WASHINGTON -- With the Super Bowl fast approaching, a senior Republican senator says he wants the NFL to explain why it destroyed evidence of the New England Patriots cheating scandal.

"I am very concerned about the underlying facts on the taping, the reasons for the judgment on the limited penalties and, most of all, on the inexplicable destruction of the tapes," said Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in a Thursday letter to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

The story was first reported by the New York Times.

Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the matter could put the league's antitrust exemption at risk. In a phone interview with the Times on Thursday, he said the committee at some point will call on Goodell to address the antitrust exemption as well as the destruction of the tapes.

"Their antitrust exemption has been on my mind for a long time," he said in a Capitol Hill news conference Friday.


Goodell, in his previously scheduled news conference Friday from Phoenix, said, "I am more than willing to speak with the senator. There are very good explanations why the tapes were destroyed by our staff -- there was no purpose for them."

There were six tapes, according to Goodell -- some from the 2007 preseason, and the rest from 2006. Another reason he had them destroyed was one tape was leaked to the media just after the Patriots-New York Jets game in Sept. 2007, when NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots video assistant during New England's 38-14 victory over the Jets at Giants Stadium.

"We wanted to take and destroy that information," Goodell said. "They may have collected it within the rules, but we couldn't determine that. So we felt that it should be destroyed."

The matter may not compare to the CIA's destruction of interrogation tapes, Specter said Friday, but he added, "I do believe that it is a matter of importance. It's not going to displace the stimulus package or the Iraq war, but I think the integrity of football is very important, and I think the National Football League has a special duty to the American people -- and further the Congress -- because they have an antitrust exemption."

"It's a league matter," New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday during his news conference. "I don't know anything about it."

Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant and now a golf pro at the Ka'anapli Golf Resort in Lahaina, Hawaii, has suggested to ESPN that he has information that could have exposed the Patriots prior to the Jets' allegations which ended up with the record fines.

"If I had a reason to want to go public, or tell a story, I could have done it before it even broke," he told ESPN.com's Mike Fish. "I could have said everything rather than having [Jets head coach Eric] Mangini be the one to bring it out."

Walsh, who worked for the Patriots from 1996 to 2003, also suggested to ESPN that he has information that could be embarrassing for the NFL and the Patriots.

"If they're doing a thorough investigation ... they didn't contact me, so draw your own conclusions," Walsh told Fish.

Walsh said he hasn't made a decision on whether he'll talk to Congress if asked, though he's considering it.

Walsh was also quoted in the Times' story on Friday. The Patriots play Sunday in the Super Bowl against the New York Giants.
The controversy started when a Patriots video assistant was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches as they signaled to players on the field.

After a league investigation, Goodell fined Belichick $500,000, the maximum amount, and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick. It was the biggest fine ever for a coach and the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty.

After its investigation, the NFL said it destroyed all materials, including six tapes, it received from the Patriots.

Goodell said the tapes showed coaches making signals and it showed indications of down and distances. According to Goodell, one of the tapes showed an opposing coach waving to the cameraman as if he knew he was being taped.

"I think it probably had a limited effect -- if any -- on the outcome of any game," Goodell said.

He added: "I don't think it taints their accomplishments. I think the action that we took was decisive and it was unprecedented and it sent a loud message not only to the Patriots but to every NFL team that you should follow the rules and you better follow the rules.

"I think what they did this season was certainly done within the rules and on a level playing field. And I think their record is extraordinary. We know it's never been done before at 18-0 and I think they should be congratulated on that."


In a Jan. 31 letter to Specter, which the senator released Friday, Goodell said the tapes and notes on the investigation were destroyed to ensure that the Patriots "would not secure any possible competitive advantage as a result of the misconduct."

Specter said the explanation "absolutely makes no sense at all," and blasted the commissioner for failing to respond to his inquiries on the matter for more than two months. His initial letter to the league is dated Nov. 15, 2007; the follow-up letter is dated Dec. 19. Goodell said in his letter to Specter that he just became aware of Specter's questions Thursday.

"There's a credibility issue here," Specter said.

Specter, a lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan who still calls sports radio stations on Monday mornings, said he was concerned about the integrity of sports.

"I don't think you have to have a law broken to have a legitimate interest by the Congress on the integrity of the game ... What if there was something on the tapes we might want to be subpoenaed, for example? You can't destroy it. That would be obstruction of justice," Specter said to The Times.


There is no timetable for when the committee would call upon Goodell.

The possibility exists that Patriots employees or other NFL personnel would have to testify before the committee.

"It's premature to say whom we're going to call or when," Specter said. "It starts with the commissioner. He had the tapes, and he made the decision as to what the punishment could be. He made the decision to destroy them."

He stopped short of charging a coverup, but warned that the judiciary panel may want to probe the matter.

In the meantime, Specter said he might miss Sunday's big game.

"I may play squash while it's on," Specter said.

Information from ESPN senior writer Mike Fish, ESPN producer Ben Houser and the Associated Press is included in this report.


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3225539

MEET MATT WALSH
Posted by Mike Florio on February 1, 2008, 12:31 p.m.
Buried in the Friday New York Times article regarding the desire of Senator Arlen Specter are the first on-the-record comments regarding Spygate from Matt Walsh.

Who’s Matt Walsh, you ask? He was an employee of the New England Patriots from 1996 through 2003, spending most of his time there in the video department.

Matt Walsh is now an assistant golf pro in Hawaii. And the Times sent a reporter all the way there to interview him.

As talk goes among some of the folks we know in the NFL media, Walsh knows something. Something big.

We’re not reporting at this time that Walsh knows anything. But we know for a fact that multiple members of the media were chasing Walsh in the wake of Spygate, trying to get him to talk on the record about what he knows. One came fairly close, but it ultimately didn’t happen.

