduced as a team, because that's what they were. No one person was bigger than anyone else, they were a team, a single unit. And since then, everyone has done it. There's never been a TO or a Joe Horn. No excessive celebrations, no retarded comments to the media, no scandal, nothing. Tom Brady wins three superbowls yet still remains the humblest person in the nfl, never hesitating to thank his offensive line and his teammates, taking the spotlight off himself. And the fact is that people were sick of it. I'm not making it up, and I'm not referring to the national media, since they don't have opinions of their own. But in discussions with other fans, the Patriots were easily the most hated team in the NFL. Because they were so successful, and there was so little to use against them. Such a big deal was made when after beating the Chargers in the playoffs last year, a few Patriot players performed Shawne Merriman's(Charger linebacker) retarded Lights Out dance. Philip Rivers whined and bitched, and LT stated that we were a classless organization. So celebrating a victory is classless, but when Shawne Merriman rushes his 6ft 4 272lb body into a quarterback and sacks him(which could easily turn into a serious injury) and does the dance, it's totally okay? Oh, and there's also the fact that he was suspended four games for testing positive for steroids. Of course, he stated that it must have been in a tainted nutritional supply he took regularly. When Miami's Jason Taylor commented that someone that's tested positive for steroids shouldn't be able to win defensive player of the year, Merriman responded by sending him "a "Lights Out" t-shirt and a box of popcorn with a note essentially saying enjoy watching him in the playoffs." Yea, if only we had as much class as that.

So earlier this season, word came that New England safety Rodney Harrison was going to be suspended 4 games for possession of HGH(Human Growth Horomone). HGH is something that can't be tested for, the way he was caught is that his name came up during a federal investigation of a doctor illegally supplying HGH, and when brought in to meet with NFL officials, he admitted to acquiring it while recovering from injuries, hoping that it would allow him to heal quicker and return to the game. His full statement follows:

I'm basically here to let you all know that tomorrow the commissioner will announce that I've been suspended by the NFL for violating the league policy on banned substances. That suspension will be four games.

I want to make it clear that not once did I ever use steroids. I did admit to the commissioner that I did in fact use a banned substance. My purpose was never to gain a competitive edge. Rather, my use was solely for the purpose of accelerating the healing process of injuries I sustained while playing football.

I haven't made excuses nor will I make excuses. I made a mistake and I'm very sorry for that. I understand that I'm a role model to high school to college, to young kids. I don't condone my decision, my behavior. I'm very, very embarrassed by it. I'm disappointed in myself and to any young person, any high schooler, any college athlete — I sent the wrong message with my actions. And I would ask and I would want to be the example for them to never jeopardize what they believe in and never jeopardize their health. And they always have to love themselves.

At this time I would like to ask all you guys, because I know you guys got a 100 million questions for me, but this is a mistake. This is something that I've done. This is nothing that my teammates were involved in and I ask at this time for the respect of my teammates not to be violated. This is something that Rodney Harrison did (and) Rodney Harrison did alone. My teammates didn't do it.

So, as they're preparing for the (New York) Jets and the San Diego (Chargers) game, Cincinnati (Bengals) and those games after that, I would ask if you'd just would give them the respect (and) to not badger them with questions because they don't have any information dealing with it and as well as my family.

I have kids. I have a wife and I would just ask for the respect for my family. It's something that I did and they shouldn't have to go through anything.

I will be absent from the team for the next four weeks: That's the penalty that I have to serve. To which I intend to return and do my best to really help this team in any capacity that I can help this team to get back to winning a championship.

It's been a tough time for me the last week or two. Even before this, I've apologized to my family, which has supported me so much, my friends, and I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to my teammates. Like I said before, they never were involved in this. This is something that I did and I apologize to them for being a distraction because that's the last thing we need going into the regular season.

I never intended for that to happen. I apologize to the entire New England Patriot organization and the fans who've supported me so faithfully over my past five seasons here. Through Super Bowls. Through injury. Through ups and downs they've supported me and I definitely, definitely appreciate that.

At this time, that's my statement. I'm not taking any questions. And like I asked before, I appreciate your patience and I just ask that you respect my teammates and my family. Thank you.

What you're seeing there is not denial, or excuses. He fessed up, apologized, and he's going to serve his 4 weeks, and then return to the team. Even in the low times he still looks better than countles others because unlike them, Merriman and Bonds and Ankiel, he just fessed up. He knows he did something wrong, obviously the rest of the world knows, so why try to feign innocence? Yet people were so quick to crucify him and call the Patriots out as a bullshit organization full of juicers and liars(this was before the videotaping incident). First off, HGH is not a steroid. Studies have shown that it doesn't provide an on-field boost. It's primary use is as he stated, shortening recovery time. And I'm sorry, because one guy used HGH and admitted to it, all of a sudden we're a classless, crappy organization? Travis Henry has nine kids with nine women. Brian Urlacher owes child support and told the mother of his child that she's a bitch and she's raising a pussy. Joey Porter attacked Levi Brown in Las Vegas, with a bunch of his friends. Albert Haynesworth stomped on Andrew Gurorde's exposed head and face with his cleats. And then there's Michael Vick. But yet, everyone is so quick to try and bring down the organization. I'm not trying to be petty, I'm not trying to say we have the perfect organization(despite the fact that the illusion of that was here for a few years). I'm merely stating that most of this backlash is going to be undeserved and a result of alterior motives.

Today, Bill Belichick offered an apology in typical Belichick-ese:

Earlier this week, I spoke with Commissioner Goodell about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my interpretation of the rules. At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling. Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."

The Patriots will speak with commissioner Roger Godell by this Friday, and then he's expected to hand down his punishment, which could be as simple as a fine to the team and/or people involved, but is widely expected to be a loss of at least one draft pick in the 2008 draft. But there you go, this is my interpretation of what's gone on. I'm not expecting you to read it all, but give your thoughts if you did.