Possible Punishments: ESPN update 10:16 per Clayton

[85_skill]

Doesn't Clayton remember this article (already posted) where he says, "Stealing signs is part of football?"

What a hypocrite. But I suppose we'll all have to get used to it until the penalty comes down.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2696227

So stealing is OK because everyone says its okay to do it?


So is Pitt-Bull fighting okay, because everyone else is doing it..

Yeah glad your not a law-maker, is that your excuse oh because
everyone else is doing it,,. then it cant be wrong?

No one else was doing it except the Patriots...

The Patriots do not walk on water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Eugene Chung]

So stealing is OK because everyone says its okay to do it?


So is Pitt-Bull fighting okay, because everyone else is doing it..

Yeah glad your not a law-maker, is that your excuse oh because
everyone else is doing it,,. then it cant be wrong?

No one else was doing it except the Patriots...

The Patriots do not walk on water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to blow things out of proportion. Stealing signals is a littttttttttle different than pitbull fighting.

 

[PonyExpress]

My feeling is that "mgteich", who sounds an awful lot like Ian, has inside knowledge of this matter to which we are not privy. Otherwise he would not be so somber faced with these charges, in a league rife with gamesmanship. To me BB was pushing the envelope intentionally as a FU to the competition committee, who blatantly ignore so much opposition chicanery in the league. The fact that so many leaks have been sprung attacking him is merely a backlash from this same vindictive crew who know how much he despises them.

 

[Trot]

So stealing is OK because everyone says its okay to do it?


So is Pitt-Bull fighting okay, because everyone else is doing it..

Yeah glad your not a law-maker, is that your excuse oh because
everyone else is doing it,,. then it cant be wrong?

No one else was doing it except the Patriots...

The Patriots do not walk on water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you five years old? Good grief.

 

[Patriot Missile]

This changes nothing. Teams will always steal signals one way or another regardless of the punishment. Each team is allowed two endzone cameras and 3 box cameras. Everyone is doing this, they just weren't stupid enough to put someone on the sideleines. Jeremy Green from espn radio mentioned this tonight and laughed about it. He basically said when he was an assistant working for whatever team he worked for this was common practice and had also mentioned from the coaches box that the camera can zoom into the coaches faces perfectly. Whatever it took to get the edge. Sure they are suppose to turn over the film but don't tell me they aren't edited first.

Take the draft picks, we deserve to lose them for the stupidity involved. It is almost laughable in a way that some are so naive to think we are the only team to steal signs though when there is plenty of media articles out there saying it happens all the time.

 

[Trot]

My feeling is that "mgteich", who sounds an awful lot like Ian, has inside knowledge of this matter to which we are not privy. Otherwise he would not be so somber faced with these charges, in a league rife with gamesmanship. To me BB was pushing the envelope intentionally as a FU to the competition committee, who blatantly ignore so much opposition chicanery in the league. The fact that so many leaks have been sprung attacking him is merely a backlash from this same vindictive crew who know how much he despises them.

ok then--lets have the info...paging mgteich...

 

[JJDChE]

Way to blow things out of proportion. Stealing signals is a littttttttttle different than pitbull fighting.

Actually, "stealing" signals isn't even stealing. It's not illegal to videotape the opposite sideline during the game.

Comparing videotaping the other teams sideline to actually stealing something from another person is downright stupid.

 

[mgteich]

We had this discussion this morning when most thought this was a hoax.

Through the afternoon, when most thought a fine a perhaps a 3nd draft pick will end it all.

This evening, we are coming to understand that all of fines, drafted choices and suspensions may be inflicted. We are coming to understand that just PERHAPS Belichick did indeed violate NFL rules many times and has been warned many times.

If Belichick knew about this from the beginning, the BEST case is a several game suspension from the league, in which case Kraft can (as he did with Harrison) simply accept the leagues's penalty and go forward.