Why? Because Walsh is scared. And rightfully so. He’s scared of getting sued into Mike Tyson-style bolivian.







“After speaking to my lawyers and whatnot, I can’t really talk to you about anything,” Walsh told the Times. “And I can’t show you anything. If someone wanted me to talk and tell them things, I would craft an agreement where they would agree from now until the end of my existence to pay for any legal fees that came up in regards to this, whether I’m sued by the Patriots, the [NFL], anybody else.”

Wow.

Folks, guys don’t say things like that when they don’t know anything, or when they don’t think that what they know is important.

And though we don’t know what Walsh knows, we know what a couple of writers think that he knows. If they’re right, and if Walsh talks, it could have huge ramifications.

We know that our bread is partially buttered by the NFL, and we appreciate the relationship. But every owner, G.M., coach, and player is a steward of a game that hopefully will continue for centuries after we’re all gone. So we’re committed to holding today’s stewards of the game accountable for their actions, even if it makes said stewards of the game upset with us. One way or another, Walsh needs to have a forum to tell what he knows. He might collapse like a wet cracker under cross examination, or his story might be flimsier than a kite made out of Kleenex. But this guy has a story to tell, and it needs to be heard.

“If I ever got brought in for a deposition or something, then I would just face the whole gauntlet of questions,” Walsh said. “There would be things I’d be forced to answer that some people haven’t taken responsibility for.”

http://beta.profootballtalk.com/2008/02/01/meet-matt-walsh/

that senator should be removed form office immediately. he has much better things to do than cause all this bullshit nonsense because a team accused of cheating kicked the shit out of his hometown team a few years previous. what the nfl does with its own shit is no business of the government at all, nor should it be.

hilarious timing... war government!

hilarious timing... war government!

Specter said the explanation "absolutely makes no sense at all," and blasted the commissioner for failing to respond to his inquiries on the matter for more than two months. His initial letter to the league is dated Nov. 15, 2007; the follow-up letter is dated Dec. 19. Goodell said in his letter to Specter that he just became aware of Specter's questions Thursday.

it seems the senator wanted to keep it private but goodell tried to avoid him. now he has made it public.

Specter said the explanation "absolutely makes no sense at all," and blasted the commissioner for failing to respond to his inquiries on the matter for more than two months. His initial letter to the league is dated Nov. 15, 2007; the follow-up letter is dated Dec. 19. Goodell said in his letter to Specter that he just became aware of Specter's questions Thursday.

it seems the senator wanted to keep it private but goodell tried to avoid him. now he has made it public.

I'm curious as to how it is the senator's business lol. Maybe I'm just not understanding. I mean... I don't recall laws being broken.

I'm curious as to how it is the senator's business lol. Maybe I'm just not understanding. I mean... I don't recall laws being broken.

what was the reason for destroying the evidence? maybe because it could be damaging to the league and the patriot*

what was the reason for destroying the evidence? maybe because it could be damaging to the league and the patriot*

My point remains. If no laws were broken, then it is an internal league matter, and the senator has no business sticking his nose in.

As far as Mr. Goodell was concerned, it was a closed matter, it was handled rather harshly internally, and the tapes were destroyed. I'm sure the Jets defensive coaches appreciated that lol.

Until you can explain to me what business The Senate has in this matter, all I can really do is laugh.

My point remains. If no laws were broken, then it is an internal league matter, and the senator has no business sticking his nose in.

As far as Mr. Goodell was concerned, it was a closed matter, it was handled rather harshly internally, and the tapes were destroyed. I'm sure the Jets defensive coaches appreciated that lol.

Until you can explain to me what business The Senate has in this matter, all I can really do is laugh.

they are ruining the integrity of the game. what business did congress have getting involved with baseball over roids and hgh in baseball when it wasn't even illegal?

they are ruining the integrity of the game. what business did congress have getting involved with baseball over roids and hgh in baseball when it wasn't even illegal?

Because it IS an illegal drug unless precribed legally.

All you had to do was be honest and say you can't think of any legitamate reasons. I'd have respected that answer. I mean, it's the only real one.

All you had to do was be honest and say you can't think of any legitamate reasons. I'd have respected that answer. I mean, it's the only real one.

like i said before "they are ruining the integrity of the game"

like i said before "they are ruining the integrity of the game"

I said a legitamate reason for the SENATE to get involved. I think Roger Goodell solved that with two of the biggest punishments ever handed out. That is an internal matter. The Senate has no business dealing with the integrity of games. So again, I'll wait for a valid answer. Since I don't expect one to come... I might just disappear for a while.

I said a legitamate reason for the SENATE to get involved. I think Roger Goodell solved that with two of the biggest punishments ever handed out. That is an internal matter. The Senate has no business dealing with the integrity of games. So again, I'll wait for a valid answer. Since I don't expect one to come... I might just disappear for a while.

the senate is getting involved because the commish couldn't take care of one of the biggest scandels in pro football history. "2 biggest punishments ever handed out" which had little effect on those cheaters. belicheat loses 500,000 out of 4 million whoop a dee do!. you lose a 1st round draft pick when you had 2 in the 1st place and everybody knew the 49ers was gonna be a lower pick than the pats. bullshit punishments goodell is a walking double standard. the cowboys qb coach got a 100,000 dollar fine and a 5 game suspension for taking hgh to help with his diabetes. yet your coach gets caught cheating and gets a bs fine and loses a 1st round draft pick that wasn't even meaningful since they got a more valuable one from the 49ers. the way the commish and the league handled the bullshit with your team has given pro football a black eye to the fans.

the senate is getting involved because the commish couldn't take care of one of the biggest scandels in pro football history. "2 biggest punishments ever handed out" which had little effect on those cheaters. belicheat loses 500,000 out of 4 million whoop a dee do!. you lose a 1st round draft pick when you had 2 in the 1st place and everybody knew the 49ers was gonna be a lower pick than the pats. bullshit punishments goodell is a walking double standard. the cowboys qb coach got a 100,000 dollar fine and a 5 game suspension for taking hgh to help with his diabetes. yet your coach gets caught cheating and gets a bs fine and loses a 1st round draft pick that wasn't even meaningful since they got a more valuable one from the 49ers. the way the commish and the league handled the bullshit with your team has given pro football a black eye to the fans.

