Spy-Gate has its Positives. | fungushnitzel's Blog

I've been reading the posts the past few days on the Patriots scandal, and haven't said a thing for the most part. I'd like to use a different take on the situation than most people are using.

Things I like about "spy-gate".

#1. With proper respect to Denny Green, Belichick is who I thought he was.

He's a winner. A conniving, scheming, backstabbing, dominant, brilliant winner. And I respect that. Of course, he's also a cheater, but let's be honest here folks, you can point out "indiscretions" from nearly every dynasty over the past 40 years.

#2. Goodell caught it early and hit it hard.

I really love this commissioner. Baseball, Basketball, stand up and take notice. Goodell is cleaning up his league, and he's doing it without breaking it's back. Yes, it's possible. In my opinion, the NFL's return to rock-solid respectability is worth all the freshly dug scandals.

Now, a quarter million is a sneeze in the tissue for Kraft. A half milliion for Belichick is more of a slap in the face, but not that big of a deal. A first round pick though? That's a real penalty folks. Message sent, no more monkey business, boys.

#3. There's a new rivalry that I care about: Patriots and Jets.

Normally I don't give a pile of dog-droppings about the Jets. And I wouldn't care much about the Pats either if they weren't perennial winners, but now I have something new to keep my eye on. Yet another NFL matchup that I'll see as captivating and worthwhile, even though it's between two teams approximately 2000 miles away from me.

Sure, right now it looks like the old "Hammer and Nail" kind of rivalry, but give the Jets some time, I think they're on their way up.

#4. Mangini had the guts to put it out there in the open.

Kudos to Jets fans, you've got a coach with some cojones! Perhaps Belichick thought Mangini would let it slide, or wouldn't want to stir the pot with such a bold stroke as to point it out, but man was he wrong.

With all the conservative play-calling and interviews filled with double-talk, you-ve gotta respect a coach that shows some backbone. And not the Coughlin-style "I'm gonna treat my players like whipping boys" backbone. The Mangini-style "I'm gonna do everything I can for my team and I don't care what you think about it" backbone.

Hey, it's not all bad here, folks...

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September 17, 2007 11:55 AM ET

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Bill's the MAN!! haters beware! Pats 16-0 this year!

belchik99

Lodi , CA

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September 17, 2007 12:00 PM ET

Um, I don't think so, belchik99. But they're definitely a playoff team. I'd say it's going to be a tossup this year between them and the Colts.

Fungushnitzel

Total Comments (1870)

September 17, 2007 07:54 PM ET

You brought up some good points. I have suddenly found myself following the Jets. I believe they are on their way up also.
Belichick is a smart a== that didn't have the class to shake hands with Peyton after the AFC champ. game. I lost all respect for him at that point.
Brady is good, but I''d get my a== out of there to save face. He could go to New York. There are plenty of models there.