To Roger Goodell

[stcjones]

This is my last post on this subject until the decision comes back.

After hearing yet another maniacal ESPN radio guy on Fox News a few moments ago (Brandon something who is a diehard Jet fan and had trouble staying focused), I know that Goodell is going to be pressured into making a very difficult ruling. I do hope, that he looks at this thing from all sides when deciding his judgement, because if he is not careful, he will set in motion a chain of events that will change the game forever. He will be constantly faced with pictures of scouts with binoculars locked on a defensive coordinator or coach, and the subsequent writing down of signals after the fact. The scout will then be grabbed by security, and his notes will be confiscated. On those notes will be signals. He is an employee of such and such team. That team is cheating. Time to pay up some draft picks boys, and pay fines and whatever else this precedent will set.

Do you see my point Roger? It is going to get ugly. I think that you have to step back from the lunacy and "witch trial mentality" that the media has thrust upon you, and look at the facts. In one way or another, this tactic has been and is going on throughout the league. A few coaches and ex-players have had the nuts to come out and say: "This happens all the time by every team." Miami did the same thing last year and walked. The Jets did something similiar against us last year as well. Their were rumors about Buffalo doing something with signals or audibles the year they whipped our butts. NO penalties have ever been levied against any team in the history of the league before....and THEY ARE ALL Stealing signals, and it has become part of the game! (UNfortueatly, or fortuneatly).

The tape that was confiscated was taken in the first quarter only. The information on it COULD NOT have been used, even if they had intended to. So the pounding that the Jets got was legitimate and honest. There was NO CHEATING that occurred on Sunday by the Patriots.

So here is my final closing arguments. Think before you make your ruling very carefully and don't let your decision be swayed by an angry witch hunting mob (media) force you into doling out a vicious, unfair, and unprecedented decision. It could very well create a change in the game that will ruin it. The media is a dangerous animal Roger, and they have blown this thing so far out of proportion it is not only disgusting....but frightening.

Because a videotape was confiscated in the first quarter of a game, but NEVER used. All of a sudden Bill Belichick is a CHEATER. All of a sudden the tremendous story and lore of the New England Patriots is to be tarnished. Because Belichick had a video running.......all of a sudden....he cheated in every game........the SB's are a ruse..........Every team is now poring over their game videos looking for a guy behind the grassy knoll because surely Belichick CHEATED to allow their teams to get beaten that day.......

You see what I mean Roger? Your ruling will not only affect one man.......you will affect a NATION. Do not let them push you to make the wrong decision..........a stern warning or lighter punishment will still make the same point. Belichick has already been found guilty in the media....Let's not make it any worse.....and ruin the game forever.......One man's opinion

 

[richpats]

You said it all man, you said it all. Getting tough on off-the-field player conduct is one thing, but on EVERY team for a "dirty little secret"? Totally different. To bust a team for cheating is to indict your own league. An individual can be suspended, fined, whatever....but an organization is something else. If this were the Lions it would be a quick blip on the radar, never to be mentioned again.

 

[DarrylS]

Whatever decision is made it will a damned if I do and a damned if I don't one.. as time goes on the media begging of the issue and subsequent hysteria does not help.. although it seems that Goodell is his own man.

 

[PatsWSB47]

This is my last post on this subject until the decision comes back.

After hearing yet another maniacal ESPN radio guy on Fox News a few moments ago (Brandon something who is a diehard Jet fan and had trouble staying focused), I know that Goodell is going to be pressured into making a very difficult ruling. I do hope, that he looks at this thing from all sides when deciding his judgement, because if he is not careful, he will set in motion a chain of events that will change the game forever. He will be constantly faced with pictures of scouts with binoculars locked on a defensive coordinator or coach, and the subsequent writing down of signals after the fact. The scout will then be grabbed by security, and his notes will be confiscated. On those notes will be signals. He is an employee of such and such team. That team is cheating. Time to pay up some draft picks boys, and pay fines and whatever else this precedent will set.



Do you see my point Roger? It is going to get ugly. I think that you have to step back from the lunacy and "witch trial mentality" that the media has thrust upon you, and look at the facts. In one way or another, this tactic has been and is going on throughout the league. A few coaches and ex-players have had the nuts to come out and say: "This happens all the time by every team." Miami did the same thing last year and walked. The Jets did something similiar against us last year as well. Their were rumors about Buffalo doing something with signals or audibles the year they whipped our butts. NO penalties have ever been levied against any team in the history of the league before....and THEY ARE ALL Stealing signals, and it has become part of the game! (UNfortueatly, or fortuneatly).

The tape that was confiscated was taken in the first quarter only. The information on it COULD NOT have been used, even if they had intended to. So the pounding that the Jets got was legitimate and honest. There was NO CHEATING that occurred on Sunday by the Patriots.

So here is my final closing arguments. Think before you make your ruling very carefully and don't let your decision be swayed by an angry witch hunting mob (media) force you into doling out a vicious, unfair, and unprecedented decision. It could very well create a change in the game that will ruin it. The media is a dangerous animal Roger, and they have blown this thing so far out of proportion it is not only disgusting....but frightening.

