Ok – look who is apologizing now. I just saw on ESPN.com that before his regularly scheduled press conference that Bill Belichick issued an apology to his team on Wednesday and confirmed that he has spoken to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about his "interpretation" of league rules that ban videotaping of the opposing sideline.
Here was his statement:
"At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling," Belichick said in a statement. "Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."
Does that sound like they are guilty or what??!!
This was an interesting side story on the same page:
In August, ESPN.com ran a comprehensive package on cheating in sports. Jeffri Chadiha wrote the NFL portion of the package. Among the ways NFL coaches try to gain an advantage was trying to descramble signals sent from coach to player: "When Marty Schottenheimer coached the Cleveland Browns in the late 1980s, he routinely sent a scout to watch the signals opposing teams used to relay messages from coaches to players. When the scout returned, Schottenheimer's staff would watch the game film and match the signals to the plays that followed. "[Herm] Edwards said the same is true today. It's common for coaches to watch standard game tapes (which include shots from the press box and end zone angles), sideline tapes (which usually wind up on highlight shows and include footage of players and coaches talking on the sidelines) and even the television shows of opposing coaches for tips."
Maybe the Browns should start stealing some signals again. Better yet we should get a new coach!
Our mothers and cub scout leaders were wrong. Cheaters do prosper and cheaters do win! The Pats are the best team in the NFL. Their front office and their coaching staff is the best in the NFL. And they cheat. Right after being told not to cheat, they cheat. Then they get lightly punished (a punishment that takes effect next year and 2009 since draft picks are involved, the fine is a tax deductible charitable contribution and hardly any punishment at all) then destroy the woeful Norv Turner and the once proud SD Chargers.
ReplyDeleteThe NFL has long lacked a villianous team. There are plenty of individual scumbags in the league, but now we have a team to hate. Villians are good for sports. Check the TV ratings and road attendance figures of the Yankees. If it's possible, the NFL may become even more popular now that there is a clear cut to team to root against.
Crazy Legs
I just Bill had figured out how to cheat when he was still with the Browns. Then again, video technology has advanced rapidly in the last ten or so years.
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