Tomase provides his explanation

[FreeTedWilliams]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I honestly thought he was going to have some sort of credible explaination, I couldn't have been more wrong! Did I read it wrong, or did he actually say "a freind of a friend" told me.......

I've come up with better excuses to the wife on the spot, drunk, you would think he could have come up with something better than that after all this time.

Does he honestly think he can still work in Boston? and cover the Patriots? This guy is more delusional than a certain RINO from Pennsylvania.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

It's a very important point that his "source" or "sources" were NOT people with any direct knowledge of the alleged taping. They were other people who had heard from someone else this rumor.

He still does not seem to understand what a "source" is, a person with crediility who actually witnessed something.

What he had was an anonymous unconfirmed rumor-spreader. Tomase really needs to be canned, for lack of ethics, for lack of honesty, for lack of understanding even the nature of his job.

I realize that this is the Herald we are talking about, not the Weekly World News reporting on the latest sightings of Bat Boy, Elvis, and a UFO carrying Abe Lincoln and John Kennedy. On second thought, maybe they are not so different after all.

If the Herald doesn't step up and show accountability in firing/reassigning/suspending and identifying all editors involved while firing Tomase, though, we will know that they are just trying to do the minimum to cover their butts and have no plans to regain any integrity at all.

 

[JustWinBrady]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Tomase put himself above all else 1 day before the superbowl. He put himself and his name in the world's largest spotlight with hundreds of millions of viewers. He wanted his name to be a house-hold name before the entire sport's world. His ego was running with the story and who cared what the repercussions were. That same ego is still alive and well with this explanation and lack of a sincere apology. This was his opportunity to move forward but he actually took a couple of steps back, if that is possible.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

What planet do you live on? BB explained himself more than once. He indicated that he interpreted the bylaw as indicating that taping was OK as long as it wasn't applied to the game being played.

Can you give me a link to something with some meat. Not merely, "I interpreted the bylaw as indicating that taping was OK as long as it wasn't applied to the game being played."

But a detailed explanation of why he thought the bylaws said that. Why if he thought it was okay, why would a camera operator think it was not okay and be told to avoid detection. What it was used for? etc. So far from BB we have gotten the equivalent of what the Herald on Wed. "My bad, I made a mistake." We still do not have close to the detail we got from Tomase today.

Here is what I would like to see, BB write a piece similar to the one Tomase wrote, explaining the program from 2000 to the Jets game. Or even better one press conf where he answers questions about spygate. Just one. No question answered with, "I said everything I am going to say about that in the statement released in Sept." No question answered with "I am focus on [the chargers; the draft; minicamp; etc] I am moving on." Just one. Next press conf he can say he is moving on. But before the Chargers game, BB said he would explain it in detail and answer questions at the end of the season. The season is over.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

One of BB's favorite sayings "doing business as business gets done". I get the impression that using a third camera was a well known practice as he came up thru the coaching ranks. And if the league under Tagliabue didn't strongly enforce the rule violation... well that was the way business was done. Now, Goodell catches BB and made him the whipping boy for the rest of the teams to stop this practice (he's on record for stating such).

Tomase cut his teeth while going through the ranks of journalism, he committed the biggest sin among his peers

I do hold each of them to the standards of their respective peers, meaning Tomase blew it big time.

I really don't give two hoots what your impression is. BB promised before Chargers game at the end of the season he would explain what happened. So far he hasn't.

 

[Clonamery]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I really don't give two hoots what your impression is. BB promised before Chargers game at the end of the season he would explain what happened. So far he hasn't.

What's that got to do with Tomase?

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

BB has explained that he misinterpreted the rule.

It is quite obvious that he thought the last 6 words of the law were significant:

"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."

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

What's that got to do with Tomase?

I was contrasting that Tomase has explained his mistake and taken ownership for it to a much greater degree than BB has.