I give up. You have no arguement. It's entirely out of spite, and not out of logic.

But I will make two quick points to you. 500k out of 4mill is 1/8 his salary. Try losing 1/8 your salary.

Two. They 100% couldn't void out the San Francisco 49er's 1st round draft pick... Just take 1/3 of a second to process that logically. It's all nonsense. Losing the first round pick in itself is nonsense, but I'm not even gonna argue that. It is what it is.

You don't have an arguement. You hate the Patriots. That's it. So anything negative that could be brought upon them, you'll try to justify. Any nothing done will be enough to you. With that being said, unless you have something intelligent to bring to the table, other than empty hate, I'm done with this subject with you. Any intelligent sports fan knows this is entirely too ridiculous.

1/8th of my salary and 3.5 million is a big difference. don't mention the slap on the wrist your coach got and the punishment my qb coach got. i hope that former pats employee exposes your fraud coach/team. nobody likes cheaters except pats fans

1/8th of my salary and 3.5 million is a big difference. don't mention the slap on the wrist your coach got and the punishment my qb coach got. i hope that former pats employee exposes your fraud coach/team. nobody likes cheaters except pats fans

im not a pats fan, and i still think the US government has no business in the matter. its stupid. there are much better things for senators to do than dick around with affairs that have no concern with them. the NFL is not a branch of government, so the government should keep its fucking nose out of it. period.

im not a pats fan, and i still think the US government has no business in the matter. its stupid. there are much better things for senators to do than dick around with affairs that have no concern with them. the NFL is not a branch of government, so the government should keep its fucking nose out of it. period.

:yes:

Specter should stick with politics

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com

PHOENIX -- When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell went to bed here Thursday night, the most blustery Washington politician he had to contest was Gene Upshaw. The NFLPA executive director huffed and puffed and positioned himself as the Big Bad Wolf of Labor Doom during the union's annual Super Bowl propaganda-fest earlier that afternoon.


But when Goodell awakened Friday, probably with a copy of the day's New York Times already on his bed stand and one particular sports story highlighted for him, he found himself hounded by an even more powerful public grandstander.


Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) has lived a sterling and celebrated life of public service, ministering to the needs of my native state of Pennsylvania, and he usually is well-intentioned. There is plenty to admire about Specter, including his passionate support of the Philadelphia Eagles, a franchise he unabashedly champions.


But there is nothing estimable about Specter's call for a Senate Judiciary Committee investigation into the league's Spygate incident involving the New England Patriots and coach Bill Belichick, and his suggestion that Goodell should be called to testify about why the NFL destroyed the videotape evidence of cheating.


In fact, by putting his nose into an in-house league issue, Specter has portrayed himself as even sillier than Upshaw, who Thursday responded to a question about health benefits for retired players by noting, "The disability program is for the disabled." Duh.


Addressing league matters such as Spygate, some of his colleagues ought to remind Specter, is for the league.


Asked about Specter's high-profile move, with his comments published on the morning of Goodell's annual State of the NFL address, Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney said, "I'll go to jail [if I comment]."


Neither Belichick nor New England owner Bob Kraft nor any of their corporate espionage minions are going to be led to the hoosegow for their videotape indiscretions.


Whatever league infractions the Pats committed in their Sept. 9 season-opening rout of the New York Jets -- as hinted cryptically by former New England video employee Matt Walsh, in interviews with The Times and ESPN.com's Mike Fish -- aren't a criminal matter. Nor is it an issue with which the Senate needs to waste its time.


It's football gamesmanship and, although it was wrong, the Patriots accepted their penalty.


Goodell said Friday morning there were six tapes and various notes, likely gleaned from studying those tapes, delivered to the league office by New England officials. And while Goodell didn't attempt to diminish the tawdriness of the infraction, he stressed that any competitive advantage Belichick and his staff gained from the illegal videotaping was "limited."


The commissioner reiterated several times during a 50-minute session dominated by Spygate questions that, in his view, the Patriots did not use illegal methods to tape teams in previous Super Bowls, and did not benefit from illegal activities in any of their three championships.


Why did Goodell, though, destroy the tapes, in what was clearly the most ham-handed decision of his much celebrated first year in office? Because, he said, he was convinced the Patriots had forwarded to him all the evidence for which he had asked and he didn't want any more leaks -- like the one that allowed Fox network to obtain a copy of the taping against the Jets.


Said the commissioner, who did his best to portray cheating as unacceptable, even though others in his game accept and even embrace it to some degree: "It's like Bill Parcells said: Any coach who doesn't think his signals are being stolen is stupid."


That isn't to say Congressional oversight, as demonstrated by the hearings into steroid abuse in Major League Baseball, isn't necessary at times. Honestly, do you think baseball's Tweedledumb (aka Bud Selig) and Tweedledumber (union chief Donald Fehr) would ever have upgraded the sports' drug policies without some Capitol Hill intervention? But the use of steroids and HGH is against the law. Taping an opponent's hand-signals from across the field is just an affront to good sense and sportsmanship.


But Goodell pointed out that, in viewing the videos turned over by the Patriots, there wasn't much of anything earth-shattering. It was tape of assistant coaches doing what they do: scratching various body parts, gesticulating wildly, going through the usual physical machinations that are associated with signaling for a blitz or a four-man rush. At one point on the tape, Goodell said, a Jets assistant, who apparently assumed that he was being filmed, waved to the camera.


