Tom & Gisele’s Sweet Victory

alohaland you are just plain wrong. They ARE doing things other teams don’t lower themselves to do. What other team got caught videotaping. NONE! Get it or are you that thick. And as for appreciate, I appreciate hard working players who do it the right way, not the belicheat way. If the man is such a genius - why the need to videotape. Iike it or not they got caught and most people believe that to be cheating. I don’t think I am the only one who feels this way.

erin, all other teams do it to some degree. You don’t realize the reason they got ratted out, is because of the history between Belichik and Eric Mangini. They were coaches together with the Pats, but Mangini was just looking for some way to beat Belichik once he went to the Jets. Since he couldn’t, he ratted out Belichik. So this was a case of bad blood or sour grapes. I don’t doubt for a minute it’s been going on for years on every team; it was just never enforced. Now that it has been noted and punished, I’m sure all the teams will not dare do it again. Or they’ll just find other ways. It goes on in baseball too, I’m sure. Don’t you see how pitchers cover their mouths to talk to their catchers, and the accusations that fly over 2nd basemen looking in to see the calls?? This is nothing new, sorry to say.

I DO know all that, it dosn’t matter to me. Mangini knew of the practice and didn’t want it done to his team. I don’t have a problem with that. What is upsetting is that Belichick was warned last year when he was caught on the sidelines of the packers and the day before the first game a memo went to all teamsprohibiting videotaping sidelines and yet the very next day he does it again to a team whose coach used to be on his staff and knew that they did it. It seems VERY Ballsy. It is not like the Patriots sucked and the Jets were great. The Jets didn’t have a prayer in that game. Why videotape. It dosn’t make any sense to me. Look at the consequences. Who can blame Mangini - If you were the Jets coach and you were being videotaped - you wouldn’t say anything. I doubt it. If you didn’t say something, you would have a huge problem. Mangini wants to win as much as Belichick. Everyone wants to win. How can you blame the Jets coach. I feel he did the right thing and it was NOT sour grapes. I am sorry. He did what any other coach would have done - they would have reported it.

So erin, what about the Jets who said they tape at every game from teh end zone, and were refused at Gillette last year? You don’t think this was his way to pay them back for that??? Listen, you don’t know what went down with Belichik and Mangini, nor do I. But it’s just a little too coincidental to me that this got reported by Mangini. He knew it was a common practice, and wanted to get back at Belichik because he can’t beat him at his own game.

Then why did Belichick videotape the Jets. Was he afraid that he couldn’t beat them at their own game. What was the purpose of doing it then. Seems pretty stupid if you ask me. To me winning at any cost is not winning at all.

I find it funny that the Patriots would not allow Mangini to videotape at their stadium when the tape every team under the sun. Seems fishy to me. There must be something to the videotaping or Belichick would’t care if they were taped. As for the lip reading. If that is something that every team is guilty of - then they are all on the same playing field - big deal then. But the taping is not widly done so that is an unfair playing field. Where is the hard evidence that any other team is guilty of that - there is none.

I don’t doubt that spygate has hurt their image and will always be a point of contention for a lot of people. It is unfortunate it happened and that Belichick was an arrogant azz about it. Because yes, it does taint their accomplishments in some people’s eyes. I’m saying the league is full of stuff much worse.

As far as the steroid argument, well haven’t you heard all of the players that have been expose ALL OVER THE LEAGUE? How about Shawn Merriman at SD? Didn’t he lead the league in sacks the year before he tested positive for roids? Should that record be taken away or asterisked? How about the freaking felons employed by many teams (accused murders, car theives, drug takers/traffickers, not to mention those accused of domestic abuse or rape)? How is taping signals any worse? Why aren’t these teams, or at least these player’s accomplishments tainted or have an asterisk? If you go down that road where does it end?

The point is the NFL is full of problem children and until all teams and front offices clean up their act no team is ABOVE anything! You really don’t think a team that would employ a felon in order to get a competitive advantage wouldn’t ’stoop’ to cheating by stealing signals? That is a bit ‘thick’ of you.
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No response? I’m disappointed :( I like to argue when I’m bored at work.

erin, you’re just making ridiculous points. There IS bad blood between those two men, and you can’t convince me it was a coincidence that Mangini reported him. No, there’s no proof, but take a look at every team’s sidelines. I’ve seen cameras there for years. I think it was commonly done, even though it’s not allowed by the league, and it was just not enforced. Now that it has, no one will do it. The bottom line is, they’re a great team. They have been under great scrutiny this season, and they STILL went 16-0.

Another thing, erin, I don’t deny Belichik can be arrogant. But it was one young assistant doing the videotaping, and I”m sure it was a directive from Belichick. THIS TEAM HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT!! THey weren’t even aware. So why beat up the players, who work their butts off every day, and condemn them too???? They have to go out and execute those plays, and win. Tom Brady had nothing to do with that videotaping scheme. They’ve won 3 Super Bowls in this decade, and no one gives them the credit they deserve. Those players may not be the best in the game, but they know “the Patriot Way” works. There are no individuals; it’s about the team. So I may not like Mr. Belichik, but I respect what he teaches his men. The game after the taping incident, they showed the locker room, and all the players were gathered around Bill. They gave him the game ball, and Tedy Bruschi gave the most eloquent speech about the man, and what he means to them.

So, erin, you can stubbornly think what you want. The team works hard, and they deserve more respect than the trash you talk about them.

The Patriot Way. That sounds real cool. I wish I liked them now. Wow they have their own way.

I highly doubt Mangini asked Belichick permission to do anything. Belichick probably knew he was going to do it, because it is a common practice, or was a common practice, and Belichick took it upon himself to stop Mangini from doing it. Maybe that was part of the bad blood that led to Mangini ‘outing’ Belichick as payback. Makes sense to me.

Why would he stop him from doing it. I don’t understand. You say it is common practice (not). If he does it himself - why would he stop anyone else from doing it. That dosn’t make any sense. He dosn’t want anyone else to cheat on him yet he will do it to others. Some coach!

That must be the Patriot Way - I can cheat but you can’t.