PatsFanInVa

Those of you who've seen my reaction to the "nut-uh we don't cheat!" threads know I'm something short of a full-on homer when it comes to the ahem, Incident.

But I'm also beyond annoyed at other teams using the "get out of losing free" card, by claiming various sorts of poor sportsmanship/cheating on the part of the Pats. JP Losman -- who is such a loser, it's built right into his name -- now says Wilfork intentionally injured him.

Oh yeah. That Vince Wilfork. He's notorious.

This is just the latest in a series of comments about the Patriots' poor sportsmanship -- almost all coming from someone who has lost to the Patriots.

I realize just about everybody has done so, but these are the guys that have lost big: Hines Ward. Jerome Bettis. Lady Tomlinson. Donovan McNabb. JP Losman. Who'd I miss?

I do remember back in the day, everybody in the league has a story about Conrad Dobler of the Cardinals, but they were pretty much considered colorful funny stories.

Other than that, I can not remember a time when more players came forward to courageously whine on camera about the conduct of a team that coincidently beat the living crap out of them in an important way, or in a recent game.

To this extent, I will jump on the homer bandwagon: it's like it's open season on the Patriots, past or present. Anything bad that happens in a game or as the result of a game, it's considered "fishy."

So here's the thing - one of the things I've actually learned from football that applies to life, is **** happens and you move on. It seldom matters why. It seldom even matters if there are mitigating circumstances when your own performance is not considered superb. It matter that you find a way to move on and win.

That's why I have issues with what I see as cameragate denial -- it becomes all about what "everybody else does" and all about "good intentions" and what one was "trying to do". It should be about "did you break the rules?" We knew the rule, we did it anyway. Move forward.

But a more eggregious example of externalized locus of control is the reaction of players and even some coaches, who just blatantly go out and say "we would have won [I would have kept my job] except the Patriots cheat," in so many words.

Is the league headed toward a Critical Mass of Whininess? What happens to the competitiveness of the league, if players take this as a general, recognized, and condoned trend -- blaming losses not on their own play, but on their opponents' perceived intentions and bad actions?

Thoughts, please.

PFnV

Deus Irae

Thank goodness we have one more thread for people to cry about 'camera gate'!

Tucker

We win. they whine. That's just they way it is now. Football players are now primadonnas and the league allows this by constantly changing rules so no one gets hurt. In 20 years the NFL will be reduced to either flag or two hand touch. That's just the way it is.

Let's move forward...onto CINCI!

reflexblue

Its easier to accept a loss when you can rationalize "we/our team isn't bad".We lost because the Pats cheated. We'er the better team, just look at us on paper. We have more talent so we didn't lose the Pats must have cheated us out of a win.

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PatsFanInVa

Hey good point. I blame myself. Quelle ironie.

Screw it. Thread's here now. Vent 'em if ya got 'em.

PFnV

djmika760

I agree that we should move on but its hard to get past the punishment. Does anyone else think that the fine was a tiny slap on the wrist compared to other minor infractions with bigger consequences?

richpats

The only thing about this that makes me worry is that some idiot (probably from an 0-8 Bills squad) is going to try and take Brady's knees out. It would be worth the money for a bitter opponent. It almost happened in the Titans game last year.

PatsFanInVa

I've heard both arguments (if you're serious,) that the fines/pick were a "slap on the wrist," and that they were "excessive."

I think the fines were the max allowable, and the first round is the highest one in the draft. Goodell specified he thought they'd impact the team more than suspending BB (his other option, we'd assume.)

Seems to me if everybody's unhappy, he got it jusssst right.

PFnV

CrazyDave

I was just thinking the other day, how glad I am that we don't have whiners on this team.
When we lose, you don't hear our guys making lame excuses, or crying about how "sometimes the best team does'nt win".
There's no crying in football.
At least, not in New England.
Thank goodness.

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djmika760

Actually I do remember some crying in NE when the Dolphins supposedly stole their audibles last season. If BB thought it was "okay" then why would they complain?

And to "PatsFanInVa" we all know that a multiple game suspension for BB would have hurt the pats waaaaay more than a fine and a pick. Cummon now...