Again, poor sportsmanship, but nothing with which Congress need busy itself.


You want crimimal? Heck, I attended the Patriots-Jets opener and thought that New York coach Eric Mangini's defensive game plan should have been outlawed. New England quarterback Tom Brady threw nine passes toward Randy Moss and the star wide receiver caught every one of them. And caught them easily. It was as if the Jets' defenders were in another zip code, maybe across the river in Manhattan.


Like Rooney and other owners in attendance Friday, the commissioner would not address Specter's motives, nor even speculate on them.


Specter's favorite team did, of course, lose to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX. Maybe he should convene a congressional investigation into why none of the Eagles' cornerbacks could cover Pats wide receiver Deion Branch, who had 11 catches that day.


The next thing you know, Specter will want the game replayed.


Here's how the Senate plays games when it comes to any NFL conduct of which it doesn't approve: It rattles sabers, throws in an ominous comment about the league's antitrust exemption, and then waits to sees if anyone caves. It hasn't been an especially effective way of doing business, and it's hard to fathom that even the throatiest Eagles' fans, in their hearts, want Specter chasing the specter of NFL transgressions.


Suffice to say, the ever-cool Goodell didn't seem overly rattled by the possibility of addressing the Judiciary Committee on something as frivolous, at least in the big picture, as the Spygate incident.


Goodell should be more concerned by Upshaw's calculated bombast from the previous day. The very real possibility that NFL owners, who feel the league's latest extension to the collective bargaining agreement has become too one-sided, will exercise their option to terminate the agreement in November is far more critical. Such a maneuver would lead to an uncapped season in 2009, with Upshaw saying that, once the salary cap genie has escaped the bottle, it won't be captured again.


The guess here is that if there's an issue that might keep Goodell awake at night, it's the labor agreement, not the contrived threats of Arlen Specter.


Senior writer Len Pasquarelli covers the NFL for ESPN.com.

I thought Goodell did a great job of explaining himself.

The information he acquired matched exactly what the Patriots claimed. Why would the tapes be necessary?

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/specials/superbowl_xlii_preview/view.bg?articleid=1070762&srvc=rss

hahahaha the pats and belicheat are frauds

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/specials/superbowl_xlii_preview/view.bg?articleid=1070762&srvc=rss

hahahaha the pats and belicheat are frauds

LOL

You are right... to narrow minded morons.

If anyone is just figuring out that this has been going on forever right now, they are literally retarded. Durrr....

The NFL sent out a policy prior to THIS season, for the first time ever, noting that they would ALL OF A SUDDEN be taking all these types of privacy infractions very seriously, because the said rules agreed upon in the rule committee had not been enforced or explained properly in years past.

Bill Parcells and other coaches have admitted that similar strategies have been in place on their respective teams as well.

Oh well, like the first time, no one will remember this shit like they will remember 19-0 and four Superbowls.

LOL

You are right... to narrow minded morons.

If anyone is just figuring out that this has been going on forever right now, they are literally retarded. Durrr....

The NFL sent out a policy prior to THIS season, for the first time ever, noting that they would ALL OF A SUDDEN be taking all these types of privacy infractions very seriously, because the said rules agreed upon in the rule committee had not been enforced or explained properly in years past.

Bill Parcells and other coaches have admitted that similar strategies have been in place on their respective teams as well.

Oh well, like the first time, no one will remember this shit like they will remember 19-0 and four Superbowls.
riiiiiight. well see once more of this story comes out. i don't ever remember other teams complaining about another team cheating so much. than your bullshit franchise is dumb enough to get caught. atleast 2 of those superbowls are tainted cause you guys are videotaping superbowl practices. enjoy your tainted franchise and trophies hahahaha

LOL

You are right... to narrow minded morons.

If anyone is just figuring out that this has been going on forever right now, they are literally retarded. Durrr....

The NFL sent out a policy prior to THIS season, for the first time ever, noting that they would ALL OF A SUDDEN be taking all these types of privacy infractions very seriously, because the said rules agreed upon in the rule committee had not been enforced or explained properly in years past.

Bill Parcells and other coaches have admitted that similar strategies have been in place on their respective teams as well.

Oh well, like the first time, no one will remember this shit like they will remember 19-0 and four Superbowls.
riiiiiight. well see once more of this story comes out. i don't ever remember other teams complaining about another team cheating so much. than your bullshit franchise is dumb enough to get caught. atleast 2 of those superbowls are tainted cause you guys are videotaping superbowl practices. enjoy your tainted franchise and trophies hahahaha

I'll certainly enjoy my "tainted" franchise and trophies.

Everyone who's opinion I value, doesn't seem to give a fuck about the supposed "scandal".
Joe Montana speaks of Tom Brady like Brady is better than him, Michael Irvin thinks Brady is the best all-time, and that the Pats are the best all-time. Emmitt Smith picks the Patriots and says they are among the best ever at the least, and Troy Aikman is basically in love with Brady and couldn't be any more complimentary of our whole franchise.

90% of the country are a bunch of haters that nobody cares about, anyone who knows football respects what the Patriots have been able to do.

Anyways, D.O. basically PWNT you in this thread already, I just hadn't read that yet.

Anyways, D.O. basically PWNT you in this thread already, I just hadn't read that yet.

yeah well your team is getting owned by it's former employees. "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" bill belicheat hahahahaha

edit: oh now a mod has given me a tainted av hahahaha

yeah well your team is getting owned by it's former employees. "if you ain't cheating you ain't trying" bill belicheat hahahahaha

The Patriots aren't getting owned by anyone. They handed over all the tapes requested, completely complied with everyone in the NFL, and already paid their dues. Like Belichick said, it is absolutely a league issue at this point. How they handled it, is up to them.

