Arlen Specter Interview - Patriots Cheating Investigation

Remote Controller · 02-12-2008, 08:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOJO

As expected, I am hearing more and more media dorks starting to turn on Belichick, and wanting him to step up and tell his side of the story of what actually happened and all the why's and How's of this whole spygate thing taking place. He was actually going to do this back before the season started, then once Goodell waved his magic wand and made all the evidence disappear, Belichick suddenly had nothing to say about it.

When the Patriots started winning, and winning, and winning, the media no longer cared. They were too busy sucking up and praising "greatness".

Funny how all it takes is one big loss for the fickle media to start doing a 180 on their thoughts.

.....and does this disappoint you? I mean are you pissed at the media or the overall scrutiny?
He needs to answer to this shit, and we have been saying it all along!

Birdman · 02-12-2008, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MOJO

As expected, I am hearing more and more media dorks starting to turn on Belichick, and wanting him to step up and tell his side of the story of what actually happened and all the why's and How's of this whole spygate thing taking place. He was actually going to do this back before the season started, then once Goodell waved his magic wand and made all the evidence disappear, Belichick suddenly had nothing to say about it.

When the Patriots started winning, and winning, and winning, the media no longer cared. They were too busy sucking up and praising "greatness".

Funny how all it takes is one big loss for the fickle media to start doing a 180 on their thoughts.

The only problem with this is line of logic is that spygate became a big issue a week or so BEFORE the Super Bowl was even played. It was due to the NFL finally getting back to Arlen Specter at that time, him making an issue of it and Matt Walsh insinuating that he had the walk through from the Rams Super Bowl. All of which happened before the Patriots lost the game.

Mike · 02-12-2008, 08:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remote Controller

.....and does this disappoint you? I mean are you pissed at the media or the overall scrutiny?
He needs to answer to this shit, and we have been saying it all along!

disappoint me? no. But it just helps prove how much of a suck up factor exists in the media. Had the Patriots won, these guys wouldn't be starting to turn on him right now.

Mike · 02-12-2008, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Birdman

The only problem with this is line of logic is that spygate became a big issue a week or so BEFORE the Super Bowl was even played. It was due to the NFL finally getting back to Arlen Specter at that time, him making an issue of it and Matt Walsh insinuating that he had the walk through from the Rams Super Bowl. All of which happened before the Patriots lost the game.

You missed my point. I am aware spygate became an issue before the Superbowl was played, but until they lost, the media was still defending Belichick, and basically making jokes about Spector and how he needed to mind his own business.

As soon as they lost, however, more and more of these guys in the sports media are starting to want questions answered, by Belichick himself.

JScott · 02-14-2008, 11:37 AM

I can believe this hasn't been posted yet... and as Pats fan I can only

from the impending fall out. And I'm also even more

at BB than I was before.

Quote:

Belichick has been taping since 2000, Goodell tells Specter

By LAURIE KELLMAN - Associated Press Writer
2008-02-13 19:38

WASHINGTON (AP) -Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday.

``There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over,'' Specter said.

Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.

``There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell,'' Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters after the meeting. ``I found a lot of questions unanswerable because of the tapes and notes had been destroyed.''

Goodell said Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal; Goodell said he did not concur.

``He said that's always been his interpretation since he's been the head coach,'' the commissioner said. ``We are going to agree to disagree on the facts.''

Specter, from Pennsylvania, wants to talk to other league officials about what exactly was taped and which games may have been compromised.

``We have a right to have honest football games,'' he said.

Goodell noted that ``we were the ones that disclosed'' the Patriots' illegal taping of the New York Jets' defensive signals in Week 1 of last season. Further, Goodell said, they had an admission by Belichick.

``I have nothing to hide,'' Goodell said.

Goodell also told Specter that that he doesn't regret destroying the Spygate tapes or the notes.

``I think it was the right thing to do,'' Goodell said.

Still, Specter wants to know why penalties were imposed on Belichick before the full extent of the wrongdoing was known and the tapes destroyed in a two-week span. Asked if he thinks there was a coverup, Specter demurred.

``There was an enormous amount of haste,'' Specter said.

He scoffed at the reasons Goodell gave for destroying the tapes and notes, particularly about trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping.

