FanNation - The Republic of Sport

Wouldn't surprise me at all.

Congrats to T&R for posting a parody article as if it were real news. I'm suprise the onion hasn't been used more often. Let's just see how many people take this seriously.

nobody cares. there was little more evidence presented at this meeting. most of what came to light, was already known. this is so 8 months ago, everyone knows that.

the nfl should have done more when the story broke, if they felt more was merited. as it stands, the nfl has handed out penalties and fines last season for this, and its time to move on.

there is no rams - pats superbowl tape.

The NFL needs to stick with those critical issues it traditionally handles with swift justice. You know, things like wearing the wrong brand ball cap or T-shirt...

They should have TV specials on this every half hour, community meetings every Wednesday and Saturday with food, grade appropriate explanations at schools with counselors in each room, a papal statement, a Oliver Stone movie, a New York Times insert 30 days in a row, a Keith Olberman rant on MSNBC and a threat to use the civil defense alert system if the Patriots do anything ever again. How much are we supposed to take?

Sorry I didn't capitalize Papal.

It's obvious that the Patriots have had an unfair advantage this decade. Getting all these signals during the game obviously doesn't affect the game played at that time. However, since the dolphins game taped by the patriots was a 30-10 loss by the patriots, it is interesting to note that the second game that season was a 20-13 win by the pats. They had time to study the tape and prepared for it. It's easy to play defense when you know what's coming. You don't need to know all the plays the offense is going to run, but knowing one play and destroying that one will kill a drive. I think the NFL should make an example out of this and suspend the coach a la Pete Rose.

When Spygate first broke, I thought Goodell took a strong stance. But that's also because at the time, the NFL didn't really disclose the extent of the videotaping. I thought they taped a game here or there. It wasn't until later that the NFL admitted that the Patriots had several years worth of tapes, and even that only came with pressure from Arlen Spector and Matt Walsh. Given the huge extent of the taping, the commissioner's sentence was rather lenient, especially when you consider that they were taping on the road to at least one of their Super Bowl titles. Furthermore, erasing the tapes they'd gotten seems like the biggest coverup. The explanation the NFL gave for it was less than convincing--"We're trying to prevent other people from getting these tapes and learning signals." That's the biggest BS ever. Half the coaches on those tapes don't even coach those teams anymore, so what advantage can be gained?

Goodell would love to get past this so he can get back to taking a tough line on all the latest criminals around the league. You know, because his "tough" stance has worked wonders so far.

However, it blows my mind that they destroyed the original evidence the Pats turned over to them. It's standard operating procedure in the professional world to document and retain documentation of any wrong doing when disciplining, or even considering personnel. And that documentation is NEVER destroyed, as it serves as protection from lawsuits.

You gotta question the league's motives and thought process on that decision. Wonder if they're just gonna throw the Walsh tapes out in a few weeks too?

The Pats were garbage before they started cheating, then miraculously became incredible oh... about the time Belicheck showed up and instituted cheating as a policy in this fraud organization, we all know their titles are hollow.

Sweep away Goodell.

And the paragraph they didn't include...

"The NFL already has rejected Random Evidence's suggested new penalties, which were that the team be renamed the New England Cheatriots and that Gillette Stadium be rechristened as The Cheatah Lounge. However, the league has agreed to our new name for the team's quarterback: Tom Shady."

cheatin cheat cheat cheaters ooooo.

godell, is that a north-eastern accent you have?

cheat cheat cheatin cheaterz

funny onion reference, to bad it was from a new CHEATLAND patriots fan.

cheaters cheaters cheatin cheaterdz

Pretty soon they'll have the booth knocking time off the clock also!

It won't matter. Either way, the Court of Public Opinion will always view the Patriots during the Belicheat era as the Cheatriots. Nobody will ever mention their Super Bowls without mentioning Spygate until the end of time.

It's okay - what goes around comes around. Roger The Dodger, Bill Belicheat, Tom Shady, and the Cheatriots will all get their due.

Arlen Specter wears a rug??

"Goodell sweeping Spygate under rug?"

PLEEEEASE DO!