I find it hilarious that all of this is gaining credence because Arlen Specter (a jealous Eagles fan) wanted to know if the Patriots "cheated against" his precious Eagles when they played this season (he called local PA radio stations). He just wants Eagles to be in the SB, and he sucks, and they suck. Anyone who doesn't think Specter is retarded on this front, is in favor of wasting valuable tax money and time.

Oh yeah, nice avatar/user title.

The Patriots aren't getting owned by anyone. They handed over all the tapes requested, completely complied with everyone in the NFL, and already paid their dues. Like Belichick said, it is absolutely a league issue at this point. How they handled it, is up to them.

I find it hilarious that all of this is gaining credence because Arlen Specter (a jealous Eagles fan) wanted to know if the Patriots "cheated against" his precious Eagles when they played this season (he called local PA radio stations). He just wants Eagles to be in the SB, and he sucks, and they suck. Anyone who doesn't think Specter is retarded on this front, is in favor of wasting valuable tax money and time.

Oh yeah, nice avatar/user title.

:gojerkit:

:gojerkit:

LOL

15% of Belichick's salary down the toilet (talk about PRIDE yellow cards), harassment by idiots in the media, LOSS OF A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE!

A loss of a first round draft choice is a HUGE loss.

I don't know if you realize what this is about... Before the season they said, "No team can do any videotaping for later use in that game."

Belichick, like the genius he is, was looking for loopholes. He came up with, "fine, we won't use the tape THIS game, we will use it next time we play". PWNT.

LOL

15% of Belichick's salary down the toilet (talk about PRIDE yellow cards), harassment by idiots in the media, LOSS OF A FIRST ROUND DRAFT CHOICE!

A loss of a first round draft choice is a HUGE loss.

I don't know if you realize what this is about... Before the season they said, "No team can do any videotaping for later use in that game."

Belichick, like the genius he is, was looking for loopholes. He came up with, "fine, we won't use the tape THIS game, we will use it next time we play". PWNT.
15% of a 4 million dollar check. oh no how will belicheat ever feed his family hahaha.

a 1st round draft choice that everybody knew was gonna be a high pick and much higher than the OTHER 1st round draft pick you already had.
"harrassment by idiots in the media" :gojerkit: you guys got off so easy compared to if this was a team that had more than 50,000 fans. just let it go, killa. your team/coach is a fraud.

15% of a 4 million dollar check. oh no how will belicheat ever feed his family hahaha.

a 1st round draft choice that everybody knew was gonna be a high pick and much higher than the OTHER 1st round draft pick you already had.
"harrassment by idiots in the media" :gojerkit: you guys got off so easy compared to if this was a team that had more than 50,000 fans. just let it go, killa. your team/coach is a fraud.

BLAH BLAH BLAH

ur cowboys are having fun watchin the superbowl

BLAH BLAH BLAH

ur cowboys are having fun watchin the superbowl

that's true. but than again your team couldn't win a superbowl till they cheated so........

that's true. but than again your team couldn't win a superbowl till they cheated so........

so you are blindly assuming that the pats are still doing this?

cause it seems to me that since they stopped "cheating" they havent lost a single game. and in all honesty most likey wont tomorrow either.

either way, romo and t.o. are prolly having fun golfing and clubbin it up.

so you are blindly assuming that the pats are still doing this?

cause it seems to me that since they stopped "cheating" they havent lost a single game. and in all honesty most likey wont tomorrow either.

either way, romo and t.o. are prolly having fun golfing and clubbin it up.

who's your favorite football team?

how long you gonna keep that av and ut, roy? lol

how long you gonna keep that av and ut, roy? lol

probably forever since they can't take the fact that there whole franchise and it's history is bullshit. i don't care though they must think it has some sort of effect on me or something.

probably forever since they can't take the fact that there whole franchise and it's history is bullshit. i don't care though they must think it has some sort of effect on me or something.

who is "they"?

dont take it or yourself so seriously, pal.
pwnt.

also, if you try to change it, ill just give you more and more sweet patriots shit for eternity. ahh, i love the ninjastore. :popcorn:

EDIT: I just can't get over the fact that someone who supported the 'Boys in the mid-90s (and all their LEGAL troubles) has the audacity to expect the "moral high ground" throughout all of this.

who is "they"?

dont take it or yourself so seriously, pal.
pwnt.

also, if you try to change it, ill just give you more and more sweet patriots shit for eternity. ahh, i love the ninjastore. :popcorn:

EDIT: I just can't get over the fact that someone who supported the 'Boys in the mid-90s (and all their LEGAL troubles) has the audacity to expect the "moral high ground" throughout all of this.

the boys in the 90s had some players who made stupid decisions. yet we were never the ones caught cheating in superbowls like the pats. oh and is this the same boys of the 90s you said you used to be a fan of? why the switch? hahahaha

who's your favorite football team?

as has been discussed in previous threads, im a broncos man for life. and unfortunately, as i live in the D, im also a lions fan. who my favorite team is holds little bearing on your nonsensical ranting here tho. you are wrong. this is an NFL matter, the NFL comissioner made the decision he felt was necessary for the infractions that occured. end of story.

the boys in the 90s had some players who made stupid decisions. yet we were never the ones caught cheating in superbowls like the pats. oh and is this the same boys of the 90s you said you used to be a fan of? why the switch? hahahaha

I am a fan of them, always will be. All I'm saying is that it is mighty hypocritical of one to hate on Patriots while loving the Cowboys.

When did they "cheat" in the Superbowl? It looks like you are reaching a bit.

First of all, the accusations are NOT ILLEGAL as far as I have been able to find:
"According to the source, a member of the team's video staff stayed behind after attending the team's walk-through and filmed St. Louis' walk-through. At no point was he asked to identify himself or produce a press pass, the source said."

