Readers Continue Criticism of Scandal

I can't say enough about all the legitmate arguments which my readers have made about how blatantly this hypocrisy is by the NFL and the football fans around the country.

Steve,

G
I love your web-site. I don't bother much with the newspapers anymore.
Your insights are way better and you don't hold back.
Keep up the great work.

Maybe I'm too cynical, but the Pats aren't the only team cheating. They just got caught/turned in. If anyone thinks that the Pat's managment didn't know what was going on, I have some choice real estate in Florida that I would like to sell them.

The Commissioner may be thinking along the same lines. While I agree with the double standard arguement (teams/coaches vs players), put yourself in the Commissioner's shoes. He's probably squirming right now wondering, "how many other cheating issues will surface….what happens now?"

Given the action he took, he's probably wondering if he will have to cancel the first round of the draft because everyone will have forfeited their pick due to cheating (ha,ha).

Consider this… when you mess with a player, it's impacts that single individual. When you mess with the team, then you are talking about negatively impacting a brand's value (both the Pat's and the NFL). That means some very serious $$$ is on the line, short term and long term.

The bottom line is $$$ and lots of it (multiply the fines dispensed by 1,000 to get some order of magnitude). Therefore, there's just too much $$$ at risk for the NFL to do anything other then slap a team's wrist and hope that it blows over.

It's not players vs coaches.
It's not about race.
It's all about the $$$.

I'm not sure if it's easier to explain it this way to the kids (white, black, green or yellow), but $$$ is what drives our system and, unless we dump capitalism as the way we live, it will continue to do so.

Best regards,
Steve

From Francisco,

G., 

Two years ago soccer club Juventus was caught cheating.
Juventus was one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world, since it is one of the most successful Italian clubs.
Juventus paid refs during 2004 and 2005 Italian Championships, which the won.
The penalty:
– STRIPPED of both championships
– Juventus had to play one year in the minor division
– During that season, they would start with negative points (to make it more difficult to go back to top division).
– The economic penalty was ZERO, but given the scandal, the stripped championships and the minor division, the cash streams for the club descended dramatically.

This is punishment for cheating…

Francisco,

That's a great example of the way cheating should not be tolerated especially by people in charge. 

From  David,

G,

I've read through your site about the cheating scandal involving the New England Patriot and I agree that the punishment is ridiculous. I, personally, am going to write Roger Godell and share my opinion with him and I urge you have Eagles fan do the same thing. Its been a long time since we've had a Super Bowl in Philly and during our best shot, I think we got robbed. Im not really even that interested in getting a Super Bowl win by default but its the principal that counts.
Please see the following links. . .

Roger.Goodell2@nfl.net
Telephone #: 1-212-450-2000 or (212) 450-2027

Sounds like a good idea David.  Surely this doesn't set a good example for kids throughout the nation.  This is as bad as the steriod scandal because it tells kids to cheat if you can get away with it.

G 

FROM DREW,

GARY,
I AGREE WITH YOU WHOLE HEARTEDLY. THE WHOLE SITUATION SEEMS HYPOCRITICAL.
TO ME, THE QUESTION OF BIGOTRY DOES COME UP.
(IT SHOULD'NT MATTER, BUT JUST TO LET YOU KNOW, I'M A WHITE MALE WHO DOESN'T THINK THE PUNISHMENT FITS THE CRIME)

Drew,

The bigotry issue doesn't matter to me but I try to convince thousands of young black kids that they shouldn't focus on the race issue, but when you have thousands of callers all over black players who get caught cheating like Barry Bonds, then give Belichick a break.  it makes it hard for me to get them focused on their own actions.

From  Jake,
So New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been fined $500,000 dollars and the Patriots have been fined $250,000 as well as a number one draft pick if they make the playoffs in 2008. If the Pats don't make the playoffs in 2008 they will lose a 2nd round and 3rd round pick.

