Goodell determines Pats broke rules by taping Jets' signals

[Drury77]

This broke out after Sunday's win against the Jets, but the Jets accused the Patriots of spying on their signals for the defense by a Patriot employed cameraman. The Camera and the video were confiscated by the League and now Goodell has apparently agreed with this, and that the video shows that is exactly the case.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets' coaches, according to league sources.

NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals. Sources say the visual evidence confirmed the suspicion

ESPN - Sources: Goodell determines Patriots broke rules - NFL

[Drury77]

Personally I'm really bummed this story was confirmed, and the fact that the Pats have been accused of this before is a little unsettling. They were accused of doing this in Green Bay last year.

Espn also says that the Pats were warned not to do it again, which makes this even worse that it happened. I mean how dumb can you be, just cuz you didn't get caught doing it before doesn't mean you should keep doing it, even after being warned against it. Shame on the org.

The Pats have always been looked at (last 10 yrs or so) of being a classy org, and now we have this crap going on.

So what the punishment will be??

There is talk it will be multiple draft picks, but it could also be fines and/or suspension of Belichek. Of course I don't want any punishment but I can see us losing a couple of picks, and maybe a very substantial fine of Belichek.

Some are saying we should forfeit the game, but that is a load of BS. I know this was a form of cheating, but come on, think about how helpful this really was in the heat of a game. I mean is the guy was taping it, not live feeding it to the coaches box. So what while he was taping it, he was on cell/walkie talkie, telling them the signs then getting those relayed to the coaches on the field, and then pushed out to the players as a new or different call.

Yes we should be penalized but let's be realistic too. And I do think, that we aren't the only team doing something like this. Come on!!

[Zen653]

I'm very disappointed in the Patriots if it turns out that they indeed cheated. Ever since Bob Kraft came aboard, there had been the perception that this was one of the great organizations. The Patriots had integrity. They were the flagship NFL franchise, the model of how to get things done both on and off the field.

That's all gone now. Between Ted Johnson's accusations of reckless physical abuse, Bill Belichick's messy personal life, Rodney Harrison's admission of HGH use, and now the illegal videotaping and rumors of stolen radio frequencies, the good will has dissipated. It will be a lot harder to root for this team in good conscience now.

I shall, of course, remain a Patriots fan forever. I still want this team to win the Super Bowl. But I also want consequences for impropriety. Regardless as to what the NFL decides, I want to see the Patriots take the lead in disciplining its own miscreants. Rodney Harrison should be suspended by the team for two additional games beyond the league-imposed four. The employee who videotaped the Jets should be immediately fired. Bob Kraft should publicly issue a harsh rebuke of his own coaching staff, including Bill Belichick.

It's unreasonable to presume that Belichick would never see or use these tapes. What else would they be used for if not to give the team an unethical competitive advantage?

To those who say that the illegal videotaping did not help the Patriots defeat the Jets, how can we know for sure? Remember the Packers game last year where the same Patriots employee was also accused of videotaping the opposing coaching staff? Both games were laughers from the 2nd quarter on, with the Patriots winning by decisive margins. And who knows how many other games the Patriots illegally taped?

We can condemn the rubbernecking fans of other teams all we want, that doesn't change the reality that our team cheated. Rather than defend the indefensible, I prefer that we own up to our deficiencies and correct them.

[indianadrew]

you had better do something if you want to hang with the colts

[lorentrook]

I'm not a Patriots fan, but I do feel sorry for the players. I assume they didn't know about it. If true, should the SB wins have an little asterisk on them?

[Drury77]

That's the part that bothers me the most, no matter what a coach calls as a play, if the players don't perform, they don't have success. I believe this should/could taint Belicheks legacy, but the players themselves, even though I understand the two go together

[Eddy]

What the Patriots did was wrong, but do people honestly believe that the Pats are the only team doing this? I am tired of hearing all the players saying that was the reason they lost. The teams lost because we were better. I especially like the hypocracy of the Chargers calling us cheaters when Merriman was suspended for using steroids last year. I guess thats ok. Wasn't it the Dolphins who knew all of owr plays and killed us? Yet nobody says anything about that. We cheated and got caught, but by no means are we the first or will we be the last. As far as all the players around the league who are crying, go look at the film, you were out played and that is why you lost.

[DiamondDave]

Eddy... that is a false argument.... to try and do the thing of 'you think this was the only team', while there is no evidence against them and a history of evidence and accusation against the Pats, is not fair to the other teams.... if there is evidence, then rightfully complain against those that there is evidence on... but there is no evidence

This, IMHO, has to put a taint not only on Bill B., but the championships as well.. (rightfully or wrongly, it still has to be there)....

Is it worse when an organization or coach cheats, than it is when a player cheats??? YES.. and here is why.... the player is like an entry level employee in a company... 'young' and headstrong, and not really in a leadership position in terms of major decisions... the coach and organization ARE leaders and examples. They are supposed to know better, much more so than any player. The integrity of the whole game falls more on the shoulders of the coach and organization than it does on any one player... Did Merriman cheat?? Hell yes, and was rightfully punished for it.... even with that, the Charger fans have every right to complain about the cheating by the Pats....

There is no doubt that the Jets lost because they were they were outclassed and outplayed... but that does not take anything away from the fact that the Pats have been doing something dispicable

[Zen653]

Here's the official punishment handed down by the NFL:

The Patriots will lose their 2008 first-round choice if they make the playoffs, Belichick loses $500,000 and the Patriots will be fined $250,000. The only thing that might have been missing is a possible suspension, and that is the only thing that Goodell might have neglected.

Goodell said he considered a suspension, but he felt the draft choice penalty and the fines have a more lasting effect on the franchise. That's a fine premise, but spying affects the outcome of individual games. Taking Belichick out of one game could affect the Patriots' chances of making the playoffs. For example, he's still coaching Sunday's game against the Chargers, and if he wins, he will have a potential home-field tie-breaker if the two teams finish with the same record.

ESPN - Clayton: Belichick penalty too light - NFL

I think Belichick should have been suspended for at least a handful of games.

[DiamondDave]

The only thing I do not like is that the punishment is differing depending on if the Pats make the playoffs or not... if you're gonna make it a 1st rounder, make it a 1st rounder

[bedir than average]

Oddly enough, no matter what the Pats have a first rounder this offseason anyway.

[Drury77]

Goodell announced that the Pats had cooperated fully and that there would be no further actions taken against them, so now the Cloud will just hang over the Pats, and they have even more fuel to stick it up the NFL's ass.