SportsCenter & OTL Bringing Back Spygate (live, 9AM)

[Kliq]

ESPN just released a new report that suggests that BB, Brady and Kraft bought an Inception machine and went inside Pete Carroll's dream to plant the idea of passing on second and goal from the one. Several anonymous sources stated that it is more likely than not that the Patriots drugged Carroll while he was shopping for slim fitting Khakis at WalMart.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Wasnt there some backlash when they brought Josh back for the playoff run, after the Rams let him go?
 
And the positioning of the Pats' bench allows them to review plays on the EnormoTron, while the positioning of the visitors bench doesnt allow such a clear line-of-sight?

 
Yes, also cheating the concussion protocols by putting Edelman back in the SB. That was reported seriously as cheating!
 
Plus all the crying about "running up the score."

 

[joe dokes]

Would it be possible for the Patriots to freeze ESPNFL out of the building?  I am quite serious.  This has reached absolutely ridiculous levels of lying and attempts at covering the NFL's backside.  There is no benefit to the New England Patriots by continuing to allow these jokers into the building.
 

  
Probably not without getting fined. But the whole team could start answering all post game questions like Belichick does. 
 
"Tom, no one has every thrown for 800 yards and 12 touchdowns....and you did it in the opener....how were you so effective..."
"We were effective in all 3 phases of the game....it all comes down to execution......'I'm sure there will be plenty of stuff for us to work on in practice."
 
every player. every question.

 

[Three10toLeft]

Why couldn't we have found a way to cheat against the Giants?

:-(

 

[Norm loves Vera]

I hope you are not shocked.

I think disgusted would be the right term.  I mean the whole OTL Spygate segment is nothing more then unknown sources saying the Patriots cheated, with no one being quoted except Martz who claimed he did not write certain parts of the statement published saying he agreed with the Patriots/BB punishment for Spygate.   It's clear ESPN has figured out Patriot hate drives traffic.

 

[joe dokes]

ESPN just released a new report that suggests that BB, Brady and Kraft bought an Inception machine and went inside Pete Carroll's dream to plant the idea of passing on second and goal from the one. Several anonymous sources stated that it is more likely than not that the Patriots drugged Carroll while he was shopping for slim fitting Khakis at WalMart.
 

   
well, Butler did say he felt like "he knew what was coming...."       

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Why couldn't we have found a way to cheat against the Giants?

:-(

 
Must be where Belichick learned all his cheating ways...

 

[rodderick]

ESPN just released a new report that suggests that BB, Brady and Kraft bought an Inception machine and went inside Pete Carroll's dream to plant the idea of passing on second and goal from the one. Several anonymous sources stated that it is more likely than not that the Patriots drugged Carroll while he was shopping for slim fitting Khakis at WalMart.

 
You kid about it, but if, say, the 2002 Super Bowl had been won like the 2015 Super Bowl was, the fact that the Pats were prepared for a rub route on that situation would be used as a slam dunk evidence of cheating, which is what makes this thing so fucking stupid. Belichick had his 5th cornerback prepared for that specific play in that specific situation with the aid of nothing but his preparation and football accumen, but he had to have stolen signals to realize Marshall Faulk would be heavily featured by the Rams in the fucking Super Bowl.

 

[DJnVa]

 
Yes, also cheating the concussion protocols by putting Edelman back in the SB. That was reported seriously as cheating!
 
Plus all the crying about "running up the score."

 
 
Edelman was pulled (although not immediately) and sent back in after being evaluated.
 

 

[Hendu for Kutch]

There's just so many examples where someone without an agenda takes a step back and says "No, this isn't actually an example" and not write it.
 
They used inside spying knowledge to make Marshall Faulk run a kick out of bounds at the 1 yard line?  WTF?
 
Their knowledge of Steeler defensive signals told them what the Steelers offense was calling?  Huh?