$500,000 is chump change to Belichick and $250,000 is like $5 to Kraft. Even a 1st rounder comes up laim half the time – and to top it off, they already have another 1st rounder this year!! Thats a comple joke of a punishment. It is well known that Goodell is close with the Patriots ownership, and it certainly shows in his prima donna punishment he just handed down. At the very least they should have taken time to interview everyone involved, and find out the severity of the allegations, rather than just assume this is a one time thing. They were suspected of it in years past, teams had complained previously and now there's justifiable proof. The fact that teams have complained prior should have meant an investigation now that evidence has been provided. Instead, they ruled quickly which tells me all they want to do is "move on or move out". Its a cover up, but there isn't a chance in he** something like this is just going to die.

At this point, I'm not saying they should be tarred and feathered – and not saying they should hand in they're SuperBowl rings, but if the current allegations are true, then the history and legacy of the Patriots under the stewardship of Bill Belicheck should be questioned and scrutinized. At this point there is still plenty of conjecture, but make no mistake they HAVE been caught violating league rules, and the situation is atleast worth taking seriously AND WORTH INVESTIGATING.

Its one thing to look for signals (legal), its another thing entirely to have someone recording those signals which is against league rules, (which Roger Goodell stressed to coaches and owners during the league meeting this summer). Is it a competitive advantage to know the defensive plays coming at you? Is it an advantage to videotape an opponents calls when the opposing team is following league rules and not videotaping them? The thing is, if its not a big deal, and doesn't have much of an effect on the outcome of a game, then why do it? I'm sorry, but that question is certainly worth asking.

New England had 63 offensive plays during SB39 – roughly 30 plays per half. Theoretically speaking, if they were only able to decipher just 10% of the Birds defensive plays ahead of time during the 2nd half of the game, thats still atleast 3 plays where they would have known exactly what Jim Johnson was doing….(disclaimer: with videographic evidence you'd think they could probably decipher a higher percentage than 10%, but I am using what I would consider a low percentage considering this is still a hypothetical scenario) That being said, if during those plays your offense now knows when and where a blitz is coming from, couldn't that knowledge help decide the outcome of a close football game that was tied at half time? Don't folks normally say that a game is usually decided on 3 or 4 major plays?

Maybe I am being too dramatic to think that if a guy is videotaping a nothing game at the beginning of the season, that just maybe he'd do the same going into a SuperBowl. But like I said, I think at the very least it brings this particular legacy into question – and its worth questioning more than just the one Jets game – especially considering teams like the Colts, Packers and Jets have all complained to league officials during previous seasons that they suspected the Pats of the very thing they were caught doing this week.

Jake,

You make some good points and I appreciate your interest in the site. 

From Reggie,
What's up G?  I've been listening to you since the early 90's on WIP and now I'm enjoying your website. I've only called in once, but I look forward to checking you out on WIP and I'm on your site almost everyday.  You're doing a great job my man.

I'm really ticked off about this Patriot Spy THING.  Really ticked!  I'm in 100% agreement of everything you had to say in your article.  THE NFL AND ROGER GOODELL MAY BE THE BIGGEST HYPOCRITES OF ALL TIME.  CHEATING IS CHEATING.  WHETHER IT IS AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE TO GIVE PLAYERS A COMPETITIVE EDGE, WHICH IS A WIN AT ALL COSTS ATTITUDE OR AN NFL TEAM VIDEOTAPING TO STEAL SIGNALS, WHICH IS EVEN WORSE.

IT IS WITHOUT A DOUBT A WIN AT ALL COST ATTITUDE! ESPECIALLY WHEN AN NFL COACH WHO HAS COMPLETE CONTROL OVER 53 PLAYERS AND ALL MANAGERIAL/ADMINISTRATIVE DECISIONS THAT ARE MADE RELATING TO THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION!

BILL BELICHICKEN (NO MISSPELLING HERE) IS A COMPLETE FRAUD. HE SHOULD BE FINED A MILLION DOLLARS, SUSPENDED FOR FOUR (4) GAMES AND REMOVED FROM ALL NFL MERCHANDISE, ENDORSEMENTS, ADVERTISEMENTS AND COMMERCIALS JUST LIKE MICHAEL VICK WAS REMOVED FROM HIS ADVERTISEMENTS, ENDORSEMENTS AND ALMOST REMOVED FROM THE FACE OF THIS EARTH. 

