GrogansArmy
Third String But Playing on Special Teams
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In my opinion, the release of Brady's appeal transcript and us now being able to see all the shady things the NFL/Goodell are doing behind closed doors gives much more credence to the following post which was rumored to have been written by Jonathan Kraft shortly after spygate (specifically points 2 and 5):
From the ESPN Board: NEInsider Post #1: May 12, 11:41 am Quote | Report Violation Total Posts: 10
We were wrong and made a mistake. We as an organization failed and it will never happen again. Every NFL memo is now processed, analyzed, passed thru legal, and presented to both Bill, Scott., and all the coaches with the potential legal ramifications so EVERYONE knows what not to do.
That said here are the simple facts I know about Spygate and WalkthruGate:
1. We taped defensive signals and offensive formation signals and we still have video of other teams taping us. They are of little value since no team uses the same signals even from game to game, quarter to quarter, and sometimes from series to series. We do it to FORCE the opposition to stay on thier toes and change signals hoping they mix up signals and have a bad play that results in a big play for us. There are no offensive signals only formation signals which are useless and they were taped at the same time as offensive signals and WERE possibly even on the Spygate tape. Any claims are baseless on this.
2. As to those that wanted Bill to talk about it after it happened this is what happened. We were forbidden by the NFL and God, aka Goodell, from speaking about this in public to ANYONE. Bill was told to keep his mouth SHUT and to offer no comment before and AFTER the initial resolution by the NFL. If Bill had commented or held a press conference the fine and penalties would have been increased. This indicated to us we were guilty before any investigation and were the example Goodell wanted to show the NFLPA he wasn't biased towards players only. Quite pathetic if you ask me but again we were wrong and put ourselves into this position.
3. We did not want the tapes destroyed. We preferred they be released since they basically proved we did nothing since some of the tapes destroyed were processed tapes that prove there was little value to us other than aggravating the other team . Several showed coaches waving to our videographer, several other with obscene gestures, coaches laughing at us, and some hot cheerleader video for the enjoyment of those given the boring job of proecessing video that had zero intrinsic value.
4. Based on player involvement and packages sent onto the field we know instantly what the base defense is before we call the offensive signal. Tom then looks at the manner in which the opponent lines up and 75% of the time knows the exact defense being run and after the snap knows what is happening 99% of the time. If a team throws a new wrinkle it is cataloged and legally photgraphed from the Coaches Box and sent automatically down for analysis. Sometimes, think Giants in SB, it takes time to re-tool the offensive scheme for a great defensive game plan. By the end of the Superbowl we had the Giants defense figured out but in a tribute to the Giants DC that defense was a thing of beauty and the most difficult defense to decipher. It is sort of what we did to Rams in 2001 SB. Eventually they figured it out and thankfully for us in 2001 and unfortunately for us in 2007 SB it was too late. That defense will NEVER work against us again.
5. Goodell has serious issues within the NFL ownership. He has not made friends with his inability to keep his mouth shut before issues are resolved within the framework of the NFL structure. The Niners organization is livid at him for the sanction they received over free agent contact since they never initiated the contact and in this case everyone really does it.
6. The Kraft family was a Goodell supporter and will never openly criticize him but they are livid over the way Spygate was handled and the fact Goodell hung them out as "Cheaters" when he absolutely knew it never helped during a game and then on national TV aknowledged frivilous accusations like phone tampering etc. when he stated more punishment would be added if necessary instead of doing the right thing and stating such claims were baseless without proof since he knew we could never tamper with phones since we never knew what system or what frequency was availbale to us until game time. A little clue on this one. Not having Robert and Jonathon Kraft on your side makes job security an issue since they are the deal makers and the ownership most willing to compromise to help the smaller market teams. In other words they have lots of friends in the NFL ownership circle.
7. I just learned about this fiasco. We knew early on about Mr Walsh. Goodell should have headed this off but for whatever reason did not. Goodell let it come to what it is today since we were forbidden to talk about it again. We were assured by Goodell nothing would come of it since there was nothing he could have that could harm us. From day one Goodell knew there was no available power to video anything during a walkthru and that we had NO batterypacks when there to setup our cameras. The fiasco at the Superbowl is Goodell's fault and it did not cost us the win. The Giant defense won the game but it certainly made the experience at this Superbowl unpleasant. This was another strike with the kraft family in particular.
8. I now believe John Tomase was set up by either Spector, Comcast, or Walsh's lawyer or a combination thereof with that story and I actually think they were the source. In retrospect he probably should have known better since his sources had agendas but Tomase was always one of the most pleasant reporters around the team. It is sad but he could lose his position over this because certain unscrupulous politicians, lawyers, and companies had an agenda designed to embarrass the NFL and used him as a dupe. For Tamase's sake I hope he recorded those conversations and realizes his ultimate responsibility is to release those conversations, if he has them, let the truth come out, and possibly save his butt. At worst he should reveal who they were and let the chips fall where they should.
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