The Patriots, however, were also suspicious of the Rams spying on them that season:
Halfway through practice, Patriots' linebackers coach Pepper Johnson noticed something in a third-floor window of a house next to the field. Club and league officials said a telescope was clearly visible in the window, according to a pool report, and that 15 minutes later, a person appeared at the window, and then vanished. Officials scanned the window with binoculars, but the person never returned.

To me, you just have no trouble throwing around the word "cheat", even when not merited. Cheat is a very strong word, and it just is not the case. The playing field was level, and all teams had their own intricate schemes to get an edge.

Quote from Goodell:
"I'm not sure there is a coach in the league that doesn't expect that their signals are being interpreted by opposing teams. That's why they go to great lengths," Goodell said. "I think it was Coach [Bill] Parcells earlier this season who said, 'Any coach that doesn't expect his signals to be stolen is stupid.' It's pretty simple but teams understand that it's a risk and they prepare for that. I don't believe it affected the outcome of any games."

He also said the following:

"I think as far as the actual effectiveness of taping signals from opposing football teams or other sports is something that's done, and done quite widely, and teams prepare for that."

It might not go away any time soon, but no one that matters seems to be too worried about this drawn out, overblown story.

as has been discussed in previous threads, im a broncos man for life. and unfortunately, as i live in the D, im also a lions fan. who my favorite team is holds little bearing on your nonsensical ranting here tho. you are wrong. this is an NFL matter, the NFL comissioner made the decision he felt was necessary for the infractions that occured. end of story.

this is an nfl matter and the fans have a right to know if a team is cheating and know if it isn't a level playing field. do you want the broncos to play fair games or do you want the broncos opponents to cheat? your arguement makes me think you're not much of a bronco fan at all. don't you want the sports you watch to be as fair as possible?

I am a fan of them, always will be. All I'm saying is that it is mighty hypocritical of one to hate on Patriots while loving the Cowboys.

When did they "cheat" in the Superbowl? It looks like you are reaching a bit.

First of all, the accusations are NOT ILLEGAL as far as I have been able to find:
"According to the source, a member of the team's video staff stayed behind after attending the team's walk-through and filmed St. Louis' walk-through. At no point was he asked to identify himself or produce a press pass, the source said."

The Patriots, however, were also suspicious of the Rams spying on them that season:
Halfway through practice, Patriots' linebackers coach Pepper Johnson noticed something in a third-floor window of a house next to the field. Club and league officials said a telescope was clearly visible in the window, according to a pool report, and that 15 minutes later, a person appeared at the window, and then vanished. Officials scanned the window with binoculars, but the person never returned.To me, you just have no trouble throwing around the word "cheat", even when not merited. Cheat is a very strong word, and it just is not the case. The playing field was level, and all teams had their own intricate schemes to get an edge.

Quote from Goodell:
"I'm not sure there is a coach in the league that doesn't expect that their signals are being interpreted by opposing teams. That's why they go to great lengths," Goodell said. "I think it was Coach [Bill] Parcells earlier this season who said, 'Any coach that doesn't expect his signals to be stolen is stupid.' It's pretty simple but teams understand that it's a risk and they prepare for that. I don't believe it affected the outcome of any games."

He also said the following:

"I think as far as the actual effectiveness of taping signals from opposing football teams or other sports is something that's done, and done quite widely, and teams prepare for that."

It might not go away any time soon, but no one that matters seems to be too worried about this drawn out, overblown story.

hahahaha that's creative:gojerkit: you know that story has already been used several times. so why and when did you ditch the cowboys for the pats? 2001? hahaha

hahahaha that's creative:gojerkit: you know that story has already been used several times. so why and when did you ditch the cowboys for the pats? 2001? hahaha

I quit liking the Cowboys when Aikman, Smith and Irvin all departed and they hired Dave Campo and Chan Gailey. Not much of a Quincy Carter or Chad Hutchinson guy myself.
I still like a number of their players (I listed them somewhere on this board), but I don't like them as a whole.

I've always been a Patriots fan as well, despite tough times. My family loves the Patriots, and my grandfather had seasons tickets up until somewhere in the mid-90s (he was at the Bears-Pats SB).

I'm not looking for creativity like you are when you reach for every critique you have. I'm looking for the facts.

Good try, though.

I quit liking the Cowboys when Aikman, Smith and Irvin all departed and they hired Dave Campo and Chan Gailey. Not much of a Quincy Carter or Chad Hutchinson guy myself.
I still like a number of their players (I listed them somewhere on this board), but I don't like them as a whole.

I've always been a Patriots fan as well, despite tough times. My family loves the Patriots, and my grandfather had seasons tickets up until somewhere in the mid-90s (he was at the Bears-Pats SB).

I'm not looking for creativity like you are when you reach for every critique you have. I'm looking for the facts.

Good try, though. so you stopped liking them in the 2003 season when the pats just happened to win a superbowl. whatever you say frontrunner

so you stopped liking them in the 2003 season when the pats just happened to win a superbowl. whatever you say frontrunner

Reading comprehension issues? :gojerkit:

Reading comprehension issues? :gojerkit:

emmitt was the last one to leave and he left after the 2002 season. so which is it frontrunner?

emmitt was the last one to leave and he left after the 2002 season. so which is it frontrunner?

Emmitt was the last one to leave, and I liked them because he was still there. Obviously the 'Boys tried to hold onto him and he was the last of the Cowboys from the early 90s, the team that I grew up loving. Is it impossible to like 2 teams at a time? I was a huge fan of all their players, so when Alvin Harper left for Tampa, I was pissed, when other players would retire, a little of my love for the 'Boys would diminish, I couldn't accept the new draft picks from an average front office, a front office that no longer had one of my favorite coaches ever (a status which he gained for a few reasons, Go Canes!) When Barry Switzer came in that was brutal. When Emmitt went to the Cards, I instantly began rooting for the Cards.