 

[TheoShmeo]

The problem with the fact the Pats' winning percentage post-SpyGate is higher is that the Haters will simply say that the NFL just hadn't caught up with the Pats' new fangled methods of cheating, such as DG and everything else that is still under wraps.
 
Whatever the cause, this nonsense will never go away.  The Pats are the team the NFL and other fans love to hate, and part of that is tied to Bill's hubris with the taping and his terse and condescending demeanor.
 
For my part, the two greatest coach/GMs in my lifetime were Red Auerbach and Bill Belichick.  That they managed to win and get inside the heads of the opposition as much as they did gives me great joy, and I love the fact that opposing morons like Dungy and Harbaugh take time away from the task at hand to worry about what the Pats might be doing next.  
 
It will be very sad when this run is over.  The Celtics' plight isn't all that fun.  I'll take all the BS that comes with the Pats' success with great appreciation.

 

[soxhop411]

It's getting to the point where I might stop watching the NFL once Brady and BB are gone. I can't take every pats accomplishment being "*'d"

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

 
 
Edelman was pulled (although not immediately) and sent back in after being evaluated.
 

 
Yes, and there were seriously accusations tossed around after the game that the Pats cheated by putting him back in. Belichick actually had to field questions about it and basically said, "when the doctors say they're good to go I play them."

 

[NortheasternPJ]

 
At what point do they start reporting that the light house is secretly a mission control center with feeds from the opposing teams locker rooms and sidelines.  

 
Oh you raise a good one. The Patriots put the giant scoreboard at CBS Scene so Belichick can watch the game and replays illegally. I forget who reported that one, but it was in there at one point.

 

[Hoya81]

Biggest challenge in reading this new ESPN story: Separating suspicion from fact.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 8, 2015

 

[troparra]

I've defended the Patriots in DFG a few times over the past several months, citing actual evidence (or lack thereof), clear and undisputed NFL bias, and the decision of a federal judge, and each time people dismiss me as a raving Patriots' fanboy lunatic.  But apparently one can rant and rave about the Patriots' elaborate cheating ways without any evidence whatsoever, and be taken as credible.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

There are literally hundreds of ex Patriots players and dozens of ex Patriots coaches from this time period who are now employed elsewhere.   If none of them will give evidence or an on-the-record statement about specific rules violations isn't that illuminating?

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

I wonder if they'll ever figure out how the Pats conjured the gust of wind in Houston that pushed John Kasay's kickoff out of bounds and just as miraculously disappeared when it was time for AV to take his kick.

 

[Hoya81]

If someone deliberately altered a statement that was used to help block a Congressional investigation, that's when the NFL becomes FIFA.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 8, 2015

I doubt the Rams new ownership group wants to be drawn into this story by being asked to confirm or deny this part.

 

[DJnVa]

 

If someone deliberately altered a statement that was used to help block a Congressional investigation, that's when the NFL becomes FIFA.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) September 8, 2015

I doubt the Rams new ownership group wants to be drawn into this story by being asked to confirm or deny this part.
 


 

Wait, what's this referring to?

 

[NortheasternPJ]

Zolak going on now about Jimmy Johnson telling the players to go through the trash from the other team after they left at Joe Robbie Stadium. "That's why you don't leave anything behind"

 

[JerBear]

 
Wait, what's this referring to?

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/08/mike-martz-was-shocked-by-apparent-changes-to-statement-he-gave-to-the-nfl/

 

[Hoya81]

Martz says the statement he submitted regarding the NFL's investigation of the Rams walk through does not match the final version that was released to the media. Sounds like either the Rams or NFL PR massaged it before releasing it.

 

[bsj]

Everyone already calls us cheaters. I don't care anymore. Fuck them all. This changes nothing. 

 

[Ed Hillel]

Martz says the statement he submitted regarding the NFL's investigation of the Rams walk through does not match the final version that was released to the media. Sounds like either the Rams or NFL PR massaged it before releasing it.