Because a videotape was confiscated in the first quarter of a game, but NEVER used. All of a sudden Bill Belichick is a CHEATER. All of a sudden the tremendous story and lore of the New England Patriots is to be tarnished. Because Belichick had a video running.......all of a sudden....he cheated in every game........the SB's are a ruse..........Every team is now poring over their game videos looking for a guy behind the grassy knoll because surely Belichick CHEATED to allow their teams to get beaten that day.......

You see what I mean Roger? Your ruling will not only affect one man.......you will affect a NATION. Do not let them push you to make the wrong decision..........a stern warning or lighter punishment will still make the same point. Belichick has already been found guilty in the media....Let's not make it any worse.....and ruin the game forever.......One man's opinion

As much as agree with that post, I think it as well as any other voice of reason right now is falling on deaf ears. The Pats are so Fu_ked right now. the penalty will be way heavier than we are ready for. Hold on to your seat. It will be ugly.

 

[scout]

As much as agree with that post, I think it as well as any other voice of reason right now is falling on deaf ears. The Pats are so Fu_ked right now. the penalty will be way heavier than we are ready for. Hold on to your seat. It will be ugly.

I think your right. He is going to set an example. The silver lining, if the Patriot players think its excessive, watch them come together in defense of BB. Then, it will be the remaining NFL teams which will be holding on to their seats.

 

[richpats]

The Pats are so Fu_ked right now. the penalty will be way heavier than we are ready for. Hold on to your seat. It will be ugly.

They are only screwed in the court of public opinion. The NFL is different. They aren't ready to open this can of worms. And they aren't ready to orphan a marquee team that has a VERY influential owner. I hate to play the "rich kid" card on this one but we've earned it.

 

[khayos]

Roger Goodell is an idiot.

 

[QuiGon]

As much as agree with that post, I think it as well as any other voice of reason right now is falling on deaf ears. The Pats are so Fu_ked right now. the penalty will be way heavier than we are ready for. Hold on to your seat. It will be ugly.

Goodell can't go overboard here because we all know it's just a matter of time before some other team gets caught doing the same thing or some other similar type of infraction... so if he comes down hard on the Pats, he'll have to come down equally hard on that next team.

I stand by my prediction of yesterday: a #2 and a #5, 2 week suspension - a solid punishment but nothing excessive and certainly nothing ridiculous like a #1 or a forfeiture. He simply can't set that precedent.

 

[JJDChE]

Goodell can't go overboard here because we all know it's just a matter of time before some other team gets caught doing the same thing or some other similar type of infraction... so if he comes down hard on the Pats, he'll have to come down equally hard on that next team.

I stand by my prediction of yesterday: a #2 and a #5, 2 week suspension - a solid punishment but nothing excessive and certainly nothing ridiculous like a #1 or a forfeiture. He simply can't set that precedent.

I think that punishment is excessive for the infraction being cited.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Goodell can't go overboard here because we all know it's just a matter of time before some other team gets caught doing the same thing or some other similar type of infraction... so if he comes down hard on the Pats, he'll have to come down equally hard on that next team.

I stand by my prediction of yesterday: a #2 and a #5, 2 week suspension - a solid punishment but nothing excessive and certainly nothing ridiculous like a #1 or a forfeiture. He simply can't set that precedent.

Sure seems excessive to me IMHO

 

[QuiGon]

I think that punishment is excessive for the infraction being cited.

Then I guess we'll just have to disagree on what constitutes "excessive"... to me, "excessive" means a 1st rounder or forfeiture.

I've shared my prediction in a number of different forums. About half the people say it is excessive and half say it is too lenient. So that means it's probably just right... although I am leaning on revising the prediction to a 1 week suspension....

 

[KoolAidDrinker]

As I understand it, the Patriots have been found guilty of a rules violation which prohibits the use specific video equipment being used on the field during the game. I would think that a fine would be appropriate for that infraction.

IMHO the rule seems a little silly, but it may make sense to limit the number of people running around the sidelines.

The media frenzy surrounding this story is predictable. It's easier to misreport this than to misreport something as difficult and complex as football.

As others in this forum have pointed out, the NFL doesn't want to prevent teams from competing against each other. To suggest that the Patriots are "cheating" by gathering intelligence is absurd.

So, Roger Goodell, are you swayed by the media or are you a leader? I guess we'll see later this week..

 

[Spiral]

Most of the histrionics have come from members of the NY media. They're trying to up-manage the expectations of potential penalties, thinking that they can influence Goodell, i.e., if he doesn't rip multiple draft picks, then the public will think he's weak. I also wouldn't discount the possibility that the NY media is trying to generate as much upheaval as possible within the Pats organization, making it more conceivable that BB might become available to coach the Giants next year.

The nature of this offense is serious on a personal level, because Goodell may be upset that the Patriots acted in defiance of his previous warnings. However, from a competitive standpoint this action is clearly not as serious as Denver's two salary cap violations, each of which resulted in a fine and the loss of a 3rd round pick. Any penalty that goes beyond that would indicate to me that Goodell is a rather weak commissioner, subject to the influences of the NY media and others with an ax to grind against Belichick and the Patriots.