Patriots Up to Dirty Tricks Again

[BallHawk]

Per ESPN.com

NFL security confiscated a video camera and its tape from a New England Patriots employee on the team's sideline during Sunday's game against the Jets in a suspected spying incident, sources said.

The camera and its tape were placed in a sealed box and forwarded to the league office for investigation, the sources said.

"We don't have any comment," an NFL spokesman said Monday.

The Patriots' cameraman was suspected of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches who were sending signals to their unit on the field, the sources said. The league also is investigating some radio frequency issues that occurred during the game.

The league's competition committee could conduct a conference call about the incident, which violates NFL policy, and ultimately recommend a penalty that could cost the Patriots a future draft pick or picks if it verifies that the team was spying on the Jets.

"It's not their first time," a member of the committee, who did not wish to be identified, said.

In fact, Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan confirmed a similar incident that occurred when the Patriots played at Lambeau Field last Nov. 19. The same cameraman who was questioned by NFL security on Sunday was also the one whom the Packers removed from the sideline and escorted from the field during their 2006 game, according to Packers security official Doug Collins.

"From what I can remember, he had quite a fit when we took him out," Harlan said. "We had gotten word before the game that they [the Patriots] did this sort of thing, so we were looking for it."

A Jets official declined comment Monday, directing an inquiry to the league office. The Patriots also did not have immediate comment.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989

[Sef0r]

There is no way this can be true.

I mean to take away a teams future draft pick? Why not take away the WIN?

[MadScientist]

Organized team cheating. The game should be forfeited by the Pats. That would hit them harder than a draft pick.

[pittstang5]

Um, this is very interesting.

On a side note, anyone notice during the game that the Eagles were covering up the person giving defensive calls with towels. I kinda thought that was overkill, but if another team is "spying" on another, maybe this wasn't so far fetched. Still, it looked kinda funny.

[PackerBlues]

The one person that this should effect more than anyone, is the one person who would benefit from it more than anyone..........Bill Belichick Coaching genius, or a fucking cheat?

If this is true, its not much better than the ref scandal in the NBA as far as I am concerned. I had a lot of respect for Bill Belichick, but if this is true, than I feel like the most gullible chump in the world for ever admiring the guy. :evil:

[rdanomly]

If spying is becoming a problem because plays have to be relayed physically, I wonder if giving a defensive player a radio in the helmet comes up again.

[packinpatland]

I wouldn't put anything past Bill Belichick. :evil:

[swede]

http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z236/dsteenswede44/1gazoobig.jpg

[gbpackfan]

NEW ENGLAND SPY SCANDAL GATHERS MOMENTUM

On Sunday, Dan Leberfeld of Scout.com reported on suspicions that an employee of the New England Patriots had been stealing signals from the Jets' sideline. The notion that the person would venture onto the New York sideline to obtain images of the signals made no sense to us.

Now, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that NFL security confiscated a video camera and a videotape from a Patriots' employee who was on the Patriots' sideline.

Per Mortensen, the camera and the tape were placed into a sealed box and shipped to the league office for further review.

Mort's version makes a lot more sense -- if someone is going to record signals, it's not going to happen on the opposing team's sideline. The images will be shot from the safety of the sideline of the team for which the person with the camera works.

In 2006, the Patriots reportedly caused a "sternly written letter" regarding the videotaping of signals and/or play-calling gestures. Also, Mortensen mentions that a similar incident occurred last year, when the Patriots played at Lambeau field.

Since quarterbacks have radios in their helmets, the only signals to be stolen would relate to calls made on defense.

Stuff like this usually gets brushed under the rug, due in part (in our opinion) to the reluctance of the league office to air dirty laundry. If, however, the tape in that camera shows that the person using it was making like Brodie at Deathblow, the league might have no choice but to take action.

Especially in a climate where Commissioner Roger Goodell is smacking down players who misbehave.

__________________________________________________ ___________________


IF this is true, IF, the NFL should slap the Patriots hard! This is absolutely disgraceful!!!!

[gbpackfan]

The Patriots have been accused of stealing signs from the Jets with a sideline camera during Sunday's opener, and may risk losing a draft pick.

The Pats have been accused of doing this before. CBS's Charley Casserly reported New England stole signs early last season and sources in Green Bay confirmed it. The Packers, however, never filed a complaint with the NFL. The NFL is investigating the matter.

[Deputy Nutz]

This story is just ridiculous, ridiculous that a team would go this low to try and win a game.

I was a huge Pats fan, but it is a little hard to have any respect for them now.

[b bulldog]

I am by no way a big Pats fan although I do like Brady but today on ESPN the roundtable of stinky,Hodge and jaws said that they weren't surprised and teams are always trying to do stuff like this.

[Him8123]

I hate the pats, doesn`t suprise me at all. What a bunch of schmucks

[Scott Campbell]

The one person that this should effect more than anyone, is the one person who would benefit from it more than anyone..........Bill Belichick Coaching genius, or a fucking cheat?

If this is true, its not much better than the ref scandal in the NBA as far as I am concerned. I had a lot of respect for Bill Belichick, but if this is true, than I feel like the most gullible chump in the world for ever admiring the guy. :evil:


I don't think this threatens the credibility of the league, and nowhere close to the same class as the NBA scandal. Is this really any worse than stealing signs in baseball?

[packinpatland]

Truth be known, this is probably done by other teams as well.
Living here in New England, it's all I ever hear is how the Patriots are a class act.
If it proves true, good, I'm glad they got caught. And the penalty should be substantial....... Goodwell should set a precedent.

[Freak Out]

What a shocker! Come on guys...teams have been trying to get an edge one way or another for a long time. With todays electronics (digital cameras with WiFi capabilities and such) it just makes it easier. Do the majority of teams do it? Probably not but one never knows.

:shock:

[gbpackfan]

The one person that this should effect more than anyone, is the one person who would benefit from it more than anyone..........Bill Belichick Coaching genius, or a fucking cheat?

If this is true, its not much better than the ref scandal in the NBA as far as I am concerned. I had a lot of respect for Bill Belichick, but if this is true, than I feel like the most gullible chump in the world for ever admiring the guy. :evil:


I don't think this threatens the credibility of the league, and nowhere close to the same class as the NBA scandal. Is this really any worse than stealing signs in baseball?


It isn't on the same level as the NBA scandal but this DOES effect the credibility of the league. Any time a team cheats, credibility is effected.

Is it effect or affect?

[Patler]

Of course the world of electronics, including recording, long-range cameras, electronic eaves-dropping, etc. has put a whole new light on this, but stealing signs has been a part of every sport that uses signals from the time signals were first used.

I guess what it comes down to is whatever information/advantage you can gather personally is fair game, but artificially enhanced gathering is not.

[ny10804]

Is it effect or affect?

effect = noun
affect = verb

[PackerBlues]

Its all about pride and respect to me I guess.

When I play pool, I take pride in the way that I play the game. If I drop a ball in a pocket in any way other than how I intended to put it in, I give up my shot, I don't act like I meant to do it and keep going, that is just "slop" to me.

If my opponent on the pool table goes to the bathroom, or is not paying attention, and I miss......I give up my turn. I do not look around to see if anyone saw me miss, then continue to shoot. That would be cheating.

In my eyes, if you cannot beat someone without cheating, then why play at all? If you do not take pride in what you are doing then why do it? If you have no respect for the game or your opponent, what right do you have to even be there?

I think that my ideas on the proper way to play a game of pool, also apply to the game of football. I understand that the stakes are higher at that level, but damn........