More on Davis's comments from Schefter - New England Patriots Forums

SVN · 10-06-2008, 02:32 PM

http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/200...from-yesterday

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During his news conference, Al Davis also took some shots at the New England Patriots saying that they tampered with the former Raiders WR Randy Moss. Last June, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo that said teams should not be criticizing other teams or questioning them in public. The same thing happened after the ‘Spygate’ scenario last year. A memo went out saying teams should not be criticizing other teams and the New England Patriots are more sensitive about this than any other team in the league. The NFL is expected to take a look at this and either Davis has direct evidence that the Patriots tampered with Randy Moss, and in this case Davis gave them permission the day before the trade was made to speak with Moss directly, or the Oakland Raiders are going to face discipline from the NFL in the form of a fine or some sort of discipline. Al Davis opened up an entirely different can of worms when he went after the Patriots. That is an issue that is not going to go away anytime soon. That is something the league is now looking at.

ScottieC · 10-06-2008, 02:36 PM

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Originally Posted by SVN

http://www.bostonsportsmedia.com/200...from-yesterday

Davis won't get in any trouble.

He'll just say he has no recollection of the press conference, and based on that train wreck of a PC who's not going to believe that crazy ass old man.

***ctpatsfan77*** · 10-06-2008, 02:41 PM

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Originally Posted by ScottieC

Davis won't get in any trouble.

He'll just say he has no recollection of the press conference, and based on that train wreck of a PC who's not going to believe that crazy ass old man.

Funny, I don't think the video cameras will claim they have no recollection of the conference.

PatsDeb · 10-06-2008, 02:44 PM

You know, Goodell is truly an idiot. Why would he give a senile idiot the time of day by making this out to be a big deal? (According to Schefter, the Pats will be punished if Big Al has the goods [which we all know he doesn't] and the Raiders will be punished if he doesn't have the goods) BB and Randy Moss laughed it off, why doesn't Goodell? He has the worst habit of turning every molehill into a mountain, usually reflecting badly on the NFL in the process. I can't wait until Goodell is out of office. He actually ruins the game for me.

Deus Irae · 10-06-2008, 02:45 PM

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Originally Posted by ctpatsfan77

Funny, I don't think the video cameras will claim they have no recollection of the conference.

True, but the NFL will claim that those cameras were violating NFL rules and Goodell will fine the Patriots.

Press ConferenceGate, coming soon

BPF · 10-06-2008, 02:45 PM

Yeah I saw something on Schefter's blog earlier that I tried to start a thread with but couldn't due to some technical issues w/the site:

I'm glad the Pats took a stand on this and didn't let Davis and the Raiders make an unfounded accusation. Personally, I think Davis is confused as to what tampering is with his comment on Lombardi. If the Raiders don't prove this accusation looks like they will get fined.

NFL.com Blogs Adam Schefter

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Raiders need to prove Patriots tampering
Posted: October 5th, 2008 | Adam Schefter

Now that the Raiders have charged the Patriots with tampering, Oakland is going to have to prove it.

If it can, New England could face league-imposed penalties. If it cannot — and the Patriots always have maintained that Oakland owner Al Davis gave them permission to meet and talk with Randy Moss the Saturday before the trade was completed for the star WR — then the NFL is expected to discipline the Raiders, likely in the form of a fine.

The tampering charges that Davis leveled did not provide the Raiders with a competitive advantage so Oakland would not be expected to be docked draft picks. But it could face a hefty fine from the league if they are unable to back up their charge.

Either way, it sets up an intriguing showdown to complement the ongoing one between Davis and former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin.
The NFL takes accusations against other teams, and especially tampering charges, extremely seriously. In fact, after the Spygate incident last year, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell sent out a memo warning teams to treat other teams with respect.

Then, just last June, Goodell followed it up with yet another memo warning that it would investigate charges that teams make against other teams very closely and that it frowned upon any team-to-team criticism. Well, we now have Exhibit A of the type of case that Goodell warned other teams about.
During the press conference in which he fired Kiffin, Davis said the Patriots tampered with Moss before Oakland traded the mercurial receiver to New England for a fourth-round pick that turned out to be defensive back John Bowie.

“But what’s his name (former Raiders executive Mike Lombardi) knew he could run, he’s a friend of (Bill) Belichick’s,” Davis said. “Mike sold what’s his name, Belichick, on the idea that he could run. They tampered with him. I remember (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft saying that he had to look (Moss) in the eye and all that. They went down and worked him out, he could run. He’s their team, of course, with the quarterback (Brady).”

The Patriots, snared in last season’s Spygate case, are understandably sensitive to any further allegations of improprieties. They noticed Davis’ comments immediately and were not happy. The Patriots insist they are innocent of all charges and did everything with Moss above board, with Davis’ permission. The Raiders clearly believe otherwise.

But this much is certain: Raiders owner Al Davis is going to be conversing with the NFL about more than Kiffin. He will be conversing with the league on the evidence of Patriots tampering that he does or does not have.

EDIT: It also looks like Moss and his reps were given permission to seek a trade not days but weeks prior to the trade date, see prior thread: Per PFT: Raiders gave permission to Randy and reps to seek trade weeks prior to move

ScottieC · 10-06-2008, 02:49 PM

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Originally Posted by ctpatsfan77

Funny, I don't think the video cameras will claim they have no recollection of the conference.

Right, I was alluding to temporary insanity - which is what that sounded like to me OR heavily over medicated. Either of which would work, because no sane person does what he did.

***Leave No Doubt*** · 10-06-2008, 02:55 PM

I'm glad the Pats are taking the bull by the horns and I'm glad Davis will find himself nettled in the midst of controversy. He's done and while I'm no expert on the Raiders I think he's one reason they've sunk to such bottom-feeding levels. I'm wondering if Godell wouldn't love to have Davis out of there somehow.

spacecrime · 10-06-2008, 03:00 PM

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Originally Posted by PatsDeb

You know, Goodell is truly an idiot. Why would he give a senile idiot the time of day by making this out to be a big deal? (According to Schefter, the Pats will be punished if Big Al has the goods [which we all know he doesn't] and the Raiders will be punished if he doesn't have the goods) BB and Randy Moss laughed it off, why doesn't Goodell? He has the worst habit of turning every molehill into a mountain, usually reflecting badly on the NFL in the process. I can't wait until Goodell is out of office. He actually ruins the game for me.

Either you enforce the rules for all, or don't enforce them at all. Patriots were severely punished for violating a rule, and a recent memo by Goodell was a significant part of the violation.

Now Davis has violated a memo, and you think it is okay for him not to face any music.

Football is played on the field, and my enjoyment of what is played on the field is not "ruined" because the Commissioner is forcing another team to follow NFL rules. What part of this week's San Diego game will be ruined for you is Davis is reprimanded?

As far as BB and Moss laughing it off, that is simply a bald-faced lie. Moss refused comment. BB denied it. Neith thought it was very funny.

I assure you Kraft was not amused, either.

Goodell does not want teams criticizing each other. That policy makes the NFL look bad? How will the NFL look good to the public if teams make pubic statements about other teams violating rules whenever they want, without being required to back it up?

***PATRIOTSFANINPA*** · 10-06-2008, 03:04 PM

Just more reason to beat the Raiders mercilessly when we head back out west later in the season.