Post Season Humble Pie (For Us Fans)

[TheRazor]

For the first time this season I have finally tasted that famous "humble pie", and suffice to say, I wont be asking for seconds. Bill Belichick is a lousy baker, it tasted horrible, and I will not be leaving a tip.

I would also like to apologize to all the players, coaches, NFL staff, and fans across the league for the deplorable actions of my hometown team; videotaping football games for scouting purposes. Although, as reported by many NFL coaches, and NFL insiders, that this practice, stealing/ decoding hand signals is common place, videotaping was and is against the NFL rules, hence the New England Patriots were breaking rules, and more over "cheating" by doing so, regardless of reasoning behind it, and the frequency of the practice of scouting defensive coaches hand signals.

It was against the rules, and gave the Patriots an unfair advantage.

I now understand how everyone must have felt. There are all sorts of rules and regulations the NFL employs, and it dosnt matter what the rules are, even the riddiculous ones, they must be followed. The rules are in place for a reason, and there are plenty of them. From the Coaches, and the film crew on the sideline, to the players on and off the field, rules need to be adhered to, and penelities need to be applied when these rules are broken.

On the field, when rules are broken by players, there are many penelities that can, and are frequently handed out, in the form of flags, loss of yardage and down, and in extreme cases fines, ejections, and/or suspensions, and when these rules are over looked, and a team that is on the down side of these rules that are broken, it is easy to understand the feeling of being "cheated", for example: The last two minutes in the Superbowl, when Eli Manning was being sacked, the ref should have called the obvious "holding" the Giants' offensive line commited , which has been caught on tape for anyone interested in seeing exactly what Im talking about.

Rules were broken, flags should have been thrown, penelities should have been issued. Blatent rules being broken deserve severe penelities. The offensive lineman, at certain points, were behind the defenders with their hands on their throats, holding their shirts, and grabbing on the defenders face masks. These "holding" rules were not enforced. This oversight of rules that were broken may have cost the New England Patriots the championship, and now I can empathize with the feeling of being "cheated" and it sucks, and so does the pie.

The rules should apply to all, or none.

 

[oldskool138]

While I don't agree with your appology for Spygate, I do agree with your other points. But only if you include the blatant non-call of OPI when the Giants WR pushed off and caught a pass for a long gain earlier in the game.

 

[PatriotsRule99]

Did you know that the play before the last touchdown was an illegal pick-play?...IDK what a Pick-play is (I have the gist of it) but it was illegal. And in the "Great Escape", Seymour had to let go of Manning to prevent his head from being ripped off (facemask). There was a guy shoving his hand up a Patriots facemask (facemask) and an O-lineman was holding a Pats defender (holding). Now, Im a big fan, but I dont know each and every penalty: would they have piled on the penalties? (Assuming the ref called them all, which would have been the right thing to do). That would be like...30-40 yards FROM THE SPOT OF THE FOUL, which would have been huge...

P.S. I liked your "article", very well written.

 

[stinkypete]

If the offense didn't play like crap for all but 2 drives I'd agree with you.

I love to blame officiating as much as the next guy, and I still think the 2006 AFCC against Indy was tainted by absurd calls and non-calls, but the Pats got beat in this one.

 

[pheenix11]

Humble pie is being generous. It was more like a shyt sandwich.

 

[VJ11]

....And in the "Great Escape", Seymour had to let go of Manning to prevent his head from being ripped off (facemask). There was a guy shoving his hand up a Patriots facemask (facemask) and an O-lineman was holding a Pats defender (holding). Now, Im a big fan, but I dont know each and every penalty: would they have piled on the penalties? (Assuming the ref called them all, which would have been the right thing to do). That would be like...30-40 yards FROM THE SPOT OF THE FOUL, which would have been huge...

P.S. I liked your "article", very well written.

Well, apart from the fact that the refs can't see everything that is going on in those situations, those non-calls go both ways. In the NFL it seems holding by an OLineman must be very obvious (like a wrestling take-down), or when the refs see someone do something borderline repeatedly. When multiple penalties are called against one team in a live situation, the other team has the option to accept each penalty individually. However, in some situations the lesser penalty is waived off and just the bigger penalty is applied. Penalties that are in the personal foul category are automatic 1st downs, or spot fouls going the other way, so they could end up costing the offense 20+ yards in stead of just 15.

