Now Skip Bayless Must Retract A Well-Worn Libel

Koma said:

The truthers think it could have happened, so it must be true, even if all the evidence is in their imaginations.

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This is what is called magical thinking. It is an actual medical term (you can look it up). Almost everything that is thrown at the Pats has its origin in magical thinking.

robertweathers said:

The actual issue/investigation/penalties/sanctions was resolved mid-September.

My point is that you didn't have Kraft or BB getting up on podiums, putting up web sites, shuttling to 345 Park Ave attending hearings or going to court in the middle of November.

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And that all lead to Spygate still being a widely discussed topic where, to this day, people are still making **** up as they go along.

KontradictioN said:

And that all lead to Spygate still being a widely discussed topic where, to this day, people are still making **** up as they go along.

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The average sportswriter from someplace like, say, Indianapolis believes that the Patriots win consistently because they have had regular access to opponents' defensive signals since the turn of the century. It is a belief that is so lacking in foundation and so utterly stupid that it defies all reason. The casual inclusion of this belief in everyday conversation has perpetuated this myth.

Zeus said:

The average sportswriter from someplace like, say, Indianapolis believes that the Patriots win consistently because they have had regular access to opponents' defensive signals since the turn of the century. It is a belief that is so lacking in foundation and so utterly stupid that it defies all reason. The casual inclusion of this belief in everyday conversation has perpetuated this myth.

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Then you have the genuises who take this as proof, saying why would everyone suspect them if nohing is happening? Where there is smoke their is fire.
Just gotta tune it out.

Patriots secret moon base confirmed

PATS16N0 said:

Patriots secret moon base confirmed

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Pats are so far in their heads, every week it's another version of "Being John Malkovich."

Zeus said:

The average sportswriter from someplace like, say, Indianapolis believes that the Patriots win consistently because they have had regular access to opponents' defensive signals since the turn of the century. It is a belief that is so lacking in foundation and so utterly stupid that it defies all reason. The casual inclusion of this belief in everyday conversation has perpetuated this myth.

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According to Mensa candidate Hines Ward, the Patriots were so good at stealing defensive signals that they were able to know their offensive plays. Bill is a f***ing genius.

Armchair Quarterback said:

You can thank Kraft's original capitulation for the record never being set straight on this. Their surrender on this never sat right with me. But Kraft has made a ton of money with the Pats being cheating public enemy #1, so it's all good.

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Kraft's capitulation? That's some seriously revisionist history. Kraft did't "capitulate," there simply wasn't anything he could do. Not only is there no formal process for a team to appeal a penalty, but under the owners' contracts with one another, they're not even supposed to publicly speak out against the commissioner's ruling.

Let's also remember that, while the significance of the infraction was blown out of proportion by several degrees of magnitude, the Patriots were technically guilty of what they were being punished for in that situation. What ended up screwing the Pats over during Spygate wasn't anything that Kraft did, but rather Belichick's refusal (despite Kraft's urging) to do any damage control w/ the media.

If, right out of the gate, Belichick had held a press conference in which he made clear exactly what the details of the infraction were (and, thus, how minor it was) and apologized for ignoring the memo, saying that while he may not have seen it as a big deal, he was neverthelesss wrong for not having deferred to the league's wishes on the matter, and that in the future, he would only record the opposing team's signals from league-approved locations.

Instead, by stone-walling and saying it was a league issue, and it was being handled by the league, and he had no further comments on it, he a) allowed the shouting heads of ESPN and the various butthurt ex-jocks who couldn't beat him during their playing days to set the frame for the controversy entirely unchallenged and b) came off as cagey and dismissive, making it seem like he had something to hide.

Now, we all know how Belichick feels about error-repeaters. That's why, this time around, he gave the (in)famous My Cousin Vinny press conference. But now, because of his unwillingness to do that kind of dog and pony show the first time around, the team already has a (undeserved) reputation, making it that much easier for Kensil et al. to set them up.

lamafist said:

If, right out of the gate, Belichick had held a press conference in which he made clear exactly what the details of the infraction were (and, thus, how minor it was) and apologized for ignoring the memo, saying that while he may not have seen it as a big deal, he was neverthelesss wrong for not having deferred to the league's wishes on the matter, and that in the future, he would only record the opposing team's signals from league-approved locations.

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I don't know for sure what you know about BB's actions versus what you are assumimg.

I would only point out in Footballs Obeying the Laws of Physics Gate. we learned after the fact and against the wishes of the NFL that the Patriots were operating under a gag order over the months it took Ted Wells to siphon $millions out of the pockets of the gullible NFL owners.

Now it's entirely possible that the league's modus operandi was less draconian while they sorted out Camera Placed in Illegal Location Gate. But how would we know that? Maybe the NFL hierarchy just recently learned to publicly lie through their teeth. Or maybe it's a skill and practice they refined a long time ago. Could it be that BB's hands were tied?

upstater1 said:

Don Shula?

