Congress must launch LEAGUE WIDE investigation

[the taildragger]

If the problem is, as specter says, "cheating" -- you can't confine your probe to just 1 of 32 teams.

There is plenty of testimony from highly decorated coaches/players that recording signals and other forms of "cheating" are widespread....

Mitchell didn't just go after Barry Bonds....they went after MLB and in doing so caught another big fish in Roger Clemens.

The Around the Horn analysts are all too happy to side with Specter in opening a general investigating into the Pats, simply because they have been a successful team, a dynasty, that has won 3 super bowls.

that's not how justice works.

Clearly Specter should simply go away. But if he is going to pull out some more worms he has to open the whole can.

Let's throw the light of truth everywhere, let's get some perspective here....expose the inner workings of the league....let's see how impartial Peter King -- the voice of the fans -- really is when they start going after EVERY team for cheating. King has his own agenda dating back to BB's stonewalling in September.

In the meantime, Matt Walsh please go away....THIS GUY WAS A NOBODY. a braggart. Never once spoke to BB....yet has the gall to characterize senior administration to the commissioner? He has an obvious axe to grind after being fired for STEALING and compromising proprietary materials from the Pats....this is the star witness?....this is a guy who -- according to Sal Pal -- "proves" something/anything.....he is a proven liar and that is all. If Specter wants to tie his legacy to a scandal based on the rumormongering of Matt Walsh so be it.

I say bring it on.

But you can't have a "let's get the Pats for kicking our ass" inquiry. It must be a just, full and fair investigation that must also shed light on the accepted norms and practices of the NFL.

go C's.

 

[fair catch fryar]

Yea! What he said.

 

[N.Eman]

goin to all 32 teams is exactly what he should do. Not just video taping, but go after everything. I bet he'll find other crap from other teams

 

[IcyPatriot]

Sounds good to me ... a good start will be to supeana the Patriots for all evidence they have on other teams taping practices.

 

[sieglo]

Why stop there. Let's set up a whole new government agency to regulate professional sports.

Because we al know that government does everything better and more efficiently.

 

[Pats726]

A few months ago...I sent letters to various members of the Judiciary Committee and mentioned just that...a TOTAL investigation...OR NONE!!

 

[lorijean]

Good post.

I don't think it will get to an investigation. Certainly not of only the Pats. I know many of the posts on other sites call for an investigation but most of them are advocating a league wide one....fine with me. The NY papers have been digging for dirt for months. Let some of the other teams feel some heat.

 

[Tucker]

I was thinking this earlier today while watching Spectors press conference.

on a sarcastic side note

Why cant the patriots organization just say they should be covered under the Patriot Act signed by President Bush, because coaches of other teams could be terrorists signaling to jihadists in the crowd:bricks:

 

[the taildragger]

and just a hint, but you might want to look into "Howard Mudd" (aka, the inventor of the freaking videotaping process)

it all comes down to whether or not you understand football. Journalists, for the most part do not. Specter sure as hell does not. The offense dictates to the defense. This is why OCs and QBs get a microphone....if you could somehow intercept those signals that definitely would give you a HUGE advantage....this is what Miami was caught doing to NE in 2006 (which was summarily swept under the rug by Aiello and the NFL).

Nobody really cares about defensive signals because by the time you send out your personnel and declare your formation, the defense is reacting and adjusting to you....and then there's that final adjustment -- the QB scanning the field pre-snap -- he's checking off based on WHAT HE SEES....not based on anything he hears in his freaking headset in the huddle...it's so dumb.

did they gain an advantage? Sure, in the sense it created a massive distraction for the other team...but to answer that question you are making assumptions about the behavior of the Pats' opponents.

The assumption is that the Pats are the only team doing this. You can't launch a taxpayer funded probe off of a fallacious assumption like that -- especially when it has already been destroyed by people like Jimmy Johnson (who might be a bit more credible than Matty Walsh)....most former players and coaches haven't piled on the Pats but have been deafly silent....I wonder why.

 

[Gunnails]

At this point this is not about cheating or congresional hearings, This is all about the NFL lowering the cost they charge the cable companies for the NFL Network.

If the NFL lowered the price, Specter, would go away tommorow.

IMHO.