Wait, so he said something LESS severe...Now ESPNFL flips that into a mysterious issue that there was just so much there?

Remarkable.

 

[cromulence]

There are literally hundreds of ex Patriots players and dozens of ex Patriots coaches from this time period who are now employed elsewhere.   If none of them will give evidence or an on-the-record statement about specific rules violations isn't that illuminating?

 
No. It's really not.

 

[djbayko]

Martz says the statement he submitted regarding the NFL's investigation of the Rams walk through does not match the final version that was released to the media. Sounds like either the Rams or NFL PR massaged it before releasing it.

Well, ESPNFL literally massaged a Patrirots statement *today*, so this is also probably true.

 

[Van Everyman]

Edit: already covered

 

[dcdrew10]

It's getting to the point where I might stop watching the NFL once Brady and BB are gone. I can't take every pats accomplishment being "*'d"

This is why I watch Pats games on pirated streams on the web. The quality is obviously worse, but fuck the NFL, I don't want to do a single thing to contribute to its coffers.

 

[MillarTime]

Don't forget about the intentional placement of the huge CBS scene screen outside of Gillette so that it can be seen by the Pats sideline, making it easier to watch replays and decide whether to challenge....

 

[mauf]

Will be interesting to see whether the NFL still appeals Judge Berman's decision, now that league sources are basically admitting that Brady's suspension was a "makeup call" for a scandal in which Brady was not accused of wrongdoing.
 
I can only imagine how apoplectic the NFLPA would have been after this story broke if Berman's decision had gone the other way.

 

[kenneycb]

 
I love the bit about the Eagles being perplexed at Brady carving their newly unveiled dime scheme they had never used before. Wow, so inventive! I'm sure Brady had never even seen a dime formation before, how could he possibly know where to go with the ball if he weren't cheating?

This was my favorite. Ley was shocked that when the Eagles showed dime the Pats started running all over them. You know, because they were in dime and Corey Dillon was a monster that year. It's literally Football 101.

 

[Was (Not Wasdin)]

I wonder if they'll ever figure out how the Pats conjured the gust of wind in Houston that pushed John Kasay's kickoff out of bounds and just as miraculously disappeared when it was time for AV to take his kick.

 
The roof was closed, IIRC, so it had to be that embedded patriots employee in control of the HVAC system.  

 

[Ed Hillel]

Don't forget about the intentional placement of the huge CBS scene screen outside of Gillette so that it can be seen by the Pats sideline, making it easier to watch replays and decide whether to challenge....

Speaking of that moron, looks like SI is in on this, too:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/08/patriots-cheating-suspicions-bill-belichick-tom-brady?xid=si_social

 

[Stitch01]

I heard Ernie Adams convinced Donovan McNabb they played five quarters in the Super Bowl

 

[CantKeepmedown]

The Pats have one Monday night game this year, on 11/23 vs Buffalo.  I really, really hope that (if they win), all the players and staff refuse to go up on the podium to talk to the ESPN talking heads, assuming that's still the protocol.  I know some guys like Dilfer have defended the Pats in the past, but I really hope the whole team just ignores pre/post game requests.

 

[Ed Hillel]

From thr SI tradh:

Teams usually take 53 players to the game and announce, 90 minutes before kickoff, which seven are inactive. But sometimes, at Saturday-night meetings, Belichick tells his staff which players on the opposing team were not on the flight to New England, a source with knowledge of the meetings tells SI. It’s not clear how Belichick knows. But he does.

LOL, the media tweets this info every week.

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Can someone answer explain this to me:
 

 
 
Faulk had returned only one kickoff in his career before the Super Bowl. Sure enough, in the second quarter, he lined up deep. The Patriots were ready: Vinatieri kicked it into a corner, leading Faulk out of bounds after gaining 1 yard.

 
Am I missing something, or are they claiming that a short return is evidence of taping the practice?  Seriously, if the conjecture and speculation were removed from this report, would it take up the back of a matchbook?

