Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth when calling plays
 

Arlen, could it be that other teams are trying to steal his signals? Jackass!

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

It's also a big part of why they put a speaker in the QB's helmets. As we all know, we didn't cheat we just broke a rule. Speeding, not drunk driving.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

I mean really, why do we even have signals in the first place? So teams don't know what you're doing because if you just said it out loud people would know and it'd give them an advantage. Does it make them dishonest? Not at all, if you can figure out what the other team is doing then more power to you. The only crime here is using the camera. No big deal really.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

It's not just because other teams might be cheating. There was a big deal with Mike Holmgren just this year where he got mad at the network cameras for focusing in on the wrong side of his cheat sheet (the one he covers his mouth with). Network cameras show head coaches all the time, and they probably don't want their plays to be given away on national TV.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

It gets cold up there in Philly, he doesn't want his chap lips exposed on national television.

Stealing signals? What?! Only the Patriots do that, ESPN told me.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

Right, who would want their plays on television besides other teams? And if you don't want your sheet shown cover your mouth with the menu that most of them look like they can't put down.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

The camera was focusing in on the side that was closest to his mouth. They focused in on an angle coming from behind him, and showed some of the plays. They backed off as soon as they realized, though. Obviously it's not the side that normally faces towards the cameras that they caught on video. And yes, teams do want the opponent's plays on TV. But there's a difference between Tivo-ing the game and deciphering plays from network tape and making your own. Just because they're covering their mouth doesn't mean the other team is specifically making a tape trying to steal the signals or plays.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

It's to prevent the other team from seeing what you're calling! Be it lip reading in real time, or tapes, and yes they're concerned about lip reading I've heard Eagles players confirm this on WIP well before the spygate thing. The point is if people are taking precautions from having their signals stolen it's probably because it happens all the time. Like people who live in a high crime area take many more precautions than those who don't. And please explain the difference between tivo'in it and making your own? The whole thing is ridiculous because if you were really worried about getting caught doing it a 3rd grader could come up with a way to tape signals and not get caught!!!!!!!!!!!! Fact is the rule was stupid, because their is so many ways to get around it.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

It's funny how this is always mentioned during games but the media and talking heads on ESPN act like they have never mentioned it before since spygate.

Re: Why does Andy Reid cover his mouth When calling plays
 

Wow, I had a feeling someone might ask "what's the difference between Tivo-ing it and making your own??" Well let's see...the cameras of the networks are controlled by the networks. They don't go out of their way to try and catch defense signals, etc. They try to show the play of the game, not steal signals. If you make your own, then surprise, that's against the rules.

And just because there's "so many ways to get around it" makes it a stupid rule? So would you say that the laws against insurance fraud, hacking, etc. are stupid because "there's so many ways to get around it?" It's a rule, get over it.

I'm sure that players are concerned about lip reading. So what? That has nothing to do with videotaping. There's a huge difference between lip reading (being perceptive) and purposely getting a video tape that you can try and interpret later (being deceptive).

As I stated in another thread - it's not the fact that signals are being stolen, it's the method of doing it. If you happen to look over to the sideline and see an opposing coach mouth "BLITZ," that's not against the rules. But using deceptive methods to try and steal the signals, that is.

Well, I'm glad your video guy wasn't smarter than a 3rd grader then. Because somehow, he got caught.