I'm more upset about those fumbles that were wrestled away from the defender's grasp. Pierre Woods fumble recovery in the first half would have been HUGE, and a first down inside the Giants 30. That could have resulted in a 14-3 lead, and pretty much knock the wind out of the Giants, and give the Pats a much-needed morale boost.

 

[FloridaHerb]

I'm more ashamed of fans who don't have the balls to stick up for their team, if they had won the Super Bowl would you be apologizing?

I highly doubt it.

I support this team, I don't do it because it's my "hometown" team anymore I do it because I grew up in New England and I do it to honor and connect myself to the New England people.

What do you have to be ashamed of? Nothing!

What will you have to be proud of when this team comes in a year, two years or five years and wins again in the Super Bowl? Nothing!

BB did what he could to give the team a competitive edge, plain and simple. If it had not been for the Patriots recent accomplishments they never would have faced this kind of scrutiny and if you can't accept that as a fact then you're in total denial.

Close the windows, pull down the shades and keep an eye on the NFL Weather Channel, we'll notify you when the weather is fair again and you can safely root for "your team".

 

[DropKick Flutie]

Great post, but as everyone knows, they don't and shouldn't call ticky-tack holding penaltys at the end of close, championship games. Holding happens on every play.

 

[marcus]

Great post, but as everyone knows, they don't and shouldn't call ticky-tack holding penaltys at the end of close, championship games. Holding happens on every play.

TICKY TACK HOLDING PENALTY.
Thats your opinion.
A game changing play with blatant holding which clearly had an immediate imapat on the progression of the play.

Never the less, a championship team finds a way to overcome crappy non calls and the Patriots did not.

 

[DropKick Flutie]

TICKY TACK HOLDING PENALTY.
Thats your opinion.
A game changing play with blatant holding which clearly had an immediate imapat on the progression of the play.

Never the less, a championship team finds a way to overcome crappy non calls and the Patriots did not.

They would be stupid to call a holding penalty inside the last two minutes of a Superbowl. Ask a Seahawk fan... they got straight up robbed. The refs won't let that happen again.

When it counts, let the men play.

 

[Disco Volante]

When it counts, let the men hold.

 

[rhodeislandpatsfan]

For the first time this season I have finally tasted that famous "humble pie", and suffice to say, I wont be asking for seconds. Bill Belichick is a lousy baker, it tasted horrible, and I will not be leaving a tip.

I would also like to apologize to all the players, coaches, NFL staff, and fans across the league for the deplorable actions of my hometown team; videotaping football games for scouting purposes. Although, as reported by many NFL coaches, and NFL insiders, that this practice, stealing/ decoding hand signals is common place, videotaping was and is against the NFL rules, hence the New England Patriots were breaking rules, and more over "cheating" by doing so, regardless of reasoning behind it, and the frequency of the practice of scouting defensive coaches hand signals.

It was against the rules, and gave the Patriots an unfair advantage.

I now understand how everyone must have felt. There are all sorts of rules and regulations the NFL employs, and it dosnt matter what the rules are, even the riddiculous ones, they must be followed. The rules are in place for a reason, and there are plenty of them. From the Coaches, and the film crew on the sideline, to the players on and off the field, rules need to be adhered to, and penelities need to be applied when these rules are broken.

On the field, when rules are broken by players, there are many penelities that can, and are frequently handed out, in the form of flags, loss of yardage and down, and in extreme cases fines, ejections, and/or suspensions, and when these rules are over looked, and a team that is on the down side of these rules that are broken, it is easy to understand the feeling of being "cheated", for example: The last two minutes in the Superbowl, when Eli Manning was being sacked, the ref should have called the obvious "holding" the Giants' offensive line commited , which has been caught on tape for anyone interested in seeing exactly what Im talking about.

Rules were broken, flags should have been thrown, penelities should have been issued. Blatent rules being broken deserve severe penelities. The offensive lineman, at certain points, were behind the defenders with their hands on their throats, holding their shirts, and grabbing on the defenders face masks. These "holding" rules were not enforced. This oversight of rules that were broken may have cost the New England Patriots the championship, and now I can empathize with the feeling of being "cheated" and it sucks, and so does the pie.