I always loved and rooted for the Patriots, and wished that they could some day become as talented as the Cowboys during their heyday. They just weren't good enough, and the Patriots and Cowboys weren't in direct competition with each other (being in seperate conferences and Patriots not much of a playoff threat).

I really think you are a moron.

FUCK JERRY JONES, Bring back Jimmie Johnson!

Emmitt was the last one to leave, and I liked them because he was still there. Obviously the 'Boys tried to hold onto him and he was the last of the Cowboys from the early 90s, the team that I grew up loving. Is it impossible to like 2 teams at a time? I was a huge fan of all their players, so when Alvin Harper left for Tampa, I was pissed, when other players would retire, a little of my love for the 'Boys would diminish, I couldn't accept the new draft picks from an average front office, a front office that no longer had one of my favorite coaches ever (a status which he gained for a few reasons, Go Canes!) When Barry Switzer came in that was brutal. When Emmitt went to the Cards, I instantly began rooting for the Cards.

I always loved and rooted for the Patriots, and wished that they could some day become as talented as the Cowboys during their heyday. They just weren't good enough, and the Patriots and Cowboys weren't in direct competition with each other (being in seperate conferences and Patriots not much of a playoff threat).

I really think you are a moron.
just turn in your fan card now. you're not a real fan of a team if you have 2 favorite teams. nor are you a real fan of a team if you stop liking them because players leave or retire(wtf?)

Emmitt was the last one to leave, and I liked them because he was still there. Obviously the 'Boys tried to hold onto him and he was the last of the Cowboys from the early 90s, the team that I grew up loving. Is it impossible to like 2 teams at a time? I was a huge fan of all their players, so when Alvin Harper left for Tampa, I was pissed, when other players would retire, a little of my love for the 'Boys would diminish, I couldn't accept the new draft picks from an average front office, a front office that no longer had one of my favorite coaches ever (a status which he gained for a few reasons, Go Canes!) When Barry Switzer came in that was brutal. When Emmitt went to the Cards, I instantly began rooting for the Cards.

I always loved and rooted for the Patriots, and wished that they could some day become as talented as the Cowboys during their heyday. They just weren't good enough, and the Patriots and Cowboys weren't in direct competition with each other (being in seperate conferences and Patriots not much of a playoff threat).

I really think you are a moron.

FUCK JERRY JONES, Bring back Jimmie Johnson!

though i definetly agree with that word for word

just turn in your fan card now. you're not a real fan of a team if you have 2 favorite teams. nor are you a real fan of a team if you stop liking them because players leave or retire(wtf?)

Apparently you just caught onto it that I prefer the Patriots to the Cowboys? Are you truly that slow?

If you want to put it like this then fine, I fucking hate the Cowboys, I just loved their entire rosters of players AND coaches from 1992-1995, the way they played at such an intense level, the way they ran their front office, their demeanor and their performances in playoffs.

I was first introduced to pro football through the Dallas Cowboys, they were my first love... I could give two shits about the current state of the Cowboys, besides the fact that they have a number of players I truly do like whom coincidentally ended up on the 'Boys.

Brock Marion>>>Kenny Wheaton or Izell Reese

Apparently you just caught onto it that I prefer the Patriots to the Cowboys? Are you truly that slow?

If you want to put it like this then fine, I fucking hate the Cowboys, I just loved their entire rosters of players AND coaches from 1992-1995, the way they played at such an intense level, the way they ran their front office, their demeanor and their performances in playoffs.

I was first introduced to pro football through the Dallas Cowboys, they were my first love... I could give two shits about the current state of the Cowboys, besides the fact that they have a number of players I truly do like whom coincidentally ended up on the 'Boys.

whatever. i'm sick of typing. we'll continue this on monday. enjoy your superbowl*

whatever. i'm sick of typing. we'll continue this on monday. enjoy your superbowl*

haha damn i can even out-troll you.

PWNT.

haha damn i can even out-troll you.

PWNT.

lol you've won this time, Gadget
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Screen/7219/23.jpg

lol you've won this time, Gadget
http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Screen/7219/23.jpg

That show pwnt. :sifone::sifone::sifone:

this is an nfl matter and the fans have a right to know if a team is cheating and know if it isn't a level playing field. do you want the broncos to play fair games or do you want the broncos opponents to cheat? your arguement makes me think you're not much of a bronco fan at all. don't you want the sports you watch to be as fair as possible?

it is an nfl matter, and we do know what happened. goddell made his decision, said what needed to be said and made the decisions he felt needed to be made. his decision was what it was, and he felt it to be fitting for what had transpired. there was no evidence nor of, nor any question that, the patriots had cheated at any point in time other than the incident with the jets. the end. then some dipshit senator with nothing better to do and with sand in his vagina about his team getting schooled years ago by a better team than they has to make a big stink about it. its nonsense. he has better things to do with his time. its not integral to the function of the country one way or the other and i think he should be removed form office for wasting so much of my money on bullshit like this instead of solving real problems. the bottom line is that the patriots got caught explioting a loophole in the rules, after being turned in by someone who was party to the exact same organization doing it. the comissioner did his job and investigated the matter, took the measures he felt were appropriate for the situation and put the thing to bed. its a very routine practice for evidence used in any investigation to be destroyed when said investigation is over, and i see no reason not to trust the comissioners judgement. you are just being foolish about the whole thing, and trying to detract from the amazing accomplishment of what the patriots have done this season. i also notice that you fail to mention anything about the fact that they were destroying the team they were "cheating" against, and have since won every game, dispite increased scrutiny due to the incident. i guess logic falls by the wayside sometimes when one is blinded by an obvious bias.

