Bill Belichick and NFL Spying
- 1
- Add a Comment
Bill Belichick, the head coach of the New England Patriots, apologized. The confusion is that it is uncertain what the apology addresses:
“…”Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players,” Belichick said. “Following the league’s decision, I will have further comment.”
It was not clear whether Belichick was apologizing for his actions or the distraction it has caused his team as it prepares for Sunday night’s marquee game against San Diego…”
link: Belichick issues apology, says he’s spoken with Goodell
The New England Patriots are accused of spying on stealing signs from the New York Jets. For some, it confirms the suspicion that additional information has been a long term tactic for the Patriots:
“Wide receiver Hines Ward suspects the New England Patriots may have had some type of inside information on the Pittsburgh Steelers before at least one of the teams’ two AFC championship game matchups since the 2001 season.
Ward is certain the Patriots, while known for the thoroughness of their scouting under coach Bill Belichick, had some kind of unusual help before their 24-17 upset victory in Pittsburgh in the January 2002 AFC championship game…”
link: Steelers say Belichick’s been spying for years
Perhaps the Belichick apology covers that - or perhaps not. Coach Belichick seems to have mastered the art of issuing a public statement while saying absolutely nothing. It is like a media Rorschach test… read into the statement whatever you want.
Catherine Forsythe
[tags]bill belichick, nfl, security, spying, new england patriots[/tags]
One Comment
your-name-here
September 14th, 2007
at 1:59am
I can see where the media has come to the conclusion that the Patriots were cheating, even though we don’t know what was on the confiscated tape. The fact remains though that the rules regarding the use of video equipment were broken and they are getting punished for that. I think the punishment that Goodell handed out was more to make an example of the Patriots than anything else - especially given the conclusions drawn by everyone that the Patriots cheated - and to establish his own authority as the NFL commissioner.
That being said, nobody can say that the other 31 teams of the NFL don’t look for the same information that the Patriots were supposedly trying to obtain. That kind of battlefield intelligence is just too juicy to pass up. If the Patriots were indeed cheating, then they unfortunately got caught… the other 31 teams are just going to have to chill out on their own cheating for a while.
FWIW - I’m from the NE, but I’m not a Pats fan. I’m a transplant to Houston, TX and a Houston Texans fan.