The rules should apply to all, or none.

I called into the "Red Zone" on NFL radio on Sirius and brought up these points said, "I didn't want rain on their parade, but these calls should have been made". I was told that I should act like the New England Patriots and just accept the loss w/ grace and just move on. The kick in the teeth was that this advice came from former New York Giant Carl Banks, it was ridiculous, BTW the reason I called was because I was tired of having to hear the Patriots apologising for playing perfect all year and now being subjected to listening to all these analysts and experts dancing on their grave. In Bill and Tom we trust and I can't wait until next year!

 

[Ruby2]

I called into the "Red Zone" on NFL radio on Sirius and brought up these points said, "I didn't want rain on their parade, but these calls should have been made". I was told that I should act like the New England Patriots and just accept the loss w/ grace and just move on. The kick in the teeth was that this advice came from former New York Giant Carl Banks, it was ridiculous, BTW the reason I called was because I was tired of having to hear the Patriots apologising for playing perfect all year and now being subjected to listening to all these analysts and experts dancing on their grave. In Bill and Tom we trust and I can't wait until next year!

As if you guys didnt bring this all on yourselves... Banks is right, just accept it and move on.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

I'm more ashamed of fans who don't have the balls to stick up for their team, if they had won the Super Bowl would you be apologizing?

I highly doubt it.

I support this team, I don't do it because it's my "hometown" team anymore I do it because I grew up in New England and I do it to honor and connect myself to the New England people.

What do you have to be ashamed of? Nothing!

What will you have to be proud of when this team comes in a year, two years or five years and wins again in the Super Bowl? Nothing!

BB did what he could to give the team a competitive edge, plain and simple. If it had not been for the Patriots recent accomplishments they never would have faced this kind of scrutiny and if you can't accept that as a fact then you're in total denial.

Close the windows, pull down the shades and keep an eye on the NFL Weather Channel, we'll notify you when the weather is fair again and you can safely root for "your team".

It's early yet but POST OF THE YEAR contender.

 

[nittanylions52]

While I don't agree with your appology for Spygate, I do agree with your other points. But only if you include the blatant non-call of OPI when the Giants WR pushed off and caught a pass for a long gain earlier in the game.

OK, I'll give you that if you give me the ten times during the season that Moss pushed off right before catching a 50 yard prayer by Brady to the end zone.

I completely and utterly respect the original poster for writing what he did. That takes a lot of guts, especially on these boards where people wouldn't even appreciate an apology.

 

[PrairiePat]

I would also like to apologize to all the players, coaches, NFL staff, and fans across the league for the deplorable actions of my hometown team; videotaping football games for scouting purposes. Although, as reported by many NFL coaches, and NFL insiders, that this practice, stealing/ decoding hand signals is common place, videotaping was and is against the NFL rules, hence the New England Patriots were breaking rules, and more over "cheating" by doing so, regardless of reasoning behind it, and the frequency of the practice of scouting defensive coaches hand signals.

It was against the rules, and gave the Patriots an unfair advantage.

Ummm, since when? Games are videotaped by MULTIPLE cameras in different part of the stadium, for SCOUTING purposes. There are video tapes shot from the press box, the end zones, the network vantage points, and more. This is perfectly OK in the NFL. I wish people would get this straight (especially supposed Patriots fans).

The Patriots had a camera on the sideline videotaping the same game that is on these other multiple tapes, but this was against the rules only because of the location of the camera.

Quite the 'deplorable' action, eh? I mean, if you're going to make a sarcastic comparison of the Pats' rules violation to an offensive holding call, at least get the violation straight...

 

[Real American Hero]

When the result of the game hinges on a single play rarely can it be said you deserve to win. The Pats came up flat when it mattered most, and yeah it sucks. But its over and done and I expect this team to be hungrier than ever next season. If they win the Super Bowl next season it will be a tale of redemption, the media will probably be a lot more favorable and we'll all be happy.

 

[363839]

I'm more ashamed of fans who don't have the balls to stick up for their team, if they had won the Super Bowl would you be apologizing?

