Defending the Truth

Well, It didn't take long. Now the New England Patriots have been guilty of stealing the defensive signals of their opponents by having somebody videotape them during the games. They have been fined $500,000 and lose a draft pick next year. I guess all the hoopla about Michael Vick is going to be pushed aside now! What do you think?

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I always wondered how the Pats beat the Steelers in that AFC championship game. That game should have been a cakewalk for Pitt. Now perhaps, we have the answer.

Pfft the Steelers sucked from the kickoff
How do you steal a field goal block and run it back for a touchdown?
How do you steal a backup quarterback owning your secondary?(Bledsoe...LMAO Bledsoe)
LOL Pats killed the Steelers by pure skill not this junk

As a diehard Pats fan, I am disappointed. I don't think that they need to do things like that to win games. Furthermore - this kind of behavior is completely unacceptable. . .

They've hurt themselves by this (by losing a draft pick) - as well as the fans.

I hope that this is forgotten sooner than later.

That's all that I have to say right now, as I am still in shock.

Belichick eager to move on from spying scandal - NFL - MSNBC.com

I totally agree!!

Maybe I'm being a little harsh here; but do you think the penalty asessed was adequate? I think an in-depth investigation is in order here; and if Bill Belichick gave the instruction, or even knew about this behavior; he should get the Pete Rose-type banishment from the sport. We can't possibly know how many games have been affected by this behavior. The Pats stand tainted as far as I am concerned.

I just don't know right now, Joe. . .

I'd like to give it a little time and see how this all irons out.

However (out of fairness), I will post a link:

Belichick a coaching genius or phony? -- Newsday.com

What Belichick and the Commish both agreed on was that Belichick mis-understood the rules and agreed on the punishment which is the maximum fine possiable for a coach. Do you know how much 500k cuts into a NFL coach's salary...ALOT!
Along with the guarentee loss of atleast 1 draft pick this is a fine unlike no other made.
This punishment is good enough as it is

The Pats must have cheated their way past the Chargers earlier this year in the playoffs.

Could not the same argument be made for Pete Rose, Barry Bonds, and others? H80's post about the Chargers in the playoffs losing to the Pats will definitely fuel the fire. How about the Rams losing to the Pats in the Super Bowl? I'm sorry Hio; but I think If Belechick actually misunderstood the rules, he should have sought clarification first before proceeding. I think that Goodell is now having to deal with a scandal that does not involve NFL players off-field activities and behavior; but a coach's on-field activity which threatens the sanctity of the game.I think his solution was more of "now-what-in-the-hell-do-I-do" statement than a punishment that needs to be meted out. He had to do something; or be branded a "paper Commisioner" whose zero tolerance policy is more tailored to the personality, than to the act deserving of punishment. Yes, 500K is a lot of money for a head coach in the NFL. But why wasn't Tank Johnson just punished to this? And all the Bengal players? Pacman Jones? They aren't head coaches, but do you see the ambiguity of the statement Goodell has made?
As much as I hate this topic; unfortunately I think you are going to start hearing "race" applied to this scandal. I'm sure there will be Black civic groups screaming that Belichick got off easy because he is white. I can almost guarantee it. Can anyone say "Al Sharpton"?