ESPN's new "article" on Pats cheating, by former Panthers GM

Ice_Ice_Brady · Jan 23, 2015

In all the years, I have never been one to boycott or stop watching any news station for a perceived slight, but I have finally gone over the edge. Between this and Ian O'Connor's slandarous article about Brady (which includes zero actual facts), I am truly done with ESPN. I will never go to their website again, delete their app from my phone, and only watch if absolutely necessary for a live game.

This truly may be the worst article I have ever read, by journalistic standards, and of course it is a major headline on ESPN's main page. First, it looks like it may have been partially written in 2007, based on the out-of-context quotes. It is some jerk's opinion that doesn't include a single tangible fact or legitimate suspicion. My favorite part is:

Hurney made it clear the Panthers weren't completely innocent of violating rules during their Super Bowl year. He reminded that a report came out after the season that several Carolina players bought steroids from a South Carolina physician.

Among those cited in the report were three of the five starting offensive linemen.

"That was wrong," Hurney said. "The organization didn't know anything about it and we took steps and we addressed that. We weren't going to put up with that. [Team owner] Jerry Richardson wasn't going to put up with that."

Oh that's right, you're team was actually caught doing something that gives a decided competitive edge, but that's okay because you are a good person who wants to do the right thing. What a hypocritical, self-righteous jackass.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/1...spygate-amid-new-england-patriots-controversy

Big-T · Jan 23, 2015

You're done with ESPN but have linked to their website which generates them money? Seems legit.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: If you're "done" with ESPN, PFT, SI do not read articles by them, link to the articles or anything - doing so just gives them money.

dales804 · Jan 23, 2015

Just read it, too. "Someone swears to me somebody taped our practice in Houston!" Yup. We've heard this before. Sore loser. "I don't want to sound like a sore loser..." Too late.

His team outright cheated (gained an advantage by taking steroids) and I have never once heard NE or anyone associated with the Pats say anything about it. I could be wrong. But this ******* gets to be high and mighty because "Mr. Richardson did the right thing. When is Kraft going to?" ****.

RobertWeathers · Jan 23, 2015

Only thing missing from that article was that he didn't accuse BB of having sex with his wife.

Todd Bradley · Jan 23, 2015

The grapes are oh so sour.....

So the Pats cheated in 2004, with a rule that wasn't enforced until 2006, but your O-Line juiced up and that's no biggie.

K.

Done with ESPN forever with this nonsense. Unless the Pats, Celtics or Sox are playing on that channel, and it's the only way I can watch the game, then I will tune in. Other than that, they're finished in my household for counting to post this yellow journalism garbage.

juny · Jan 23, 2015

Big-T said:
You're done with ESPN but have linked to their website which generates them money? Seems legit.

NOTE TO EVERYONE: If you're "done" with ESPN, PFT, SI do not read articles by them, link to the articles or anything - doing so just gives them money.

I want to be done with them but I still like Reiss

Onedaful · Jan 23, 2015

Pats v the world. Nothing new

Big-T · Jan 23, 2015

juny said:
I want to be done with them but I still like Reiss

A lot of people do but because he works for ESPN I'm done with his stuff. If he has an ounce of integrity he would resign, he would be picked up elsewhere instantly.

VrabelJr · Jan 23, 2015

I've gotten so fed up with ESPN that I added rules to my computer that automatically redirect espn.go.com website to patsfans.com.

Bobsyouruncle · Jan 23, 2015

DarrylS · Jan 23, 2015

Why don't one of these scribes track down Mallett, Cassell, Hoyer or Guitteriez instead of recycling old news... they could even contact Bill O'Brien...

VrabelJr · Jan 23, 2015

Big-T said:
A lot of people do but because he works for ESPN I'm done with his stuff. If he has an ounce of integrity he would resign, he would be picked up elsewhere instantly.

Yeah this is how I feel, too. A guy like Mike should have plenty of options. ESPN has completely **** all over his blog. It disgusts him and it disgusts us. Maybe DeflateGate will be the straw that broke the camels back with regard to Reiss and ESPN.

Buchanty · Jan 23, 2015

....and opinions continue to drive mythology - sadly nothing can be done about it. At one time I had hoped that after retirement BB and TB could dispel the myths to an intelligent biographer. I now believe that the myths have long taken over as fact, and the foundation for new myths that will never be corrected.

I was even saddened to see the BBC misreport Spygate by citing that the Patriots had taped the Jets practices enabling Brady to determine what defensive plays they were going to meet.

