Sources: Saints' GM could eavesdrop on opposing coaches during home games

[PatsSox363804]

If they are wrong, I hope that the Saints sue their arses. ESPN is nothing but a Piece of ******. I wouldn't put it past them to make something up so that they can bring up an old story.

Absolutely. I hope ESPN is wrong and gets taken down over this.

 

[Metaphors]

Sorry, but Polian's explanation is stupid. So if say the opposing QB got injured during the game and the team is covering it up while he is still playing, Polian thinks that if they discussed it in the booth that Loomis couldn't understand coaches' terminology like "I think Cam Newton has a separated shoulder".

Sorry, there is so much more that goes on during the game that is private intell than just coaches speak. If Loomis recorded the talk, he could have every play call.

Right on. Hearing play calls isn't the worst part of this. Hearing strategy is far more damaging. How advantageous would it be to hear the following:

"Start throwing the damn ball on first down!"

"If we don't make this, we are going for it on 4th down."

"We need to blitz every time they go empty backfield."

I could go on but you get the idea. Doesn't take a genius to take this info and translate it into immediate action. Also, if the opponents communications were transmitted to Loomis, who is to say that it wasn't also received by coaches.

Would also like to throw out a question that was ever so popular in 2007...if the intention wasn't to cheat, what were they trying to do? I can answer that for filming sidelines. Not so much for for intercepting private communications.

 

[Rob0729]

After hearing Schlereth and Polian, I call total BS. Polian at least was defending his friend, Mickey Loomis. Schlereth is just completely and utterly full of crap.

 

[FreeTedWilliams]

Sometime ago, surely after the 2003 season, the NFL security people began monitoring all the games for wireless communication receivers/transponders. I can only imagine that the communications between the coaches and the QBs and/or LBs are encrypted. These encryptions change after every communication, so unless Loomis had an FBI level decryptor, I think he was done after this.

I have a hard time seeing how the NFL (or anyone for that matter) could prove these allegations. They are over ten years old, there is no evidence whatsoever, other than hearsay. Sorry folks, but this is going NOWHERE!!!

 

[NEPats1]

After hearing Schlereth and Polian, I call total BS. Polian at least was defending his friend, Mickey Loomis. Schlereth is just completely and utterly full of crap.

Every time I hear Schlereth talk I feel BS coming out. He comes off like an arrogant douche IMO.

 

[Deus Irae]

Saints spokesman Greg Bensel tells PFT that the allegation is “1000 percent false.”

Saints call report of Loomis espionage “1000 percent false” | ProFootballTalk

 

[THELAWFIRM226]

If the allegations are true and Loomis did break state and federal laws, I believe the statute of limitations has passed and he will be safe from any criminal prosecution (I think). As for a civil suit however, he would be fair game, presumably from any other NFL teams that were affected and the NFL as an entity. This could get ugly and as I'm watching PTI right now, Kornheiser just called a lifetime ban if it turns out to be true, just saying lol.

 

[Uncle Rico]

If the allegations are true and Loomis did break state and federal laws, I believe the statute of limitations has passed and he will be safe from any criminal prosecution (I think). As for a civil suit however, he would be fair game, presumably from any other NFL teams that were affected and the NFL as an entity. This could get ugly and as I'm watching PTI right now, Kornheiser just called a lifetime ban if it turns out to be true, just saying lol.

And if it's not true, can they give a lifetime ban to ESPN?

 

[Ron Sellers]

Okay, so let me get this straight.

Sclereth is saying that physically listening in to a play call with about 40 seconds to go before the snap is of no advantage, because it is of no use - but watching three different people relay hand signals in several seconds later is a huge advantage because you may have cracked the code and the opponent over the course of several weeks (or several years) wouldn't possibly change those signals.

Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense.

If I recall correctly hasn't Schlereth been one of those guys that keeps saying 'if it didn't help, then why did they do it' in regards to the Pats over the last five years?

So why is he not applying the same logic to the Saints? :idontgetit:

F#*%ing hypocrite, that's why.

 

[Jackson 2]

I hate this. All it does is create a renewed focus on our camera crap. Any time any team is accused of anything including, but not limited to, mass murder, ESPN and the NFLN will bring out their NE haters to say the camera stuff was worse.

 

[Spiral]

I think the NCAA should give New Orleans the death penalty.

 

[Uncle Rico]

Okay, so let me get this straight.

Sclereth is saying that physically listening in to a play call with about 40 seconds to go before the snap is of no advantage, because it is of no use - but watching three different people relay hand signals in several seconds later is a huge advantage because you may have cracked the code and the opponent over the course of several weeks (or several years) wouldn't possibly change those signals.

Yeah, that makes a whole lot of sense.

If I recall correctly hasn't Schlereth been one of those guys that keeps saying 'if it didn't help, then why did they do it' in regards to the Pats over the last five years?

So why is he not applying the same logic to the Saints? :idontgetit:

F#*%ing hypocrite, that's why.

Tom Curran has been doing a good job of challenging Schlereth on Twitter:

Mark Schelereth on ESPN saying he can't see how Loomis bugging of coaches booths would help during game. ...

This is the same guy who, 4 yrs ago, thought Patriots could videotape defensive signals, crack code and adjust to audibles at halftime ...

ESPN talk revolving on Loomis merely being able to divine play calls. Get alot more than that from box - injuries, what's being set up, etc

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

When did John Tomase get a sportswriters job with the Saints?

 

[tuckeverlasting]

who cares if loomis knows what the plays are or what the jargon is ? the people he's relaying the information to would know.

 

[Patsfanin Philly]

If Loomis doesn't sue for slander/libel,he looks guilty. If he does sue and is innocent, ESPN is in deep trouble. If he is guilty and sues, he runs the risk of lots more coming out in discovery or potential perjury (if he lies) and Roger Clemens-esque type trouble where if he kept his mouth shut, he would have been okay. I'm hoping he is innocent and takes ESPN down a few notches...
I have to believe that Goodell wants this to go away, especially three days before the draft where it will topic one for filler to replace dead air...on ESPN and NFLN.....

 

[thenepatsrule]

James Harrison will be getting fined pretty soon for this

 

[Bella*chick]

All this shows me definitively is that it's open season on the Saints and anyone who gets caught doing anything improper. Been that way since the dawn of time (or the media).

 

[Joker]

so...ESPN says that...oh wait...nevermind...could care less

 

[upstater1]

ESPN "analyists" are beating them to it. Polian says he sees no way Loomis could understand the coaches' terminology and translate it into action, and Schlereth actually said it's not like knowing hand signals, where know exactly what play is being called. Honestly, they sound like Patriots fans talking about "Spygate." Odd to me that they're summarily dismissing this -- in part, I think, because the saints were not very successful in the time period involved.

Huh? Hand signals are translations of the calls. Obviously, knowing the calls is better, because the signals themselves are coded calls.

I'm glad Schlereth agrees that stealing playcalls is no big deal and that the worst thing you could do is circumvent the salary cap and have more top players on your team because you're paying them more.

 

[PatsSox363804]

I still see people on their board bringing up the Rams walkthrough. Screw it, I hope its true now.