it is an nfl matter, and we do know what happened. goddell made his decision, said what needed to be said and made the decisions he felt needed to be made. his decision was what it was, and he felt it to be fitting for what had transpired. there was no evidence nor of, nor any question that, the patriots had cheated at any point in time other than the incident with the jets. the end. then some dipshit senator with nothing better to do and with sand in his vagina about his team getting schooled years ago by a better team than they has to make a big stink about it. its nonsense. he has better things to do with his time. its not integral to the function of the country one way or the other and i think he should be removed form office for wasting so much of my money on bullshit like this instead of solving real problems. the bottom line is that the patriots got caught explioting a loophole in the rules, after being turned in by someone who was party to the exact same organization doing it. the comissioner did his job and investigated the matter, took the measures he felt were appropriate for the situation and put the thing to bed. its a very routine practice for evidence used in any investigation to be destroyed when said investigation is over, and i see no reason not to trust the comissioners judgement. you are just being foolish about the whole thing, and trying to detract from the amazing accomplishment of what the patriots have done this season. i also notice that you fail to mention anything about the fact that they were destroying the team they were "cheating" against, and have since won every game, dispite increased scrutiny due to the incident. i guess logic falls by the wayside sometimes when one is blinded by an obvious bias.

A-Fucking-men buddy...

Oh, and don't forget the most important fact about the taping scandal. The fact that the tapes were confiscated at halftime of the Jets game... Meaning they didn't even get to use them. The crime was MAKING them. There was however, no competitive advantage gained from them this season.

Good to see someone with logic, who is an outsider to the situation, joining the fray in these debates.

A-Fucking-men buddy...

Oh, and don't forget the most important fact about the taping scandal. The fact that the tapes were confiscated at halftime of the Jets game... Meaning they didn't even get to use them. The crime was MAKING them. There was however, no competitive advantage gained from them this season.

Good to see someone with logic, who is an outsider to the situation, joining the fray in these debates.

i calls em as i sees em, and i wished i could see that lame ass senator being a little more useful. the whole thing is pretty goddamn ridiculous. im honestly hoping the pats win today, and then go 19-0 next season too, just to piss people off. i can wait one more year for jay cutlers ascent to greatness.

i calls em as i sees em, and i wished i could see that lame ass senator being a little more useful. the whole thing is pretty goddamn ridiculous. im honestly hoping the pats win today, and then go 19-0 next season too, just to piss people off. i can wait one more year for jay cutlers ascent to greatness.

Yeah man... I was talking to a friend today. He's really big into politics and also an Eagles fan (living in MA.) I was like... let's imagine if this was the same situation and it was the Senator from my state trying to butt into league affairs about the Eagles taping someone (completely hypothetical of course.) I'd take a minute to write my senator to let him know letting him know what a waste of space he is in the senate, and that's he's lost my vote.

Then again my senator is Ted Kennedy.... and he never had my vote.... but that's besides the point...

But yeah.... he agreed, not surprisingly.

Yeah man... I was talking to a friend today. He's really big into politics and also an Eagles fan (living in MA.) I was like... let's imagine if this was the same situation and it was the Senator from my state trying to butt into league affairs about the Eagles taping someone (completely hypothetical of course.) I'd take a minute to write my senator to let him know letting him know what a waste of space he is in the senate, and that's he's lost my vote.

Then again my senator is Ted Kennedy.... and he never had my vote.... but that's besides the point...

But yeah.... he agreed, not surprisingly.

common sense is common sense. anyone that has an open and unbiased outlook on the situation can see it for what it is. stupid. its just plain stupid. and its dumber still that people get as worked up about something that didnt happen in the first place because some dumbass senator has too much spare time. must be nice to live in his fantasy land where the government isnt fucked up and the country is prosperous and everything is running so smoothly that he has nothing better to do than meddle in business that isnt his. i know i can think of about a billion things more important for the US senate to be doing than wasting time with professional sports.

LOL Repped Eightbitodin, yous da man.

Heres 500,000 points too for supporting my boys.

FWST blog

February 03, 2008
Witten cheated out of winner's share?
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten learned something from Broncos safety John Lynch in a Fox pregame segment.

In a discussion of the Patriots' Spygate scandal, Lynch said at last year's Pro Bowl that Patriots coach Bill Belichick had assistant coaches watch the NFC practice. "We were getting the plays. [I asked] how do you know that?"

Witten was asked if he knew that was going on. "No," he said to much laughter, "it cost me 40 grand."

Witten is one of the finalists for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The winner will be announced right before Super Bowl kickoff, Fox says.

Posted at 02:08 PM in Dallas Cowboys | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0

FWST blog

February 03, 2008
Witten cheated out of winner's share?
Cowboys tight end Jason Witten learned something from Broncos safety John Lynch in a Fox pregame segment.

In a discussion of the Patriots' Spygate scandal, Lynch said at last year's Pro Bowl that Patriots coach Bill Belichick had assistant coaches watch the NFC practice. "We were getting the plays. [I asked] how do you know that?"

Witten was asked if he knew that was going on. "No," he said to much laughter, "it cost me 40 grand."

Witten is one of the finalists for the NFL Walter Payton Man of the Year Award. The winner will be announced right before Super Bowl kickoff, Fox says.

Posted at 02:08 PM in Dallas Cowboys | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0

Yeah, I saw that... it's hilarious. Belichick is the man, got all bases covered.

Yeah, I saw that... it's hilarious. Belichick is the man, got all bases covered.

yeah cheating in the probowl:gojerkit: 18-1 chokers!!!! hahahaha!

yeah cheating in the probowl:gojerkit: 18-1 chokers!!!! hahahaha!

Be afraid... I will kill you, Bigbadroy.

Be afraid... I will kill you, Bigbadroy.

lol