After Video Review... | The Lowdown

The only good thing about watching my Bengals lose to New England on Monday Night Football? The game was so bad, by the second half, the broadcasters shifted from actually discussing what was going on down on the field to discussing the Patriot's and "videogate."

Unless you've been sequestered and serving jury duty, you know "videogate" involves the Pats violating NFL rules by using videotape to steal the defensive signals of their opponent.

When that portion of the conversation started, I thought it was wonderful. Here was another chance for the Patriots to get their comeuppance.

But wait! Analyst Ron Jaworski, whom I otherwise respect, defended the Patriots. "I love how important winning is to them," he explained.

Sure, Jaws, it is the ultra-competitive world of professional sports, but even in that realm, there are more important things than winning.

The integrity of the game is one. And since we are not the ancient Romans cheering gladiators at the Coliseum, the health and well-being of the players is another.

Because the Patriots cheated (and blatantly cheated when you consider that the league sent out a memo reminding teams about the ban on videotaping opponent's signals not long before the incident), there are moments-albeit brief ones-when instead of thinking how remarkable it is that Bill Belicheck went from hapless coach in Cleveland to Super Bowl winner in New England; I wonder how Bill Belichick went from hapless coach in Cleveland to Super Bowl winner in New England.

There are also nanoseconds spent wondering how Tom Brady went from Gatorade-carrying, backup quarterback at Michigan to reigning king of the NFL.

I'm now only 99.9 percent certain that the Patriots have earned their success. And that's what happens when teams cheat: they rob us of our awe. It's like watching a magic trick when we know how the trick works.

New England will lose a draft pick-or picks depending on where the team finishes-and they will hand over a fistful of cash, but what we as fans have lost is so much more.

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October 2, 2007 11:51 PM ET

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I notice the MNF announcers didn't mention how long the run or pass was for td . The MNF announcers wasn't as good as the announcers I watch on Sunday.

AMAZING GRACE

Danielson, CT

Total Comments (1529)

October 3, 2007 04:02 PM ET

Are you kidding? Its obvious that you actually spent some time writing this garbage. My question is, how can someone that seems to have some football knowledge truely belive that taping defensive signals relates to the Pats robbing anyone from anything. Talk about blowing stuff out of proportion.

All you Patriot haters are so retarded. Belichick's only won 2 Superbowls as a DEF Coord before his time in NE. When Tom Brady is done he will be remembered as the BEST EVER. I'm loving how every team that got there **** kicked by the Pats has a built in excuse. If you handed your Bengals the Pats gameplan on Sunday you still would have lost. Face it they are the most talented team in the NFL, put the camera talk to bed.