 

[theONLYJerseypatsfan]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

This is the most anticlimactic POS Ive ever read...he is justifying what we all have been saying...he had no credibility in the story and rushed to put his bid in for a pulitzer

Fire Tomase....this is ridiculous

 

[shmessy]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

BB has explained that he misinterpreted the rule.

It is quite obvious that he thought the last 6 words of the law were significant:

"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."

Exactly.

What does Godinagreyhoodie NOT understand here?

BB, on more than one occasion, stated that that was his understanding and that the Patriots never used the tapes during the SAME game. Obviously the NFL interpreted it as meaning 'during the playing of any FUTURE game also'. The point is clear as to where they differed.

Now THAT is succinct and to the point.......unlike hearsay believers who write for the Herald, screw up.....and then write three page explanations that gets them in even deeper with the public.

Geez, I NEVER thought I'd ever say this but BB should give Tomase a few lessons in public communication!!!

 

[Tunescribe]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Can you give me a link to something with some meat. Not merely, "I interpreted the bylaw as indicating that taping was OK as long as it wasn't applied to the game being played."

But a detailed explanation of why he thought the bylaws said that. Why if he thought it was okay, why would a camera operator think it was not okay and be told to avoid detection. What it was used for? etc. So far from BB we have gotten the equivalent of what the Herald on Wed. "My bad, I made a mistake." We still do not have close to the detail we got from Tomase today.

Here is what I would like to see, BB write a piece similar to the one Tomase wrote, explaining the program from 2000 to the Jets game. Or even better one press conf where he answers questions about spygate. Just one. No question answered with, "I said everything I am going to say about that in the statement released in Sept." No question answered with "I am focus on [the chargers; the draft; minicamp; etc] I am moving on." Just one. Next press conf he can say he is moving on. But before the Chargers game, BB said he would explain it in detail and answer questions at the end of the season. The season is over.

Sometimes explanations can be simple. He said that he interpreted the bylaw to mean that taping was permissible as long as the footage wasn't used in the game being played. He subsequently explained that the tapes were used in advance scouting. You can disagree with BB's reasoning all you want, but on the face of it he said all he had to. If memory serves, he went into some detail about all this in a piece Reiss wrote a while back.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Sometimes explanations can be simple. He said that he interpreted the bylaw to mean that taping was permissible as long as the footage wasn't used in the game being played. He subsequently explained that the tapes were used in advance scouting. You can disagree with BB's reasoning all you want, but on the face of it he said all he had to. If memory serves, he went into some detail about all this in a piece Reiss wrote a while back.

It isn't that I disagree with his reasoning. I just haven't heard his reasoning at least not from him. I have heard many people on this board speculate to what his reasoning might have been. But I have not heard BB come forward and explain the situation himself. It is over due.

 

[BSR]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I am not sure what some of you read, but what I read was a detailed explanation of what happened and apology. What he did wrong and why he did it.

Tomase screwed up. He made a mistake. He violated a rule of journalism. He cheated in an effort to get the story.

BB screwed up. He made a mistake. He violated a rule of the NFL.

And as I sit here today. I have a three page explanation of Tomase's thinking and mistakes from Tomase.

Months after the Patriots lost a first round draft pick, BB still has not explained his thinking that led him to make the mistake he made. I was okay with him focusing on the Chargers game, and was willing to wait until the end of the season for the kind of detail we got from Tomase. I am still waiting.

It is impossible to judge which mistake was greater -- Tomase's or BB's. Or which one did more damage, both to the NFL and the Patriots.

But at the very least Tomase has explained what he did wrong and why he went wrong. BB has not.

Lets be fair here. Hold BB and Tomase to the same standard.

Yes, lets hold them to the same standard. Fine Tomase $500,000 and I can move on as well.