Neither BB or TB have been dishonest (BB admitted to taping in the wrong position on the sideline, and took the fall for a discrepancy in camera placement), the taping of practices was a libel that was redacted, with the redaction forgotten).... and that's it. Somehow between cameragate (incident) and deflategate (as yet an unproven coincident) the Patriots have demonstrated a pattern (3 or more incidents) or as reported in this article a culture (ie continuous incidents). It will take more than the talents of a Pulitzer or even Nobel Laureate to turn the tide of unjustified public opinion.

Our only recourse is to engage politely and repeat the facts for those willing and able to hear and cogitate.

Crononaut · Jan 23, 2015

As a Newfoundlander in Canada, I'm no stranger to self-deprecation, and you Bay Staters* are like long lost cousins of masochism. No wonder I became a Pats fan!

Since this whole thing started, I've restrained myself and have been following it almost exclusively through this site, Twitter, and NFL.com.

ESPN is never getting any interaction from me again as far as football is concerned (nor Sports Illustrated). No articles, no videos. Not sure what to do about live games - obviously this is the best way to boycott their product, and if I knew my viewership was being monitored whatsoever or had a ratings box I absolutely would boycott the sh!t out of it, but not much point if it literally makes no difference. Maybe for own peace of mind.

*Is that the correct term? My guess of 'Massachussettian' was inelegant and limiting, so Googled the proper term but mostly got more haters.

PatsWickedPissah · Jan 23, 2015

Massholes is more appropriate

ralmat55 · Jan 23, 2015

Who here would agree with me on this? If Bill Belichick had filmed the Panthers pre-Super bowl walk through, my guess is his team would have won by a little more than a last second FG, wouldn't you think? Same for the Rams.

What this story shows is the paranoid hatred that is driving all of this. Shame on ESPN for this slanderous rubbish.

QuantumMechanic · Jan 23, 2015

If you give links here to ESPN, etc., do it via DoNotLink so they don't get Google credit:

http://www.donotlink.com/dnl/faq

The Boston Patriot · Jan 23, 2015

Buchanty said:
....and opinions continue to drive mythology - sadly nothing can be done about it. At one time I had hoped that after retirement BB and TB could dispel the myths to an intelligent biographer. I now believe that the myths have long taken over as fact, and the foundation for new myths that will never be corrected.

I was even saddened to see the BBC misreport Spygate by citing that the Patriots had taped the Jets practices enabling Brady to determine what defensive plays they were going to meet.

Neither BB or TB have been dishonest (BB admitted to taping in the wrong position on the sideline, and took the fall for a discrepancy in camera placement), the taping of practices was a libel that was redacted, with the redaction forgotten).... and that's it. Somehow between cameragate (incident) and deflategate (as yet an unproven coincident) the Patriots have demonstrated a pattern (3 or more incidents) or as reported in this article a culture (ie continuous incidents). It will take more than the talents of a Pulitzer or even Nobel Laureate to turn the tide of unjustified public opinion.

Our only recourse is to engage politely and repeat the facts for those willing and able to hear and cogitate.

Won't work, ever, so why try? The best approach is to ignore the morons and let them talk to empty barrels or the idiots (same thing) that want to listen to their drivel. There seems to be plenty of the idiots so they won't be lonely.

Crononaut · Jan 23, 2015

PatsWickedPissah said:
Massholes is more appropriate

When I did my search that was all that came up, even on a site saying "The proper term for someone from such-and-such is:". Figured I'd go PC, although (most of) this board is pretty good at taking a ribbing.

Fansince77 · Jan 23, 2015

Todd Bradley said:
The grapes are oh so sour.....

So the Pats cheated in 2004, with a rule that wasn't enforced until 2006, but your O-Line juiced up and that's no biggie.

K.

Done with ESPN forever with this nonsense. Unless the Pats, Celtics or Sox are playing on that channel, and it's the only way I can watch the game, then I will tune in. Other than that, they're finished in my household for counting to post this yellow journalism garbage.

Hey, welcome to the club..been ESPN free for 7 years,and truth be told never really watched them all that much anyways. Really surprised they don`t have Pig wrestling. WWE or Jerry Springer on.

When I am FORCED to watch for that one or 2 games when they are airing the Pats, hearing the TV personalities always reminds me why I view them as a 3rd rate Sports Network.

Funny, I found out last night that ABC won`t let me comment on their articles anymore. and I see ESPN will also remove peoples comments from their site, which I clicked on a link someone here provided and it was ESPN, I certainly don`t make a habit of reading their articles, but in regards to this topic wanted to get my 2 cents in, they removed some comments .what a surprise. They can find time to delete comments they don`t like, yet when it comes to airing factual information on National TV, this so calld integrity they talk about isn`t found. Bunch of hypocritical blowhards.

ESPN's new "article" on Pats cheating, by former Panthers GM

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