I highly doubt it.

I support this team, I don't do it because it's my "hometown" team anymore I do it because I grew up in New England and I do it to honor and connect myself to the New England people.

What do you have to be ashamed of? Nothing!

What will you have to be proud of when this team comes in a year, two years or five years and wins again in the Super Bowl? Nothing!

BB did what he could to give the team a competitive edge, plain and simple. If it had not been for the Patriots recent accomplishments they never would have faced this kind of scrutiny and if you can't accept that as a fact then you're in total denial.

Close the windows, pull down the shades and keep an eye on the NFL Weather Channel, we'll notify you when the weather is fair again and you can safely root for "your team".

DIng ding ding....we have a winner.
Great response.
As for all the newbies/trolls feigning contrition for this teams efforts for success....who are you crapping?

 

[TheRazor]

I'm more ashamed of fans who don't have the balls to stick up for their team, if they had won the Super Bowl would you be apologizing?

I highly doubt it.

I support this team, I don't do it because it's my "hometown" team anymore I do it because I grew up in New England and I do it to honor and connect myself to the New England people.

What do you have to be ashamed of? Nothing!

What will you have to be proud of when this team comes in a year, two years or five years and wins again in the Super Bowl? Nothing!

BB did what he could to give the team a competitive edge, plain and simple. If it had not been for the Patriots recent accomplishments they never would have faced this kind of scrutiny and if you can't accept that as a fact then you're in total denial.

Close the windows, pull down the shades and keep an eye on the NFL Weather Channel, we'll notify you when the weather is fair again and you can safely root for "your team".

Look, videotaping the opposing coaches hand signals is against the rules, videotaping the game for coaching/scouting purposes is ok. That being said, The new England Patriots didnt even formally request the hometown team, The NYJ, to have their cameramen out on THEIR field.

Like it or not, Mr. Fan/ Poster of the year contender, they broke rules.

"Cheating", no I dont believe it was "cheating" thats why I put "cheating" in "quotation marks". EVERY team scouts EVERY minor aspect another team shows in a public setting, hence closed practices. Whatever is displayed, on any given Sunday, is game for anyone who is watching. I am all for that, this is the big leagues, shoot... parents in Pop Warner to go opposing teams games to scout them out before their kids face them, and some tape them as well, why the hell would'nt pro teams do even better. I dont have a problem with this, and I dont consider scouting "cheating".

Breaking the rules is different, and technically that it is "cheating", regardless of the offense. Lets put it this way, buy Ernie Adams some high powered binnoculars, and someone who can dictate whatever he says, or better yet a tape recorder, or a three ring binder so he can take notes. Thats not illegal, thats not against the rules.

If the defensive hand signals can be broken down from the opposing team, so be it, and even better if that team is The New England Patriots.

Stick up for my team? Ive been doing that since I was a kid, and more so this season than any other.

I apologized to others for the feeling of being cheated. Its a sucky feeling, and thats exactly how I feel about this game. We were cheated out of our "Chance" (~Jr. Seau).

Someone else said "ticky tacky holding", someone said "let them play".

If this mentality stood, we would have lost the Ravens game.

Someone else said, "the last two minutes of a Superbowl game". Dood the last two minutes of any game, is up to the guys upstairs, and the refs on the field. I dont care what time of the game it is, if BLATENT holding allows the other team to benefit.... BLATENT HOLDING! They need to be called on it, thats not good blocking, thats not an elusive QB finding a way to win, thats bullshyt cheating to win.

or as you so eloquently labled it : doing "what he could to give the team a competitive edge, plain and simple."

So your mentality says, hey we did what we had to, we broke NFL rules, reagrding sideline videotaping of defensive coaches hand signals to get a competitive edge, its ok. Then it must be ok for offensiveline, on another team, to hold on to our star defensive lineman in, maybe the most pivitol play of the superbowl, by his throat, his shirt, and his facemask, just a competive edge.

Nah, Im not buying it. Fahk that, I feel cheated, and if thats how other fans across the league felt about this whole spygate thing, then I hear em loud and clear.

The rules should apply to all, or none.


oh btw.


I AM PROUD OF MY PATRIOTS, WIN OR LOSE