That is my problem with all this. Where are the consequenses? I really don't care about the explanation. In fact, I refuse to read it since I will never read the Herald again until they decide to take this seriously. No terminations, no suspensions, not even fines. Nothing. Business as usual for them. That would be the equivalent of the NFL looking at fans saying, Oops Belichick was wrong...we're Sorry! That doesn't fly with anyone and neither should the Heralds treatment of the story. An explanation doesn't mean squat.

 

[Clonamery]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I was contrasting that Tomase has explained his mistake and taken ownership for it to a much greater degree than BB has.

Why are you trying to make this about BB and NOT Tomase? What is your agenda?

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Yes, lets hold them to the same standard. Fine Tomase $500,000 and I can move on as well.

That is my problem with all this. Where are the consequenses? I really don't care about the explanation. In fact, I refuse to read it since I will never read the Herald again until they decide to take this seriously. No terminations, no suspensions, not even fines. Nothing. Business as usual for them. That would be the equivalent of the NFL looking at fans saying, Oops Belichick was wrong...we're Sorry! That doesn't fly with anyone and neither should the Heralds treatment of the story. An explanation doesn't mean squat.

I will agree with you there should be monetary consequences to Tomase over this, I will leave that to Kraft and the Herald work out.

I was comparing the relative level of mia coupa that the two had displayed.

 

[BSR]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I really don't give two hoots what your impression is. BB promised before Chargers game at the end of the season he would explain what happened. So far he hasn't.

Where did you read that he said he would do that? The Herald?

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Why are you trying to make this about BB and NOT Tomase? What is your agenda?

I am simply comparing the level of detail between the two in explaining their mistake.

One has explained how it happened -- but that is not good enough. The other hasn't explained how it happened -- but we are willing to speculate that there must have been a good reason.

Just pointing out the double standard being displayed.

 

[JustWinBrady]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I really don't give two hoots what your impression is. BB promised before Chargers game at the end of the season he would explain what happened. So far he hasn't.

BB will handle the issue in how he sees fit and tomase will handle the issue how he sees fit. In this day and age, the less you say the better off you are. (see roger clemens, barry bonds). Tomase rolled the dice and they came up "snake eyes".

 

[allworldrussfrancis]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

Yes, lets hold them to the same standard. Fine Tomase $500,000 and I can move on as well.

That is my problem with all this. Where are the consequenses? I really don't care about the explanation. In fact, I refuse to read it since I will never read the Herald again until they decide to take this seriously. No terminations, no suspensions, not even fines. Nothing. Business as usual for them. That would be the equivalent of the NFL looking at fans saying, Oops Belichick was wrong...we're Sorry! That doesn't fly with anyone and neither should the Heralds treatment of the story. An explanation doesn't mean squat.

People should remember that this thing was DEAD and that Tomase's false article has brought upon this entire brouhaha. Even Specter somehow believed in the existence of the tape - remember his comment at the end of the Rush Limbaugh interview: "but there was taping at the Superbowl".

This allegation was much more serious than the minor rule infractions which others are focusing on again solely because their dream of the walkthrough tape vanished.

Of course the rumor probably originated with Walsh who floated it along with other lies to contacts in the NFL, but now denies it.

 

[BSR]

Re: *****Alert: The Tomase Explanation Is Now Up

I will agree with you there should be monetary consequences to Tomase over this, I will leave that to Kraft and the Herald work out.

I was comparing the relative level of mia coupa that the two had displayed.

The mea coulpa is meaningless. As you can see from these twelve pages, nobody really cares about owning up to the mistakes other than to say "Yeah, it was my fault. I shouldn't of done that." The most disturbing part of Tomase's " apology (which I admittedly I haven't read but say quoted here) is that he said the only part that he felt bad about was that he was wrong! In other words, the process that he used was fine. How is that owning up to your mistakes? At the very least Belichick admitted that he was wrong and took full responsibility. He didn't blame it on some source, he didn't complain about the fine. He admitted his actions were wrong and took responsibility for it. Tomase admits his sources were wrong. That is not taking ownership!