upstater1

Not according to Goodell it wasn't.

PonyExpress

1. Martz is fully aware of the Pats scouting practices under BB, scouting practices which BB has admitted to without remorse, scouting practices which we now know were common throughout the NFL for 50 years, scouting practices which extend back to the halcyon days of NFL yore. Martz just released a statement in which he said SB 36 was won by the Pats fair and square. "LIEgate" is a media cash-cow, because the Pats are the biggest story in sports, with or without cameras. Raising this issue is meant to stir up suckers to read an article during a lull in NFL tempo.

2. Goodell's memo was released in Sept 2006. IF that memo had never been issued, the Pats would never have been penalized. You can't grandfather in a penalty about a memo that didn't yet exist. That would be like penalizing Paul Brown for secretly using radio transmitters to his Qb in 1956, before Rozelle outlawed the practice 3 games into the season.

3. All these issues become moot if a team simply changes its signals. That's the insanity of the whole thing. "Protect the stupid from themselves," I suppose is Goodell's new motto. He should look in the mirror to accomplish that. I think this is the reason for all the rage: "We have a right to be stupid" shout dumb coaches from the rooftops.

the taildragger

….It's a simple question Florio!....did Lovie Smith not either A: utilize a different dummy caller, or B: change his signals before the biggest game of the year?!

Enough hypotheticals....PLEASE.

THE PATS WERE ULTRA CONSERVATIVE AGAINST THE RAMS DEFENSE -- NOBODY THINKS THEY HAD SIGNALS TO WORK WITH.....Look, you've destroyed the patriots entire legacy....Peter King estimates that half of the riled up bob woodward wannabes who vote for the Hall will not vote for one of the greatest coaches of all time.....YOU GOT EM HATERS!!!....NOW EITHER INVESTIGATE THE REST OF THE LEAGUE FOR VIDEOTAPING (STARTING WITH INDY) OR GIVE IT UP.

THIS IS JUST SICK.

Deus Irae

Florio's been playing both sides of this story and milking it for every hit he can get. Is it really surprising that he's pulling more "what if" items out of his ass?

Just remember.... Randy Moss might be cut.

__________________
"The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
- Marcus Aurelius

the taildragger

Seriously, why is it so hard to understand that league insiders were not this naive?

Everyone knew they had to take measures to ensure the integrity of their signals....a threat that existed decades before BB was a head coach.

since67

and THAT about sums it up...

nelly57

I agree with your points except for this one, it's not about protecting the stupid from themselves. IMO, Goodell was the new boss and had to enforce any infraction just to show everyone in the NFL and the country he was in charge.

NEPatriot

having too much FREE time on your hand.? These writers sure did.

mmasterkillah

Damn, and all this time I thought Florio was an honest reporter.

Looks like he is stirring the pot a bit, which doesn't need to be done.

How ridiculous can this get? I still can't believe the media backlash. If you watch the tapes, you would be like "who the **** cares?". But people who seemingly know little or nothing about football and it's history have blown it way out of proportion.

__________________
September 2010: SMART FOOTBALL

mdhprime

I did not think anyone still read PFT...