Of Mud Bowl fame? He broke NFL rules and deliberately removed a tarp before the AFCCG in 1982.
The same Don Shula who signed a contract with the Dolphins while he had a long term contract with the Colts?
The same Shula who turned a blind eye to Mercury Morris and all the pregame coke festivities openly showcased in the locker room?

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http://www.thephinsider.com/2015/5/...cing-players-to-take-painkillers-to-remain-on

Just wondering, did Bayless ever make any kind of follow up response/apology to his comment about the Pats filming the Rams practice? Has anyone even called him out on it. Where the F##K is Tedy? Has he retired from being a commentator, or has he just lost his soul to the ESPM money machine.

Zeus said:

I don't know for sure what you know about BB's actions versus what you are assumimg.

I would only point out in Footballs Obeying the Laws of Physics Gate. we learned after the fact and against the wishes of the NFL that the Patriots were operating under a gag order over the months it took Ted Wells to siphon $millions out of the pockets of the gullible NFL owners.

Now it's entirely possible that the league's modus operandi was less draconian while they sorted out Camera Placed in Illegal Location Gate. But how would we know that? Maybe the NFL hierarchy just recently learned to publicly lie through their teeth. Or maybe it's a skill and practice they refined a long time ago. Could it be that BB's hands were tied?

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No. I know from friends of Myra Kraft that her husband was frustrated by Belichick's media strategy (or rather lack thereof) but deferred to BB because he'd promised he wouldnt interfere in how Bill ran the team.

Did the memo about the cameras have anything to do with recording other teams signals? For instance, were cameras not supposedly allowed there because it was enabling teams to do what the Patriots were doing? Trying to grasp whether they really got booked for cheating on basically a cosmetic issue.

vyrago said:

Rumor has it the Pats could see Russia from that camera position.

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Oh, it was at Sarah Palin's place?

patfanken said:

Just wondering, did Bayless ever make any kind of follow up response/apology to his comment about the Pats filming the Rams practice? Has anyone even called him out on it. Where the F##K is Tedy? Has he retired from being a commentator, or has he just lost his soul to the ESPM money machine.

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I tweeted him. No idea if he ever retracted as I don't watch the show. Can't stand either him or Stephen Asshat Smith.

Oswlek said:

According to Mensa candidate Hines Ward, the Patriots were so good at stealing defensive signals that they were able to know their offensive plays. Bill is a f***ing genius.

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Here's how dumb Hines Ward is on this topic:

The 2001 Steelers were the #1 rushing offense in the league.

In the divisional round, the Steelers beat the Ravens. They ran the ball 49 times for 154 yards. They attempted 22 passes.

Against the Patriots in the AFCCG, they ran 22 times for 58 yards and attempted 42 passes. This was with Jerome Bettis returning from injury.

How would the Patriots know the Steelers were going to go away from their running game? (You can see the play by play here. Stewart was throwing a lot early in the game, not just when Pittsburgh fell behind.) How would they "steal" signals sent in via radio to the QB? And how would they manage this in Pittsburgh's stadium? I don't think the Steelers would be so accommodating as to provide the Patriots a room to set up their decoding equipment.

Also, in terms of learning signals from previous games, the last time the Patriots played the Steelers before the 2001 AFCCG was in 1998, when Pete Carroll was head coach. The last time Belichick faced the Steelers was in 1995, when he was in Cleveland. It defies belief to think that the Steelers used the exact same signals for years, even though they went through different coordinators.

It's hard to believe Ward gets a pass on his whining and excuse making.

THank you Bob for capitulating to the POS and throwing BB under the bus.That policy and your neverending support for him has sure worked out well for the Pats and its fans.

Hines Ward is a CTE candidate (unfortunately) if there ever was one.

Koma said:

Here's how dumb Hines Ward is on this topic:

The 2001 Steelers were the #1 rushing offense in the league.

In the divisional round, the Steelers beat the Ravens. They ran the ball 49 times for 154 yards. They attempted 22 passes.

Against the Patriots in the AFCCG, they ran 22 times for 58 yards and attempted 42 passes. This was with Jerome Bettis returning from injury.

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Was that the "9 carries, 8 yards" game from Bettis?

Way to show up, Hall of Famer.

Oh yeah, and as far as Hines Ward:



Dirty, cheap-shotting POS.

lamafist said:

If, right out of the gate, Belichick had held a press conference in which he made clear exactly what the details of the infraction were (and, thus, how minor it was) and apologized for ignoring the memo, saying that while he may not have seen it as a big deal, he was neverthelesss wrong for not having deferred to the league's wishes on the matter, and that in the future, he would only record the opposing team's signals from league-approved locations.

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Umm, he did that. Unfortunately, BB doesn't get to decide the magnitude of the infraction. Only the Commish can do that unfortunately.