YES, I'M IN COMPLETE AGREEMENT THAT VICK SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUNISHED, BUT WHAT ARE THEY GOING TO TAKE FROM HIM NEXT, HIS FIRST BORN?  NO DOUBT, MICHAEL VICK DID DAMAGE THE IMAGE OF THE NFL BY DOING SOMETHING STUPID AND CRIMINAL OUTSIDE OF THE NFL.  BUT HE DAMAGED HIMSELF (AND HIS POCKETS) FAR MORE THAN HE COULD EVER DAMAGE THE IMAGE OR THE POCKETS OF THE NFL  THE GUY IS GOING TO JAIL AND IS LOSING HIS FREEDOM.  I GUESS THEY WOULD HANG HIM IF THEY COULD.  ENOUGH OF THAT, VICK IS PAYING HIS DEBT BACK TO SOCIETY NOT ONLY BY GOING TO JAIL AND LOSING HIS FREEDOM, BUT IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. 
MISTER BELICHICKEN AND THE PATRIOTS NOT ONLY DAMAGED THE IMAGE OF THE NFL FROM WITHIN, THEY ARE LIARS DUE TO THE FACT THEY WERE  WARNED BY THE NFL ON SEPT 6, TOLD NOT TO DO IT AGAIN, WENT OUT AND DID IT AGAIN ANYWAY, BUT THIS TIME THEY GOT CAUGHT THREE DAYS AFTER THEY WERE WARNED! GOOD OL' BOY ARROGANCE AT IT'S FINEST. 

I'M SURE THEY TOLD MISTER ROGER GOODELL THEY WEREN'T GOING TO DO IT AGAIN. Just like PACMAN JONES TOLD GOODELL TO HIS FACE THAT HE WAS GOING TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE.  WELL MR PACMAN DIDN'T KEEP HIS WORD TO MASTER ROGER AND WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM.  DON'T GET ME WRONG, PACMAN IS A BONAFIDE FOOL AND HAS DEFINITELY LOST HIS WAY. 

WHAT SEVERELY TROUBLES ME HERE ARE THE DOUBLE STANDARDS THAT A DEAD MAN CAN SEE. SO SAD.  THE MORE THINGS ARE SUPPOSED TO CHANGE, THE MORE THEY HAVE STAYED THE SAME.

OTHER THAN THE NEW YORK JETS, WHO ELSE DID BELICHICKEN AND THE PATRIOTS CHEAT? THE EAGLES, PANTHERS AND PACKERS IN SUPERBOWLS PAST? THE PATRIOTS CHEATED THE MILLIONS OF FANS WHO HAVE INVESTED THEIR MONEY AND HEARTS INTO THEIR RESPECTIVE NFL TEAMS. THE PATRIOTS HAVE STOLEN THE FANS BELIEF THAT "THE BEST TEAM WINS."  DID THE BEST TEAM WIN?  THERE IS DOUBT ABOUT ALL OF THOSE WINS NOW.

THE PATRIOTS HAVE STOLEN THE ALLEGED SANCTITY OF THE NFL AND THE TRUST OF THE FANS. THE FANS MAKE THE NFL WHAT IT HAS BECOME, IS AND WILL BE.  THE NFL AND ROGER GOODELL SHOULD REMEMBER THAT BEFORE THEY GIVE ANY NFL TEAM A SLAP ON THE WRIST FOR CHEATING, WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT THEY DID TO BELICHICKEN AND THE PATRIOTS.

Thanks Reggie,

Reggie,  

You knocked the ball out of the park with a convincing argument about the double standards wthich persist. 

Jon,

G,

I'm not sure if you follow Formula One racing, but an incident of cheating and espionage has taken place.  McLaren is accused of stealing secret documents from Ferrari and using them for their benefit.  This is even bigger than the Patriots stealing signs as F1 is all about research.  One of the reseasons fielding a competitive team is so difficult is the amount of money in the research.

The FIA (The governing body of Formula One) has fined McLaren an astounding $100 million AND have banned them from being eligible for a championship in 2007 (which they were winning) and 2008.

Do you think that Godell would have the strength and will to severely punish the fan favorite (and high $ grossing) Patriots?  I'm not suggesting $100 million but something that will send a clear message that cheating will not be tolerated. 

Here is a link for you to read more about the incident.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=6&id=3017450

Jon,

I'll take a look at the link.  You brought an interesting comparison.