I, like some, have tried to address people in the media or in the internet world. My suggestion is to take it one idea at a time.
I will not focus on all the below points, but just what the mediaperson or internet warrior specifically has addressed. It's best to knock down someone's misconception one at a time.
Here's a list of my talking points or Message to the Media Toolkit (and others)
As you will see I like to use references. I have gotten responses along the lines of "Ok, I didn't know that, but..." which I take as a victory. Then on to the next battle.
Message to the Media Toolkit Use as needed.
1) Misconception that stealing signs is illegal. I guote Clayton and Shanahan.
I add an excerpt from the Dolphins/Patriot audiblegate article.
Links:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2696227
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/magazine/life_of_reilly/news/2002/01/09/life_of_reilly/
2) Misconception that taping is illegal. Teams tape. I quote Greg Aiello's comments on the Jets taping. I ask if this overrides p105 of Operations Manual, Anderson's memo or the Constitution and By-Laws.
Links:
http://www.nypost.com/seven/12132007/sports/jets/tape_that_pats__256096.htm
http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?p=2789205
3) No spying. You can't spy on something out in the open. Goodell noted that on a tape an opposing coach waved at the camera. Not secret. Your cameraphone can capture coaches on the sidelines.
I'll add what spying really is and add a quote about the Broncos.
Link:
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=jc-historynflcheating&prov=yhoo&type=lgns
But the NFL thought that was a "team issue." ( Kind of like changing signals?)
4) Misconception that the taping of coaches signals automatically means you know the signals or get them correct or use them correctly. The Jet's tape showed three different coaches giving different sets of signals. Watch that tape once and it won't tell you much. You would have do a fair amount of tape-watching to get it right, if you do get it right. But some people like that sort of thing.
5) I quote the Consitution and by-laws and give an example of non-in game use. For example, Teams can't look at game tape during the game, they can look on Friday and Saturday, but not on Sunday during the game. The prohibition of looking at tape during a game been long-standing and established.
6) At some point the practice was deemed ok. Not "that everyone does it" but to show that it seems to have been standard practice for some. It's unclear when it was deemed not ok. I note that Anderson's memo talks about taping from certain locations.
Link:
http://www.bostonherald.com/blogs/s...23/jimmy-johnson-thinks-spygate-is-overblown/
(Sorry Herald boycotters, it's the best link I have)
7) I note how Goodell is backtracking. He is now talking about how teams are always interested in other teams signs. He talks about it's the team's responsibility to change signs. He is no longer using the language he used last September. I say that I suspect that Goodell and his staff know they overdid it. I suspect he got a lot of flack from team staff along the lines of "Did you need to blow that up?"
I suspect that if Goodell had a time machine, he'd do things much differently.
8) I will say the Patriots broke a rule that appears to be the same rule against having a cameraman on the sidelines taping cheerleaders or taping Ed Hochuli flexing his musles or picking his nose.
Recently, I (through email) I got a radio host to know that the Patriots lost the Tampa Bay game mentioned in the NY Times article and that stealing signs is ok. You will get people to respond "Oh, I know that stealing signs is not against the rules" but they really didn't and you got that off the table. Then I focus on the taping aspect bringing up other talking points.