 

[trustedwithangels]

see here...this was on the front page of DIGG tonight...

http://richardovervold.blogspot.com/2008/05/arlen-spector-to-blow-taxpayer-dollars.html

 

[IcyPatriot]

Senator Pecker should authorize an investigation into why his QB was barfing and saying "no mas" during the game in question.

 

[Frezo]

Why stop there. Let's set up a whole new government agency to regulate professional sports.

Because we al know that government does everything better and more efficiently.

...a luxury box for every senator and a senator in every luxury box

 

[Frezo]

At this point this is not about cheating or congresional hearings, This is all about the NFL lowering the cost they charge the cable companies for the NFL Network.

If the NFL lowered the price, Specter, would go away tommorow.

IMHO.

Don't forget Sunday Ticket.

 

[Rob0729]

As much as I would love to see other teams to go through what we have the last few months especially teams that were so smug and arrogant about the whole thing, I just want the whole thing to end and be done with.

There is no real need to do an independent investigation either of the Patriots or the entire league. Teams bend and break rules all the time in all sports. If you did an independent investigation of any sport and threw enough money behind the investigation, you could bring down any sport. But is that good for the fans or the game itself?

 

[the taildragger]

As much as I would love to see other teams to go through what we have the last few months especially teams that were so smug and arrogant about the whole thing, I just want the whole thing to end and be done with.

There is no real need to do an independent investigation either of the Patriots or the entire league. Teams bend and break rules all the time in all sports. If you did an independent investigation of any sport and threw enough money behind the investigation, you could bring down any sport. But is that good for the fans or the game itself?

agreed, but on the other hand a george mitchell style probe into the inner workings of the NFL might be the only thing that restores our reputation at this point.

Goodell continues to assert the Pats are the only team he believes was doing this (a total cop out)...I just think it needs to be spearheaded by a guy who is credible like Patrick Leahy rather than a guy paid by comcast to threaten/fight the NFL.

 

[Rob0729]

agreed, but on the other hand a george mitchell style probe into the inner workings of the NFL might be the only thing that restores our reputation at this point.

Goodell continues to assert the Pats are the only team he believes was doing this (a total cop out)...I just think it needs to be spearheaded by a guy who is credible like Patrick Leahy rather than a guy paid by comcast to threaten/fight the NFL.

It really doesn't matter what Goodell says. Half the country feels he took it easy on his friend Bob Kraft and hid other evidence that could sink the Patriots. I don't think Goodell's comments have any bearing because most people are either firmly entrenched in the NFL cover up or NFL persecution camp with few in between.

I don't think anything can restore the Patriots reputation other than time. Just because other teams get caught cheating probably won't stop the hatred of the Patriots or people's beliefs that there needs to be an asterick next to the Patriots Super Bowl wins. If Spygate happened to a team like the Cardinals, it would have been forgotten in October of last year. People just don't like Belichick or the Patriots.

 

[Truck]

I agree with this.

If Specter or Congress really wants to know the truth about cheating, camera use, spying;

All they have to do is get ex coaches to testify under oath. Ex coaches have no reason to tell the truth to a reporter; but they also have no reason to lie under oath (unlike current baseball players who have an image and money at stake in the steriods hearings)

 

[fgssand]

agreed, but on the other hand a george mitchell style probe into the inner workings of the NFL might be the only thing that restores our reputation at this point.

Goodell continues to assert the Pats are the only team he believes was doing this (a total cop out)...I just think it needs to be spearheaded by a guy who is credible like Patrick Leahy rather than a guy paid by comcast to threaten/fight the NFL.

I happen to think that evidence leaked of a few other teams doing basically the same damn thing (or worse) would go a long way to ending this entire matter.

That, along with solid football explanations of exactly what this scouting information really amounts too (not much as a matter of fact).

Without both of those things happening, the issue will never be put in the proper perspective.

 

[Marko]

I happen to think that evidence leaked of a few other teams doing basically the same damn thing (or worse) would go a long way to ending this entire matter.

That, along with solid football explanations of exactly what this scouting information really amounts too (not much as a matter of fact).

Without both of those things happening, the issue will never be put in the proper perspective.

I've been saying this for awhile. Goodell has to stop thinking that hiding the real truth protests the league's crediility. This is one of those cases where showing the real gamesmanship of the game would help the credibility.