 

[loshjott]

He's in their heads, big time.
 
"The biggest trick Belichick ever pulled was convincing the world he was cheating."

 

[semsox]

 
Wait, what's this referring to?

 
I love this part. So Martz hastily drafts a pro-NFL statement at Roger's behest 8 years ago, and then this past July is asked to look at it and give his feelings on it. So him not remembering portions = NFL inserted language to alter his statement, obviously.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

Can someone answer explain this to me:
 
 
Am I missing something, or are they claiming that a short return is evidence of taping the practice?  Seriously, if the conjecture and speculation were removed from this report, would it take up the back of a matchbook?

 
Clearly, directional kicking away from the best RB in the league could only be done if you knew ahead of time he was going to return a kick---no chance the Pats saw him trot onto field and said "hey, let's not kick it directly to the MVP"

 

[edmunddantes]

I've done this before myself. I've written many reports and other documents at the last minute.
 
I've then handed them in, and when I get them back I often catch myself going "what? I wrote that? Damn that's good" but more often than not "why the hell did I write that part?".
 
I then go back to my own copies, and sure enough. I did write that. 

 

[rodderick]

Speaking of that moron, looks like SI is in on this, too:

http://www.si.com/nfl/2015/09/08/patriots-cheating-suspicions-bill-belichick-tom-brady?xid=si_social

 
It's just a coincidence that two articles regarding Spygate and the Patriots being cheaty cheaters come out within hours of one another guys, nothing to see here.

 

[Stitch01]

Right before Roger "I just want to get back to football" Goodell shows up for his daily media availability. What are the odds.

We got Brady, injury permitting, for 16 games so whatever, 12-4 and a deep playoff run here we go again.

 

[Leather]

I can't wait for 2 months from now when Belichick is suspended for putting Brady on the injury report, and then having him play, and ESPN releases a tell all retrospective on Deflategate.

 

[dcdrew10]

He's in their heads, big time.
 
"The biggest trick Belichick ever pulled was convincing the world he was cheating."

This is the only way I can read this shit and not feel like my brain is going to combust. I hope that every time BB smiles and says "Hello" to the John Harbaughs and Ryan Grigsons of the NFL that they go crazy thinking about what sort of info is behind that smile and how they have to change their game plan.

 

[soxhop411]

Right before Roger "I just want to get back to football" Goodell shows up for his daily media availability. What are the odds.

"I am ALWAYS available to the media!!!!!" *


*As long as I know what questions I will be asked ahead of time!!!*

 

[Ed Hillel]

Can someone answer explain this to me:
 
 
Am I missing something, or are they claiming that a short return is evidence of taping the practice?  Seriously, if the conjecture and speculation were removed from this report, would it take up the back of a matchbook?

But how else would they have known before the kick that Marshall Faulk was going to return the kick?????

 

[PC Drunken Friar]

The Seahawks trained in Tempe, on Arizona State’s outdoor practice fields, which left a large perimeter to secure. They worked hard to secure it. They hired extra guards and scanned any area nearby with a vantage point of the field. Security personnel monitored what locals call “A” Mountain, the 1,400-foot hill that towers above the university’s athletic complex. They combed the parking garage and parking lots between Sun Devil Stadium and the practice fields. And they checked around the boundary of the complex, where baseball and softball fields and various buildings provided clear views of Seattle’s Super Bowl drills. Several observers who have attended practices for other Super Bowls noted the unusual, Secret Service–like level of activity.
The Seahawks didn’t discover any covert operations. Most of the time New England’s opponents don’t.
 

My favorite part of the SI article...the Seahawks were paranoid and went to great lengths to discover...nothing. So it must be proof that the Pats did something.
 
http://www.si.com/nf...y?xid=si_social

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

I appreciate this article. It has finally helped me understand how Iceland must have felt when Goldberg pulled off his mask and it turned out to be Russ Tyler.