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I was tending towards writing "Signal-gate" off as a story of either sour Jets grapes or forgiveable Belichickian excess, a story that would just go away.
But, after reading what Ellis Hobbs had to say in this morning's Globe, I'm not so sure anymore: "We put too many hours in as individuals and as a team to have to go out there and cheat...We take pride in what we do. We know the rules of the game. By no single form have we ever tried to cheat or anything like that because we don't need to. I'm not saying that we're that good, but we take pride in what we do."
If this is the locker room sentiment and if the old adage about "where there's smoke there's fire" proves true in this case and if the national media keep the story alive (as they seem hell-bent on doing), then I think it's "Foxboro, we have a problem."
I've never even set foot on an NFL playing field during a game, but I suspect that there are players who would gouge out their opponents eyes at the bottom of a pile going after a fumble or who would grab a rusher's jersey if the umpire were looking the other way, who would draw the line at the actions of which the Patriots are accused. "That other stuff is part of the game. This is 'cheating.'" I don't think these prideful players would take well to signs in the stands at their next road game, accusing them, as a group, of cheating.
Belichick would then face a serious dilemma, he either does not address this in the lockerroom and allows bad feelings to fester or he addresses it and admits to the infraction in a way that would surely get to the press and, more importantly, the commissioner.
Also, if this is true, I am concerned that it could drive a large, but hopefully not fatal, wedge between BB and the Krafts.
Please tell me why I'm wrong.
But, after reading what Ellis Hobbs had to say in this morning's Globe, I'm not so sure anymore: "We put too many hours in as individuals and as a team to have to go out there and cheat...We take pride in what we do. We know the rules of the game. By no single form have we ever tried to cheat or anything like that because we don't need to. I'm not saying that we're that good, but we take pride in what we do."
If this is the locker room sentiment and if the old adage about "where there's smoke there's fire" proves true in this case and if the national media keep the story alive (as they seem hell-bent on doing), then I think it's "Foxboro, we have a problem."
I've never even set foot on an NFL playing field during a game, but I suspect that there are players who would gouge out their opponents eyes at the bottom of a pile going after a fumble or who would grab a rusher's jersey if the umpire were looking the other way, who would draw the line at the actions of which the Patriots are accused. "That other stuff is part of the game. This is 'cheating.'" I don't think these prideful players would take well to signs in the stands at their next road game, accusing them, as a group, of cheating.
Belichick would then face a serious dilemma, he either does not address this in the lockerroom and allows bad feelings to fester or he addresses it and admits to the infraction in a way that would surely get to the press and, more importantly, the commissioner.
Also, if this is true, I am concerned that it could drive a large, but hopefully not fatal, wedge between BB and the Krafts.
Please tell me why I'm wrong.