``What's that got to do with it? There's an admission of guilt, you preserve the evidence,'' Specter said. As for keeping the tapes out of the hands of others: ``All you have to do is lock up the tapes.''

Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000 because of the Spygate incident. The Patriots also forfeited a first-round draft pick.

Specter has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the matter and raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers. Specter also raised the threat of Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

Goodell also said he has not heard from Matt Walsh, the former Patriots employee who performed some videotaping duties for the team.

Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby ``he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly'' in return for indemnity. Specter said he, too, wanted to talk to Walsh and perhaps offer a different deal.

Goodell also said he reserves the right to reopen the investigation if more information is uncovered.

Remote Controller · 02-14-2008, 12:13 PM

I guess this was my understanding all along????? They mentioned this way back saying that they misunderstood the rules.

GlennsPatriots · 02-14-2008, 01:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Remote Controller

I guess this was my understanding all along????? They mentioned this way back saying that they misunderstood the rules.

In case anyone is wondering how they might "misinterperet" the rule:
I'm only going on here-say, but the guys on local sports radio here were reading the "rule" over the radio. (way back in week 2)
The rule said something like "video taping opposing teams sidelines for use during that game is forbidden."
This is what they kept harping on as far as misinterpereting the rule. "for use during the game".
Belicheat told Goodell that the video was for "offseason" use.
The "memo" that was sent to all teams was worded diferently and didn't use the term "for use during that game".

Birdman · 02-14-2008, 01:45 PM

All of the rumblings from assistant coaches of various organizations and such have implied that Belicheat has been doing this since he was the coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Mike · 02-14-2008, 07:01 PM

This is exactly why I said from the very beginning that just because the tapes were "destroyed", that didn't end the advantage that the Patriots had on teams. New England has been taping and studying the teams and their tendencies all this time. The benefits from that carried over after the tapes were destroyed, and they will carry over to an extent for the next year or two.

Birdman · 02-18-2008, 01:58 PM

Local radio from the local Senator who is standing up for truth, justice & the American way. Worth a listen & includes new developments.

RedLasso - Sen. Arlen Specter on the radio talking about "spygate"

Miller · 02-24-2008, 01:05 PM

Spector feels the Pats are Stonewalling his investigation.

ESPN - Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe - NFL

DearbornDolfan · 03-01-2008, 10:12 AM

Oh shit... You don't ever try to stonewall a Senate or Congressional investigation, especially when it's a one-man crusade. That's how McCarthy started and look how that turned out.


02-24-2008, 01:05 PM	#71
Miller Who Me? Admin Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 14,363 vCash: 23146987 Donate Blog Entries: 6	Spector feels the Pats are Stonewalling his investigation. ESPN - Specter irked by uncooperative Pats, league in Spygate probe - NFL __________________ Banner by Mark Clapper

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02-14-2008, 12:13 PM	#66
Remote Controller Yeah.......That's me! Join Date: May 2006 Location: Top of the Texas Panhandle Posts: 3,232 vCash: 318976 Donate	I guess this was my understanding all along????? They mentioned this way back saying that they misunderstood the rules.


02-14-2008, 01:45 PM	#68
Birdman Outlaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,894 vCash: 62845 Donate	All of the rumblings from assistant coaches of various organizations and such have implied that Belicheat has been doing this since he was the coach of the Cleveland Browns.


02-14-2008, 07:01 PM	#69
Mike who me? Admin Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: L.A. (Lower Arkansas) Posts: 28,730 vCash: 354018 Donate Blog Entries: 18	This is exactly why I said from the very beginning that just because the tapes were "destroyed", that didn't end the advantage that the Patriots had on teams. New England has been taping and studying the teams and their tendencies all this time. The benefits from that carried over after the tapes were destroyed, and they will carry over to an extent for the next year or two.


02-18-2008, 01:58 PM	#70
Birdman Outlaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 1,894 vCash: 62845 Donate	Local radio from the local Senator who is standing up for truth, justice & the American way. Worth a listen & includes new developments. RedLasso - Sen. Arlen Specter on the radio talking about "spygate"


03-01-2008, 10:12 AM	#72
DearbornDolfan Outlaw Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 1,980 vCash: 42455 Donate	Oh shit... You don't ever try to stonewall a Senate or Congressional investigation, especially when it's a one-man crusade. That's how McCarthy started and look how that turned out.