Fed up with the Hypocrisy

[Wretch]

After reading the threads about Don Shula's ridiculous assertion that the Patriots record should have an * if they go undefeated I decided it might be a good idea to document the indiscretions of other NFL teams.

Patriots:
Spy/Cameragate

Dolphins:
Tampering in order to hire Mr. Shula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Shula

Jets:
Tampering to hire Parcells (I believe the commissioner stepped in and required the jets to provide compensation before tampering was declared)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D9123DF932A35751C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Steelers:
Member of the medical staff purchasing $160,000 in HGH.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07060/765933-66.stm

49ers:
Salary Cap violations
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6DC103EF933A1575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Broncos:
Salary cap violations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28969-2004Sep17.html

Dallas:
Taped opposing teams signals.
http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/2500-NFL-Philadelphia_Eagles-New_England_Patriots-Did_The_Rams_Panthers_and_Eagles_Steal_Patriot_Signals_to_keep_their_Super_Bowl_Losses_within_three_Points_-290907

Packers:
Paul Horning suspended for gambling.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11244760/

Lions
Alex Karras suspended for gambling.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11244760/

These are just a few off the top of my head (and I have to go to work).

I guess my goal with this post is to point out to everyone the hypocrisy of the "Pats are evil" mantra or "their accomplishments are tainted" mantra of many (not all) members of the media and many (not all) opposing fans.

I am not a football historian and this list is not exhaustive. Please add to the list with further posts.

 

[Fixit]

I think I'm going to copyright the asterisk and retire early.

 

[Mainefan]

Winning is the best revenge, probably the only revenge. But I must admit, Don
Shula is really pissing me off these days. I hope that the '72 Dolphins are just a dim memory after this season.

 

[patfanken]

Thank you for your efforts wretch, this post can't be bumped to the top of the page too often. It should also be diseminated to the rest of the league as well.

 

[PatsDeb]

I actually think Shula's ridiculous rants are a compliment. He obviously is very nervous that the Pats are going to break his precious records. The NFL machine thinks so too as they are all chastising the Pats publically, but bumping all their games into prime time to cash in as much as possible.

What if the Pats did this? Get to 15-0, then on the Giants game on the NFL Network for game 16, just come out and lie down on the field for 60 minutes straight? I know it will never happen, but wouldn't that be the best F-U to the rest of the NFL?

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Thank you for your efforts wretch, this post can't be bumped to the top of the page too often. It should also be diseminated to the rest of the league as well.

Nice. I too am off to work but will look to add more as I remember them.

In the meantime I vote for a sticky so as to ensure fill and active participation in filling it up with examples of cheating.

 

[itgl72]

What if the Pats did this? Get to 15-0, then on the Giants game on the NFL Network for game 16, just come out and lie down on the field for 60 minutes straight? I know it will never happen, but wouldn't that be the best F-U to the rest of the NFL?

NO!! I feel that would be a F-U to the fans! Make us wait to see what happens and then LAY DOWN? That would totally suck and don't even want to imagine such a thing.

 

[solman]

After reading the threads about Don Shula's ridiculous assertion that the Patriots record should have an * if they go undefeated I decided it might be a good idea to document the indiscretions of other NFL teams.

Patriots:
Spy/Cameragate

Dolphins:
Tampering in order to hire Mr. Shula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Shula

Jets:
Tampering to hire Parcells (I believe the commissioner stepped in and required the jets to provide compensation before tampering was declared)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D9123DF932A35751C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Steelers:
Member of the medical staff purchasing $160,000 in HGH.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07060/765933-66.stm

49ers:
Salary Cap violations
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B0DE6DC103EF933A1575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

Broncos:
Salary cap violations.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A28969-2004Sep17.html

Dallas:
Taped opposing teams signals.
http://www.bleacherreport.com/articles/2500-NFL-Philadelphia_Eagles-New_England_Patriots-Did_The_Rams_Panthers_and_Eagles_Steal_Patriot_Signals_to_keep_their_Super_Bowl_Losses_within_three_Points_-290907

Packers:
Paul Horning suspended for gambling.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11244760/

Lions
Alex Karras suspended for gambling.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11244760/

These are just a few off the top of my head (and I have to go to work).

I guess my goal with this post is to point out to everyone the hypocrisy of the "Pats are evil" mantra or "their accomplishments are tainted" mantra of many (not all) members of the media and many (not all) opposing fans.

I am not a football historian and this list is not exhaustive. Please add to the list with further posts.

The Steelers dynasty was loaded with steroids.

George Halas bugged the visitors locker room.

I have always taken the view that gamesmanship is part of the NFL. The only one of these that really "bugs" me is Halas (if you can hear the opponent's halftime adjustments, that's one hell of an advantage).

 

[BSR]

You may want to add this link about the Steelers losing a 3rd rounder in 2001 for salary cap violations. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE5DF103AF933A15756C0A9669C8B63 Its great if they could all be in one place.

