Fixit

This amuses me. Every team in the league steals signs. In fact, it's not against the rules to steal signs any other way but taping them. But the Pats were stupid enough to tape it, and now they're "cheaters?"

Give unto me a break. That's so friggin' inconsistent I can't see straight.

BelichickFan

Yep. Stealing signs is legal. Which is why the penalty should not be that bad - not saying it won't be bad but it shouldn't be.

CheerforTom

Remember the saying "give them an inch and they'll take a mile"? The league just gave the Jets, Chargers and Colts fans everywhere an inch.

All I want to hear from Goodell is an explanation of how we gained an advantage or changed the outcome of the game in question. If he does come up with something incriminating, then we do deserve to be punished. But so far he seems to be ready to hand down a punishment based on THE PATRIOTS CHEATED. If all we did was break a league policy that has no real meaning, taking away draft picks is a ludicrously unbalanced punishment.

Fixit

I can't wait for Game 2 with the Jets so all doubt about the gap between the two teams can be thoroughly eliminated.

Oswlek

If anything, it was NE that took the mile. The league turns a blind eye on the stealing of the signs, but NE was just too blatant to ignore.

__________________
"They have one objective," said Washington cornerback Shawn Springs. "They whoop people's [backsides]. If you understand that, it answers all your questions. They might not lose [this year]."

makoute

Very true, very disappointing.

JoeSixPat

Stealing Signals is Legal - but using video camera is not (?!)

I wanted to make the same point in this thread - but it can't be emphasized enough.

All the trolls coming here don't seem to understand - and should pay attention to before they get overly righteous- is as odd as it sounds, stealing signs is legal.

Using a recording device is illegal - for whatever the reason.

In my mind stealing signs SHOULD be illegal - but its not.

Therefore I don't think anyone can accuse the Patriots of cheating... just breaking a rule.

RoughingthePasser

This has been the BEST post Ive read all day-Excellent points
and true.....Those Colt,Bronco,SD fans love this.

They're all gonna get smoked.

Coach B is the master!

__________________
"Practice execution equals reality"-BB
'Don't be that guy who ruins a season."' -BParcells

stcjones

While I think that in principle you are right.....Goodell is now on a power trip after handing down a heavy sentence to Pacman.........don't expect him to look the other way on this one.......That and the fact that guys like Polian.....Snyder.....Jets and Chargers owners/coaches etc will be up his a## as well to make sure that the Pats get a maximum penalty for committing a crime that they ALL ARE COMMITTING!!!! This is the most ironic thing about all of this........First of all, just getting a signal means NOTHING......because they CHANGE THE SIGNALS repeatedly throughout the game!!! One former DC was interviewed today and didn't think it was any big deal (apologize didn't catch his name but he was on ESPN radio).....and he said that they started color coding the signals that they thought were getting caught onto.....and then change them accordingly....or something to that effect.....Heck....defensive players are picking up signals every game at the LINE OF SCRIMMAGE........after seeing it on film or after several plays.....then the DC will change it up.........They all do this stuff......I guess that is what is so annoying about all of this..........and the Pats are being crucified over it....

JoeSixPat

The funny thing is I think that stealing signals SHOULD be against the rules.

But, knowing they can't enforce it they allow it so that every team is equal.

So this has all been an education to me - what I thought would be considered cheating is not cheating... and what strikes me as a slightly strange rule about recording the game, seems to be getting blown WAY out of context by the fans and possibly the Commissioner's office.