John Madden's Two Cents
 

Madden, who coached the Oakland Raiders from 1969-79, said stealing signs is nothing new.

"Well, I mean, we all did it, and that was part of it, getting signals," he said. "Every coach in the world is always pushing to get a competitive advantage, that's always been happening.

"And if they are giving away cues, or clues, or whatever tendencies that you could pick up, you take them, and you play against them.

"Part of it is a player giving away a play. Part of it can be the snap count, part of it can be signals that they're signaling in, or you hear the things they yell. That's always been, happening from Day 1 of football."

The difference now, he said, "is it's become so sophisticated compared to when I coached. They not only have the tape after the game, but they have all the computer stuff to edit it. They know so much more about each other than we ever did."
Other than that, he said, nothing has really changed.

"It did happen when I was coaching, before I was coaching, and after I was coaching," Madden said. "The difference here is using videotape."

Madden also bemoaned the fact that the controversy detracted from last Sunday's game.

"The Patriots were so impressive against the Jets, especially their offensive line," he said. "They played really well, so there was a lot of good football there and a lot of things that they can carry over into this game."

Nice to see one person giving an honest perspective. Thank you, John Madden.

I'd like to see the media show the true reality of the situation. From their perspective, the Pats is the only team trying to pick up other teams' signals.

I've now come to the realization that the media is nothing but a circus of clowns.

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Good first post and welcome to the board.

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Sunday night the national media and azzclowns like Terrel Davis, Hines Ward and other get shutp up for good

Pats - 34
Charmers - 13

Lights out !:singing:

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

it would be nice if madden kept this attitude up and talked about it like that during the sunday night game. On National Television, in the pats first game since this b.s., it would nice to have a normal person explain how it really is.

I can't believe i just called that behemoth a normal person. whatever, you get the point

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Thanks for picking this up and it's great to think that he will have national air time on sunday night to express some of these thoughts.

Also, welcome to the board. You are off to a heck of a start! Does your screen name imply that you are from Alaska?

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

It will be interesting to see if he says the same thing on Sunday during the game

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Yest there will be a huge national audience and this will go a long way in restoring the Pats reputation. I was so hoping he would have that attitude

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Wow John Madden actually made a coherent & relative point. :p

Seriously though after giving this some thought he's exactly right. The Patriots could've just as easily if not more so jotted down the signals by hand. The fact that they did this so out in the open makes me think that Belichick trully didn't think he was ever breaking the rules. Do they deserve to be punished? Yes, but they don't deserve to be called cheaters IMO.

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

I have full faith our TEAM and COACH will restore the pride. I would love to hear the talk BB will give this team

Re: John Madden's Two Cents
 

Thanks!

Actually grew up in Maine, but have been living in Nashville for the past 15 years. Been a Pats fan all my life, always will be.

You should hear the foolishness and vitriol from the local sports radio shows here. They truly hate Belichick. Of course they disliked him before this fiasco. This has only provided them more ammunition. According two these two local hick-jockeys, Belechik has no class, is not a nice person, is a total jerk, was very very mean to Mangini (who I will now refer to as Meningitis for the rest of my life), etc. etc.

Of course Coach Fisher of the Titans has done his best to blow this way out of proportion. You would have though Belichick himself was holding the video camera during the Jets game. I'm thoroughly disgusted with Fisher, he whines more than a two-year old with loaded diapers.

No matter. I see the New England players using this to...
... hit a little harder,
...run a little faster, and
...score a few extra.