 

[Dragda]

It only makes it worse when you do something wrong to point out everything else that's wrong. Wrong is wrong. We broke the rules. Deciding to tape from the sidelines was a premeditated act. We can't now choose how everyone is going to react to that premeditated act. When I was younger and quicker to hate and the Cowboys or 49ers would have had this pumped up media campaign against one of them back then, I would have embraced it too.

We all love BB, but we don't have to defend this. It was really stupid.

Do any of you sometimes think BB manufactured this whole thing just to create a "bunker mentality" on his team?

 

[Patsfan1280]

Nice article about the Hypocrite

http://cbs2.com/sportswire/FBN--JimLitke-110707/resources_news_html

 

[patsox23]

Do any of you sometimes think BB manufactured this whole thing just to create a "bunker mentality" on his team?

Only the tinfoil-hat brigade. This is a ridiculous theory that's gotten WAY too much mileage around here.

 

[maverick4]

I honestly think people should be fired for some of the lies they have propagated, it has hurt some people financially and also as a franchise unfairly.

 

[Patriotic Fervor]

It only makes it worse when you do something wrong to point out everything else that's wrong. Wrong is wrong. We broke the rules. Deciding to tape from the sidelines was a premeditated act. We can't now choose how everyone is going to react to that premeditated act. When I was younger and quicker to hate and the Cowboys or 49ers would have had this pumped up media campaign against one of them back then, I would have embraced it too.

We all love BB, but we don't have to defend this. It was really stupid.

Do any of you sometimes think BB manufactured this whole thing just to create a "bunker mentality" on his team?

How does it make it worse?

Are you suggesting (or even declaring) that we (meaning the Pats) sit here, suck it up, and let every NFL type, every out-of-town reporter/sportswriter and his grandmother drag us through the mud, besmirching the integrity of the team and it's personnel, and it's history, over an administrative fiat about camera placement without a riposte of defense, justification or explanation, while those condemning us loudest have been guilty of far worse?

What's wrong with pointing that out?

It's not a case of, "If Johnny can get away with it, why can't I?" It's not an effort to absolve our own shortcomings, which in this case proved to be very real. It's a righteous defense pointing the hypocrisy that exists league-wide.

It's a case of, "You $-hit on me, I'll $-hit on you". This isn't playground stuff, it's war - literally.

You want moral absolutes? Save it for the Sunday sermon. If this were stuff happening to me, individually, this is the absolute minimum I'd be doing. I know I'd go down because I did wrong, but I'd make damn sure the double standard was erased for whoever followed me.

That's what this whole brouhaha is about - exploiting the double standard that exists, and the justification for it's employment by the powers-that-be for maintenance of the status quo.

Pure and simple.

 

[FortressX]

After reading the threads about Don Shula's ridiculous assertion that the Patriots record should have an * if they go undefeated I decided it might be a good idea to document the indiscretions of other NFL teams.

Patriots:
Spy/Cameragate

Dolphins:
Tampering in order to hire Mr. Shula
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_Shula

Jets:
Tampering to hire Parcells (I believe the commissioner stepped in and required the jets to provide compensation before tampering was declared)
http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=980CE4D9123DF932A35751C0A961958260&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=print

I agree with Dragda,we broke a rule,that is all,we were caught and punished.
We also tampered to get BB,so might want to chill out on that line of thought.

 

[SpiderFox53]

I agree with Dragda,we broke a rule,that is all,we were caught and punished.
We also tampered to get BB,so might want to chill out on that line of thought.

Can you supply some proof to this claim. I've seen it before, but never read any supporting articles about it.

Thanks.

 

[nowayback]

what about the game last year with miami...didnt they have the pats off signals or something?

 

[PatsWickedPissah]

I actually think Shula's ridiculous rants are a compliment. He obviously is very nervous that the Pats are going to break his precious records. The NFL machine thinks so too as they are all chastising the Pats publically, but bumping all their games into prime time to cash in as much as possible.

What if the Pats did this? Get to 15-0, then on the Giants game on the NFL Network for game 16, just come out and lie down on the field for 60 minutes straight? I know it will never happen, but wouldn't that be the best F-U to the rest of the NFL?

I like the way you think.
Unfortunately, I'm married.

 

[QuinielaBox]

Seems like the more the Patriots win, the more ludicrous stories we hear about allegations of cheating and how the Patriots did not pay enough for their mistake, er interpretation of video taping procedures. The national media and the rest of the NFL hates us. I love it, looking down on everybody.

Especially the Dolphins, Jets, Colts, Chargers, and the Broncos.

 

[alamo]

Can you supply some proof to this claim. I've seen it before, but never read any supporting articles about it.

Thanks.

You say "claim" as if it's just trolltalk. Easy to google lots of article if you actually try, though. For one bit of proof, the Pats had to give the Jets their 2000 first round pick as a result of hiring BB.

By the way, I think almost noone but Pats fans looking to justify our team's actions puts tampering when hiring coaches in the same broad category as what the Pats did. So this is silly and in self-denial. But as long as you are making a list, it is worth noting that the Panthers were fined 2nd and 6th round picks because their GM Bill Polian tampered in hiring Dom Capers as coach.