As Goodell told reporters after meeting with Matt Walsh: “I don’t know where else I would turn.”
Of course, the memory of this whole episode will live with Patriots fans and Patriots haters for years to come. But it’s clear we’ve seen the last of this. Sorry Rams fans: You lost the Super Bowl fair and square. -Cyd Zeigler jr.
on May 13th, 2008 at 2:21 PM
What always pissed me was the slap on the wrist the Pats got. A player smokes a joint and is suspended 4 games. An asst. coach (not even a player) takes HgH and is suspended 5 games.
A coach systematically cheats for a decade, ignores NFL calls to stop and gets a fine, no suspension and the loss of one draft pick (and not the highest one they had, but #31). A double standard for sure, but the NFL always takes care of its own, especially when it involves one of the most powerful owners. Something tells me the Raiders would have been dealt with a lot more severely.
Since it has been established by the commissioner that Belichick has been taping since the 1990s, including the 2001 AFC title game, all 3 of their titles are tainted. They have yet to win a legitimate championship. His legacy will always include Spygate, even if this chapter is closed.
on May 13th, 2008 at 5:32 PM
Arlen Specter has postponed his press conference until tomorrow after his meeting with Walsh ran long. I wonder if he’ll agree with Goodell’s assessment.
Whether it is over or not, between Spygate and running up the score, the Patriots have long since tarnished their reputation forever. Right now Jerry Jones’ Dallas Cowboys are a class organization compared to the Patriots, and that’s a sentence that it never should have been feasible to say.
on May 13th, 2008 at 5:38 PM
What I hate is that I keep reading the Matt Walsh brought nothing new to the investigation, when in fact he did. He brought evidence that they knowingly cheated, where as they say that they misinterpreted the rules. That alone should be worth more punishment.
on May 13th, 2008 at 11:28 PM
18-1!!!
18-1!!!
18-1!!!
18-1!!!
on May 13th, 2008 at 11:52 PM
“He brought evidence that they knowingly cheated, where as they say that they misinterpreted the rules.”
Belichick maintains that he believed the rule meant you couldn’t use the footage during a game, but that you could keep it to study for future games. Whether you believe him or not, I don’t see how videotapes could show whether he knew he was breaking the rules or not.
on May 14th, 2008 at 2:14 PM
JP is loving every minute of this.
When are these athletes/coaches going to realize that denying wrongdoing despite the evidence against them only makes it worse? Look at Clemons and Petite. Petite said sorry, I used Hgh, and he’s pitching every fifth game. Clemons denied everything and now his legacy is in ruined, new scandals about his personal life are uncovered every week, and he’s wrapped up in an endless (and probably not victorious) legal battle.
Belichick, the Pats and the NFL face a similar drawn-out saga if they refuse to admit wrong doing and accept an appropriate punishment.
on May 14th, 2008 at 2:52 PM
Belichick did admit to taping opponents’ signals, did apologize and did accept the punishment the league handed down. To liken that to Clemens’ constant denials is quite an overstatement.
on May 14th, 2008 at 10:42 PM
LOL and now Arlen Specter wants an investigation. Maybe if THAT falls through, then Spygate is over. But making definitive pronouncements just because you can doesn’t mean squat.
on May 17th, 2008 at 3:29 PM
heh heh heh