It would not be difficult for the NFL to release an statement to explain the technical problem that occurred and clear the air. That is assuming it was merely an unintentional problem. Yet, they are not doing so.
It would not be difficult for the NFL to release an statement to explain the technical problem that occurred and clear the air. That is assuming it was merely an unintentional problem. Yet, they are not doing so.
Hear on the radio this morning, the Steelers are saying that everytime the NFL official would go over and ask the Patriots to take their headsets off to equalize the teams resources, the problem with the Steelers headsets would go away. Then it would start again a couple minutes later.
Belichick and Brady doubling down on the 'gamesmanship'. Well played.
I was always under the impression that the home team supplied the headsets. The NFL supplies them instead?
Go PACK
Yes. It used to be the job of the home team but that was switched because of complaints about this exact kind of malfunction.Originally Posted by Bossman641
However, we have seen how well the NFL oversees sections of its operations.
So how much of a handle they have over the infrastructure is probably an open question. Remember the Saints were thought to have piped the opposing teams' wireless into the Owner's box for Mickey Loomis to listen too. They investigated it (for some reason the police or Feds were involved I seem to remember) but didn't find anything. But no one thought it was technically impossible.
Its likely that the NFL has rules about how it inspects and operates on Game Day. The Patriots (and everyone else knows this) so its possible for teams to hack it. Problem here is that if the visiting team has a malfunction, they should just turn it off for both teams that half. If possible (and its not the 2nd half) fix it and turn back on after halftime.
Either it all works or its off. If the Steelers are to be believed (I do not take that for granted at all) then the League puts itself in the position of getting played like Klink versus Hogan.
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.
Sure, but that can still be an advantage if the home team has a loud crowd, or if (conspiracy!) they had had been preparing all week for not using headsets in anticipation of there being a problem...
The Steelers/Tomlin have decided not to file a complaint.
I find that interesting. Was Tomlin's tirade anywhere near accurate? It conflicts quite a bit with the official NFL position that there were a few problems in the first quarter that were cleared right up.
pb - from your post I'm not sure if you realize it or not, and my earlier post was not clear...the example of Telex boxes that could cause the problem are analog devices. Both the broadcast and coach's system would have to have one, or another analog device in order for this to happen. I think that's why you put "all-digital" in quotes.
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Imagine for a moment a world without hypothetical situations...
Nope, that was my bad. Somehow I missed your post. I agree with you that if the NFL explanation holds any water that the hybrid analog/digital system is the culprit.
Then the only question is why is part of it still analog? Wireless shortcoming with a retrofit (my guess) or legacy equipment (you and Deadspin). Many people presume wired to be not as vulnerable as wireless signals, so I can see the NFL boasting about military spec encryption while keeping the old system around to reduce costs.
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.
What do you mean by wireless shortcomings? Are you talking about the bandwidth issue that was mentioned?
Believe it or not, the FCC filing is interesting (fuck I can be a geek)
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Imagine for a moment a world without hypothetical situations...
The home clubs are responsible for the installation and maintenance of the coaching staff communications infrastructure. In other words, the home team controls all the stuff that allows the headsets to communicate. This is just as important as the headsets, probably more important from a security/integrity standpoint.
Maybe the headsets weren't inflated properly.
All hail the Ruler of the Meadow!
I think the simplest solution is that the Pats were doing it as a 'Fuck You' to the league. I doubt there's much of a chance we'll find out for sure.
Sure we will. Then Goodell will bungle the investigation, butcher the punishment phase, and the Pats will appeal and win.
"The Devine era is actually worse than you remember if you go back and look at it."
KYPack
Yes, well granted.
That Deadspin article covers one way the "all-digital" and encrypted system could be interfered with by outside analog signals and interference from the electrical infrastructure:
If wireless coverage is an issue in the stadium for the coaches system and bandwidth is getting squeezed, I can see the league using the hybrid solution to ensure functionality upstairs while keeping the rest of the system as specified earlier. There are specs to eliminate interference and put the whole think on its own electrical circuit, but a grounding issue could easily subvert that.Assume the Gillette Stadium visitors’ coaching booth utilizes an analog headset amplifier—commonly called a Telex box, after the best known manufacturer of them—and that Telex box suffered from either faulty construction or poor electrical grounding in the booth. The Patriots’ radio booth too featured a mixer or other device with faulty construction (or the booth was improperly grounded). That would provide a path for the radio audio to get into the Telex box, and thus into the Steelers’ communication system. That’s the simplest explanation, albeit the one that implicates the Patriots (or their electricians) as possibly exposing people to millions of volts of electricity in the circumstance of a lightning strike or power surge.
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.
NFL doubles down on conventional interference exacerbated by the weather as the culprit.
Was updated late Friday afternoon: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...to-do-with-it/“Based on our review to date, we believe that the audio interference on Steelers’ headsets last night was entirely attributable to an electrical issue made worse by the inclement weather; that it involved no manipulation by any individual; and that the Patriots had nothing to do with it,” the league’s statement said. “The issue was promptly resolved and there were no further problems for the remainder of the game. We will continue to review the matter to determine if there are technical steps that can be taken to avoid similar problems from occurring in other games.”
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.
If this is the case, Tomlin was stretching the truth just a leeeetle bit. Is that what they're saying? Judging by the fact that the Steelers decided not to file a formal complaint, I think they realize it too.
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Imagine for a moment a world without hypothetical situations...
Packers had issues with the QBs wireless communication in their Patriot preseason game. Hundley couldn't hear Clements.
http://www.espnwisconsin.com/common/...medium=twitterPackers coach Mike McCarthy said such issues are not uncommon – regardless of where you’re playing.
“I think anytime you compete in this league long enough there's things that go wrong and you adjust,” McCarthy said during his early Friday morning news conference. “It's definitely not the first time it's happened in a game, and I'm sure it won't be the last.”
Bud Adams told me the franchise he admired the most was the Kansas City Chiefs. Then he asked for more hookers and blow.
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