It is very sad that men, Steelers or not, have had to inject drugs for short term gains and long term harms. Definitely, Steeler players have used steroids and it probably was encouraged by the coaches on some level. But two wrongs don't make a right - and I will own that the Steelers were wrong to do this. Pointing this out doesn't make any other team cheating right.
As for this video stuff - my point is that the hoopla surrounding this is way overblown - particularly because its the Pats and because they are good and they win. Players like McNabb, Hines Ward, etc.. coming out and saying they lost because of this are just crying sour apples and its somewhat pathetic to hear. Did the Pats break a rule? Yes. But did this rule breaking make them win 3 SBs or even any one single game - I don't think so.
Using the CHEATING term shows that you believe that there is cheating involved. You can say it's cheating, but there is MUCH more grey here than you have been led to believe.
In the constitution and bylaws, there is a rule that says.
Any use by any club at any time, from the start to the finish of any game in which such club is a participant, of any communications or information-gathering equipment, other than Polaroid-type cameras or field telephones, shall be prohibited, including without limitation videotape machines, telephone tapping, or bugging devices, or any other form of electronic devices that might aid a team during the playing of a game.
This contradicts the RULE in the Game Operations Manual that GOODELL used that said.
NFL policy states that “no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game” and that all video shooting locations for club coaching purposes “must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.”
Granted, in spirit and intent, they both say the same thing, but they are worded differently, thus subject to interpretation. BB thought he had a loophole because he said that he did not use them for in-game use, only for post game review. He may have been being totally disingenuous, but according to the the rule he chose to follow, he had a good argument.
Now GOODELL (and the Comp. Com. that hates BB) were so pissed off they lowered the boom on him............. IMO mostly for his arrogant distain he shows towards them. Is what he did cheating? .......... no more then taking a few liberties on your tax-returns, then getting whacked with penalties and interest if you ever get audited. That totally different then TAX CHEATING or FRAUD (which they throw you in jail for). Trust me, if they ACTUALLY felt that he was cheating in the real sense of the word, he would have been suspended (likely for the year) and Kraft would have been force to fire him.
Again, Bill (stupidly) staked a crapload money (reputation, picks, etc..) on what essentially was a house hand. Stupid and arrogant perhaps........ cheating, Hardly. Video for in-game use, would be way to hard and cumbersome to do anyway. Must easier to do it the old fashion way..... Binocs and a steno pad.
I'll bet you fun money to marbles that the rule he cited, will be adjusted and modified to little fan-fare in the offseason. That my impression.
