Hold the phone, There are people who still believe 'spygate'

[tonyto3690]

Really? It's 100% legal to tape, as long as it's from the designated taping area that ever NFL stadium is required to have. I mean heck, you can tape signals from your tivo at home if you really feel inclined.

Not only that, but it's common sense. There are hundreds of plays a team will run each year, and those change year to year and week to week. On top of that, teams frequently change their signals/hide their mouths with play sheets because every team knows every team does it. The Dolphins were caught doing it in what, 2004? They went 4-12. The Jets were caught doing it in what? 2007? They also went 4-12. Why didn't they get fines? Why wasn't there a media witch hunt over that? Because no one cares about a team if they aren't winning.

"Goodell would not have fined them if he didn't think they deserved it".

"No advantage gained"
-Roger Goodell


The whole thing that went on was because Belichick played mr. defiant and kept doing what he did in spite of the league telling him to do it elsewhere, and the media knew casual fans and simpletons would eat up any headlines that diminishes what the Patriots accomplished. Goodell overreacted and wanted to save face, while simultaneously striking down the most defiant character in the NFL and asserting his power.


So please, can people finally use some common sense and get over it? It's mindboggingly how people still believe it was relevant. "No SBs since Spygate!" Really? Patriots have the most wins of any team since then, and only the Giants, Packers, and Steelers have won a SB. I mean there have been only 5 teams who have even made the SB in that time frame, only two teams have represented the AFC in that time frame, and the Patriots were one of them. I'd say they've done pretty damn good considering they were supposed to be rebuilding.

I challenge anyone to explain how taping from the sideline as opposed the designated taping spot had any relevance on any of the SBs or playoff games under the Belichick/Brady era.
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[TheVillain112]

This should go well...
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Thanks Rammy...

[Somefootballfan]

What Belichick did was what I like to call "strategic bending of the rules"

He really wasn't cheating because every team did it, just he kept the tapes which is what the problem was. Other teams didn't, not just that, many teams didn't/don't use tape, they just take notes.

I think the Patriots had an advantage, but not to the extent that it's made out to be. They probably still would have won each super bowl even without doing it.
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[mozwanted]

[Thaiphoon]

[dante9876]

This Thread is going to be great!!

[carnageehw]

-There's no point in doing it if it doesn't get you an advantage.
-Goodell DESTROYED the tapes.


I don't think the taping gave them any super awesome advantage. It's not like any old schmoe can tape these things and gain this incredible advantage. But in the right mind (like say, one of the greatest coaches in history) it's obviously useful.

I'm also of the mind that the taping likely helped the defense more than the offense.

And finally, DESTROYING the tapes is going to forever make the situation worse. Because what's on those tapes is up to the imagination of the fans.
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[BenchSanchez]

It was the difference of playing All-Madden or Rookie on Madden.

Pats were playing Rookie, now it's All-Madden and Eli is that 65 OVR linebacker that runs down Darren Sproles.

Seriously, you can't be mad at someone bending the rules trying to get an advantage, it's part of the game. The other coaches should be mad they didn't do it and benefit from it.
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New York Jets • Rutgers Scarlet Knights • Brooklyn Nets

[SteelKing728]

When you sit down and think about it, was it neccesarily cheating? Maybe not, but it was tricky way to bend the rules.

I just think the Patriots went beyond the line, which is why I kinda still don't like it, but I give them credit. It was tactical!
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Thanks Jamison on that avi.

2013 Adopt a Minnesota Viking - Jared Allen - DE - #69

[tonyto3690]

[bizell]

[eagles101]

well they did cheat. they got caught. they kept cheating. then got caught again.

logical or not this is what they get for cheating.
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props to deadpulse

[Keleth]

I find it hard to believe that anyone seriously thinks that the taping made a massive difference.
I can't honestly see any advantage that taping from somewhere you're not supposed to compared to taping from where you're supposed to.However there must be a slight or perceived slight advantage or Belichick would not have done it.
Plus I still honestly believe many other teams were doing it but merely didn't get caught.

Now as for the Tuck Rule that is a completely different matter

[tonyto3690]

[tonyto3690]