And yes, this will all be about the success of the patriots and the NFL, and yes, this is Kraft's business interests that are at stake. If you think for a moment that Kraft will allow Belichick to continue because we won three Super Bowls, you are seriously mistaken. The decision will be made based on what happened over months and years, and what Belichick knew. It will be based on what he kept from Scotty and Jonathan. And, of course, the most important factor is what is best for the future of the New England Patriots.

If this is overblown, then this will blow away in a few weeks, and all this speculation is all about nothing. My fear is that what we know is just the beginning, and that there is lots, and lots more.

And perhaps I should have phrased it a bit differently, but the ownership will make the ultimate decisions. To say that Belichick IS the front office is simply not true. Belichick certainly understands that. Many others are involved, vertainly including the Krafts.

You do a good job on the site, mgteich, and godluvya, but Newsflash: Belichick IS the "Front Office." Assume BB knew everything about this from the beginning: are you saying Kraft will fire him or not?

What other "incidents" are you referring to? 3 SBs? The incredible increase in value in the Pats that BB has spawned? What? Kraft is a businessman, not an idiot: he will keep his best asset.

 

[Phoenix111]

We had this discussion this morning when most thought this was a hoax.

Through the afternoon, when most thought a fine a perhaps a 3nd draft pick will end it all.

This evening, we are coming to understand that all of fines, drafted choices and suspensions may be inflicted. We are coming to understand that just PERHAPS Belichick did indeed violate NFL rules many times and has been warned many times.

If Belichick knew about this from the beginning, the BEST case is a several game suspension from the league, in which case Kraft can (as he did with Harrison) simply accept the leagues's penalty and go forward.

And yes, this will all be about the success of the patriots and the NFL, and yes, this is Kraft's business interests that are at stake. If you think for a moment that Kraft will allow Belichick to continue because we won three Super Bowls, you are seriously mistaken. The decision will be made based on what happened over months and years, and what Belichick knew. It will be based on what he kept from Scotty and Jonathan. And, of course, the most important factor is what is best for the future of the New England Patriots.

If this is overblown, then this will blow away in a few weeks, and all this speculation is all about nothing. My fear is that what we know is just the beginning, and that there is lots, and lots more.

And perhaps I should have phrased it a bit differently, but the ownership will make the ultimate decisions. To say that Belichick IS the front office is simply not true. Belichick certainly understands that. Many others are involved, vertainly including the Krafts.

What exactly is behind these fears you have though. It seems almost as if you know something more than most but are hesitant to speak on it until it can be verified by others.

Note:This is not accusatory at all, I am just wondering what these fears are based on.

 

[Trot]

We had this discussion this morning when most thought this was a hoax.

Through the afternoon, when most thought a fine a perhaps a 3nd draft pick will end it all.

This evening, we are coming to understand that all of fines, drafted choices and suspensions may be inflicted. We are coming to understand that just PERHAPS Belichick did indeed violate NFL rules many times and has been warned many times.

If Belichick knew about this from the beginning, the BEST case is a several game suspension from the league, in which case Kraft can (as he did with Harrison) simply accept the leagues's penalty and go forward.

And yes, this will all be about the success of the patriots and the NFL, and yes, this is Kraft's business interests that are at stake. If you think for a moment that Kraft will allow Belichick to continue because we won three Super Bowls, you are seriously mistaken. The decision will be made based on what happened over months and years, and what Belichick knew. It will be based on what he kept from Scotty and Jonathan. And, of course, the most important factor is what is best for the future of the New England Patriots.

If this is overblown, then this will blow away in a few weeks, and all this speculation is all about nothing. My fear is that what we know is just the beginning, and that there is lots, and lots more.

And perhaps I should have phrased it a bit differently, but the ownership will make the ultimate decisions. To say that Belichick IS the front office is simply not true. Belichick certainly understands that. Many others are involved, vertainly including the Krafts.

Give me a freakin' break. You are full of it here.. Nobody is "coming to understand" anything, except mediots and the usual a-holes like Jeff Fisher. There has been no hearing. There has been no decision. The Patriots have not even formally responded yet. In addition, in other cases of proven cheating third-round picks have been taken away, so where does your ludicrous claim of "at best" a multiple-game suspension" come from?

