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CLICK HERE to Register for a free account and login for a smoother ad-free experience. It's easy, and only takes a few moments.That is what I don't understand .. The Krafts just sit there and take.. "Thank you sir, may I have another" .. They are gluttens for punishment to their franchise ..
Well, I understand why they just sat there during the season. Then the Walsh thing came out before the Super Bowl, so the entire offseason has been waiting for that to come out.
However, once we get past tomorrow, and theoretically all this stuff is over, then they are finally in position to fire away....
VERY impressive. I think it would be very hard for anyone to make logical arguments against what that website says. You did a very good job staying away from "Not fair, Patriots rule"/"Beli-cheat sucks" and focused on the facts available. Awesome!
I also think that this should be sent to major media outlets. It would be interesting to hear the responses you get from people in sportswriting.
the problem is that this stopped being about "logic" sometime in October,
when the Patriots should have put up a website like this themselves, as some of us suggested back then.
Long time reader... First time poster...
First off, solid work with the FRAMe website. Its refreshing to hear an objectively based argument in support of the Pats in this situation as having been a victim (to a certain extent) of a national media obsessed with the sensational. A lot of these facts have gotten lost in the shuffle since last September. I know it is tough at times to defend the Pats when discussing these matters with friends and colleagues that aren't quite as pro-Pats or at worse have an equally deep rooted distaste for the success of the Pats without letting our own affinity for this organization get in the way at times. Kudos, gentlemen, you managed to do just that.
One thing I have often thought would be at the very least an interesting read and could be a solid addition to your site, would be a page that listed out quotations from noteworthy figures both in support and in opposition to the Pats' practices... I'm referring obviously to former coaches like Jimmy Johnson who seems to be the most clean cut example of a public voice that called it as it truly is... People have been doing this since the early years of the game... That doesn't make it right that the Pats were doing it... But do we really need to kick them while they are down?
I'm pretty sure Johnson was not the only one to offer up a glimpse into the fact that this type of act has traditionally almost been accepted as a part of NFL culture... An additional example of the endless chess matches that teams and organizations engage in... Trying to outwit, out-think, and ultimately out-execute each other on the field.
I think Belichick and co. have remained quiet in the wake of the initial media onslaught largely due to an unparalleled respect for the history of the game... He was caught, he admitted wrong doing and tried to turn the page. And tear apart every other coach and team in his way in so doing. He was not going to whine to the press and throw so many of the games storied franchises and coaches under the bus simply because they paved the way... Belichick tried to take this in stride as best as he could, and how was he rewarded?
I think its comical that so many figures that have written chapters in the games history (e.g.- Don Shula) and current figures (Dungy) were so ready to step on Belichick's throat while he was down- all the while knowing full well that this type of thing was more of a variation of a commonplace activity than the total outrage as it was made to seem.
Belichick has been around the game of football his entire life, and began his ascent to the highest ranks in the history of the profession in 1975 at the tender age of 23... The guy has heard and seen it all, and learned and fine tuned his tactics from the biggest names and sharpest brains in the game's history...
It always amazes me that so few coaches and historical figures in the game have been willing (as Johnson has) to come to his defense.... Mangina be damned, I think that a database of reactions might be a solid addition to the already spectacular page you gentleman have put together...
No more fodder for the anti-Pats agenda! Keep fueling the fire with facts, because at the end of the day there can only be one organization who continues to do things the most intelligently, remain the most classy, uphold the highest standards, and remain the single most successful in the league... and there is no question that that is our New England Patriots... and my number one man-crush Bill Belichick.
Sorry for the rant fellas... and thanks for your hard work.
Nice work FGS.....Writing and creating a website like that puts my mind at ease. Knowing the facts are out there. You can't force a horse to drink but you can take him to the water.
I know this has been sent to most of the media around here....
I challenge all of the PATSFANS members from around the country to send this to all media whom they have read some factless story about spygate.
I know that the Krafts, specifically Jonathan, are closely connected to Harvard Business School. Unfortunately, when this mess is finished, I suspect that the B-School might want to use the Patriots' handling of the entire affair as a case study in disastrous crisis management
LOL first of all, Pony is being self-deprecating and gracious... I am hoping the "high brow" tone doesn't occur too often in the piece... but I'll take the gracious Mr. Express' excuse and keep qui bene unless everybody has the same reaction. Again, it IS true that this site is aimed to the media whores. Secondly I am pretty sure Pony is also the person who set me straight on several of the points these fact sheets cover.
Frank (Fgssand) has had amazing contacts throughout this process, bringing to life the actual contact with the people who should be reading this, and "making rain" in terms of knowing the right contacts and the right channels, and using them. He'll also be the public face/voice of the effort.
A tremendous thanks should also go to Wahwho, AKA John. He took on the hosting when my web-unsavvy mind hit the old brick wall, worked with us to troubleshoot a couple of obstacles, and got the actual webby work done quickly, attractively, and accurately.
Thanks too to all who worked on a "fact combing" thread here on PatsFans that served as our raw material. (PS, the Goodell interview from the Chargers game was in that thread or it was sent to me separately... I will have another look and possibly PM the earlier poster urging that we use it.)
I am still looking over the site too... guys please keep the suggestions coming. It's quite possible we'll have a whole other course to pursue tomorrow evening... but for now I think this is a useful first step to have public.
Everybody who has done work to make these few pages come to light did it on their own time, and I thank every one of you guys. (And of course, Ian, without whose work I would be in the hinterlands connecting every few weeks with another Pats fan, rather than daily.)
PFnV
Quick note to all:
I don't know when John can update the page, but I have updated the fact sheet "That's Football" to include more info on the Jimmy Johnson interview, including quotes.