Patriots accused of taping Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl

[Darrell_Green_28]

Still though.... FOLLOW THE RULES ON DOING IT....

[MTK]

You really have to wonder about the timing of this latest accusation. I don't doubt that it possibly happened, Mort was on the radio this morning saying that he already knew about it but he didn't have any concrete leads and that's why the story didn't break earlier in the year.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

You really have to wonder about the timing of this latest accusation. I don't doubt that it possibly happened, Mort was on the radio this morning saying that he already knew about it but he didn't have any concrete leads and that's why the story didn't break earlier in the year.

I love what Greg Aiello had to say. He basically said, "Well, this tape wasn't in the batch we confiscated and the Patriots say they didn't do it, so case closed." This cheating culture that was (is?) rampant in Boston is inconveniencing everyone's cash grab, so they all look the other way. Just like the baseball owners and the media pretended they had never heard of steroids during Sosa and McGuire's HR shootout.

[SFREDSKIN]

If someone ever filmed George Allen's teams (being how paranoid he was) especially the Cowboys. He would of personally kicked Bellichick's ass.

[TheSmurfs22]

The timing is quite interesting. I doubt it will get to the Pats though.
It will be interesting to see this unfolds after tonight's game. If they did cheat then they should be punished, just as any team should.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

The following is an excerpt from PFT.com:

IF WALSH HAS VIDEO, BELICHICK DONE FOR A YEAR

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that, if it turns out that former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has in possession video of the Rams' final walk-through practice from Super Bowl XXXVI, New England head coach Bill Belichick will be suspended.

For a year.

[70Chip]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

The following is an excerpt from PFT.com:

IF WALSH HAS VIDEO, BELICHICK DONE FOR A YEAR

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that, if it turns out that former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has in possession video of the Rams' final walk-through practice from Super Bowl XXXVI, New England head coach Bill Belichick will be suspended.

For a year.

I was just over there checking their coverage as well. God I hope this guy has the tape. I hope he kept it and mailed it to himself registered mail. Please God!

Of course the Patsys have issued an unequivocal denial, so if the tape exists, doesn't Kraft have to send Belichik down the road?

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

The following is an excerpt from PFT.com:

IF WALSH HAS VIDEO, BELICHICK DONE FOR A YEAR

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reports that, if it turns out that former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has in possession video of the Rams' final walk-through practice from Super Bowl XXXVI, New England head coach Bill Belichick will be suspended.

For a year.

Merrill Hoge was even stronger last night on ESPN. He said that if the evidence turns up, The Pats should be stripped of their first Super Bowl. At minimum, it would always carry an asterisk.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Merrill Hoge was even stronger last night on ESPN. He said that if the evidence turns up, The Pats should be stripped of their first Super Bowl. At minimum, it would always carry an asterisk.

Sal was reporting what will happen to the Pats, not what he'd like to see happen to the Pats.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

I personally think that Belichick should be banned for life if these recent allegations are true. Admittedly, I hate Belichick, so I am a little biased but hear me out.

Belichick already used videotapes to gain an unfair competitive advantage, despite being repeatedly forewarned that using videotapes to steal opponents' signals was against league rules. Belichick was sanctioned only with regard to the 2007 "spygate" incident (e.g., videotaping the Jets signals). Belichick was NOT sanctioned for all espionage activities involving "illegal" us of videotapes. Moreover, Goodell warned Belichick that he would face additional, draconian sanctions if Belichick did not disclose all incidents/evidence relating to the "illegal" use of videotapes.

If these recent allegations are true, Belichick defied the Commissioner. Moreover, Belichick will have used videotaping to gain a competitive advantage in the most important game in the league. In short, the guy cheated and gave a big middle finger to Goodell. If Pete Rose gets a life ban for gambling on games because such gambling MIGHT lead to cheating, why shouldn't Belichick get banned for life for actually cheating and defying the Commissioner's orders?

[DynamiteRave]

Surprise, surprise.

Being stripped of the their first Super Bowl win would be pretty damaging to say the least.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by DynamiteRave

Surprise, surprise.

Being stripped of the their first Super Bowl win would be pretty damaging to say the least.

I bet we will never know the truth and will be left with speculation. Can you imagine what would happen to the NFL if the public learned that the Pats cheated in the Super Bowl? Professional sports hasn't had a scandal like that in decades. The NFL and Pats would be wise to bury this thing fast.

[SBXVII]

Well lets just for safety sake say the team never told the camera man to film. Lets say he filmed the practice under cover and went to the Patriots and said "Hey I got this film and the Patriots paid him to get the film. Maybe they didn't pay him maybe he is a fan of the Patriots and gave it to them. It's still illegal. The Pat's had a duty to notify the League about the individuals actions and have the individual sent packing from the SB.

I guess the big question will be if there is a film was it given to the Patriots or were they allowed to view it. If someone randomly filmed and held the film for a few yrs but never showed it to anyone and then all of a sudden claims to have given it to the opposing team would be crappy also. Way to many questions floating around Bellichik and the Patriots.

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Originally Posted by SBXVII

I guess the big question will be if there is a film was it given to the Patriots or were they allowed to view it. If someone randomly filmed and held the film for a few yrs but never showed it to anyone and then all of a sudden claims to have given it to the opposing team would be crappy also. Way to many questions floating around Bellichik and the Patriots.

Good post. That's yet another reason why we will never know the truth. I highly doubt there will be ANY evidence that Belichick directed the employee to tape the walkthroughs, watched the tape, or used the tape to his advantage (assuming it exists). But, even if these rumors are false, to that I say, "The Pats made their bed...."

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Not to get too off topic, but Defensewins, I believe your first post addressed whether it would be a big deal if the Pats did procure, watch and use the tape of the walkthrough. Your second post stated that any speculation about what should happen to the Pats is premature since they haven't been caught.

70Chip's point seemed to be that you can't tell people they shouldn't speculate about what should happen to the Patriots if these latest allegations are true when, in your first post, you did the same thing (and merely came to a different conclusion).