As far as the Krafts and BB are concerned, either you have some inside info or, like the rest of us, you know jack-squat--except for Kraft's record of sticking by his coach including today.

Get some rest, man. Seriously--this is all fantasy.

 

[mgteich]

Your right, pitbull fighting doesn't attempt to affect the outcome of football games.

Way to blow things out of proportion. Stealing signals is a littttttttttle different than pitbull fighting.

 

[JDP111]

EVERYONE is jumping the gun on this whole "incident." We have not heard anything concrete that specifies what exactly was/has been transpiring concerning video taping other teams. Let wait and see what goes down.......

 

[Trot]

Your right, pitbull fighting doesn't attempt to affect the outcome of football games.

Statements like this are evidence that you are talking out of your ass. "affect the outcome of football games?" Are you suggesting that a) no other teams tries to steal signs, and b) that even if not, doing so is worse than killing and torturing animals?

As I said, you need some well-deserved rest.

 

[mgteich]

AS of this morning, we were all told to wait, it was all a hoax, the team has done nothing wrong. Why wouldn't a pats fan site discuss the various possibilities? Should we really just wait for a week, and make believe that nothing is happening?

We spend thousands of post on draft speculation. Well, we are likely to lose two draft choices.

EVERYONE is jumping the gun on this whole "incident." We have not heard anything concrete that specifies what exactly was/has been transpiring concerning video taping other teams. Let wait and see what goes down.......

 

[Trot]

AS of this morning, we were all told to wait, it was all a hoax, the team has done nothing wrong. Why wouldn't a pats fan site discuss the various possibilities? Should we really just wait for a week, and make believe that nothing is happening?

Or should we fantasize about the most outrageous negative outcome possible and eat thistles for the next week-and-a-half.

 

[Patriot Missile]

It's going to be an awkward draft day for sure if these predictions come true.

 

[patsox23]

"The commissioner could push the penalty over two years, but he can't treat this lightly by just taking away a second-day draft choice. The Patriots are good."

Is this serious?! You can't F-ing decide the punishment based on the fact that the team charged is "good" or not. That's ludicrous. Who the Hell is running this crap?

 

[patsox23]

If Belichick knew about this from the beginning, the BEST case is a several game suspension from the league, in which case Kraft can (as he did with Harrison) simply accept the leagues's penalty and go forward.

And yes, this will all be about the success of the patriots and the NFL, and yes, this is Kraft's business interests that are at stake. If you think for a moment that Kraft will allow Belichick to continue because we won three Super Bowls, you are seriously mistaken.

This is absolutely ludicrous and over the top. COMPLETELY ridiculous.

 

[BadMoFo]

I really like the way Clayton ends his article. Good ending, nerdball!

What will be the longterm effect on Belichick and the Patriots?
Although this is embarrassing, you can't take away what this franchise can do. They may have the best team in football. Robert Kraft is one of the league's best owners. The team has three Super Bowl rings and a great chance to get a fourth. Other great organizations have paid penalties for violating league rules. The Broncos lost a draft choice for violating the salary cap with John Elway. The Steelers once had to forfeit a third-round draft choice for working out in shoulder pads in the offseason. The Patriots may lose a draft choice or two. And whether or not the Patriots videotaped the Jets' defensive signals, Belichick won't be any less of a coach.

 

[CanadianBoltFan]

And the worst part about it all is exactly that: WHAT the punishment WILL be.

Denver lost a 3rd round pick for salary cap fraud ( I suppose you could call it). If that is our penalty as well, so be it. Let's move onto the Chargers and put this meaningless pile of horse **** behind us.

The Patriots disregard for the rules is far from meaningless. There are alot of people involved in the NFL who are extremely upset with the Patriot organization and are watching this very closely.

Goodell will not tolerate offenders who threaten the integrity of the game.