Those lucky enough to witness Senator Arlen Specter’s half-hour rambling and contradiction-filled press conference this morning might think that Spygate has been resuscitated just before its demise.
Specter said it would be up to the fans and media whether or not an independent investigation into the matter happens. If it does, it won’t just be the Patriots in hot water any more.
The great majority of Specter’s anger came not from what Walsh had to say, but how the situation was handled way back when in September. This time around the NFL made sure that everyone saw every second of the videotapes that were turned over. Shockingly, no one was actually murdered on the footage!
Specter would have you believe something far more sinister has taken place. What exactly that is, I’m still guessing.
The Patriots admitted they’ve been doing this all along. They said, and Matt Walsh confirmed, they never used it in the same game (which would be the ultimate offense in terms of cheating). That isn’t good enough for Spector.
He specifically brought up the 2004 season, where the Pats lost to the Steelers in October, then beat them in the AFC Championship game. Okay, simple fix. Bill Cowher, did you change your defensive signals between those two games? Cowher seems like a pretty smart guy to me.
I think there’s a pretty good chance measures were taken to prevent the Patriots from knowing exactly what defense the Steelers would be in the second they called it.
Does Specter really think that the Steelers were so naïve, especially in a game as big as the AFC Championship game? Clearly the Senator knows little-to-nothing about football and has demonstrated that over and over in his press conference.
Specter said he found Matt Walsh to be completely credible. Walsh clearly stated that the Patriots never used their signals taping in the same game.
Yet Specter was still concerned that the tapes were being used for just that based on what Mark “Go Broncos” Schlereth of ESPN’s NFL Live said yesterday. So Specter either a) didn’t find Walsh credible on that single point or b) finds Schlereth to be more credible on something he has no firsthand knowledge of.
15 comments Last one added about 1 year ago — Leave a Comment
Stew Winkel about 1 year ago
I just want, before we go any farther with Arlen Specter, for someone to ask him about this statement he made, ""Those reports are looking pretty strong . . . There was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl.''
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/03/21/mmqb/2.html
maybe Specter can explain this blatant lied he made. and if he adequately explains himself, then maybe he would deserve more of our attention. until then, someone needs to tell him enough already Arlen.
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choly bninckerstien about 1 year ago
501Boy
5/14/2008
1:08 PM (report inappropriate content)
If it gives you "No Advantage" or there is no benefit to knowing the coverage, blitz package, etc. of the defense why have signals to begin with? That said there is obviously an advantage gained. It is obvious that this was an ongoing issue and tapes were produced (not counting the ones not produced, found, or submitted)that demonstrated this covered a broad span of time and that it was apparant the Patriots knew they were in violation of league rules and competitive ethical standards, is that not fair to say...yes it's fair. They cheated simple and plain, which in my opinion is worse than Chris Henry getting arrested for a 3rd time, the commish is Rambo about kicking guys out of the league and making examples of people who make mistakes in their personal lives, but punks out when faced with a challenge that compromises the integrity of the game, that's weak. Worthy of congressional meetings etc...probably not, but the Patriots should be recognized as known, blatant, out right, cheaters...because that is what they did, no question about it. That is what Sen Spector wants is the acknowledgment that the Partriots cheated, gained a competitive advantage, and that the league will not tolerate this kind of behavior. If the commish isn't going to that then he might as well condone it, at that point where does it stop, where is the line drawn, their is a greater problem here and it needs to be addressed in some shape, form, or fashion.
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Mike Dussault about 1 year ago
Did you just start following this story this morning? I think you might've missed the fact that the Patriots were given one of the stiffest penalties ever levied on a team/head coach. That doesn't show the league "won't tolerate this kind of behavior"? What if they took Belichick out back and shot him, would that be enough punishment? Specter acknowledged Walsh said the Jets were doing the same thing. Shouldn't they be punished as well?
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Jeff Smirnoff about 1 year ago
The website referrenced in the article above says it all:
http://senatorarlenspecter.tripod.com/
There is a definite conflict of interest. If it looks like a duck and it sounds like a duck...
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Dr. Sox about 1 year ago
Spector is a homer in a high positiion; the one fan who both can't accept his team's loss AND is in place to waste taxpayer's money on a pointless investigation. The birds lost due to Vinateri buddy, plan and simple....now do us all a favor and give in to that cancer I just read about.
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Robert Dimond about 1 year ago
There is a little town out west, maybe you've heard of it, it's called Las Vegas. And just in case you were born yesterday, I have to tell you that in Vegas over the course of the last seven years billions of dollars have been wagered on NFL football games. When you add up all the collective betting on football on a global scale it is hundreds of billions of dollars. A lot of people lost a lot of money because of the Pats cheating.
Now,in the gambling world, its called "fixing a game" when organized cheating occurs within a sports franchise. When this happens you leave the rhelm of sports and enter the sleazy world of crime.
Regardless of what Rodger would have us believe, Specter knows that the Pats had a huge advantage from cheating. So would people betting on the game if they knew about the fix. And lots of people knew about the cheating, probably the whole team. So, how many of them were betting on the games? It's not a stretch to think at some point over seven years organized crime might have gotten wind of it. When a horse race or a boxing match is fixed, they don't loose a draft pick, someone goes to jail. I hope Specter gets to ask questions to some people under oath.
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Steve Frith about 1 year ago
Wow-you're really reaching there aren't you? Organized crime? You have got to be kidding me.....seriously.....organized crime? Fixing the game? The entire team knowing about "the cheating"? How many players were betting on games?
What a joke.
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Steve Frith about 1 year ago
Allow me to reiterate that last statement ("What a joke."). That was meant to be made in reference to the whole spygate deal and how it's been so blown out of proportion by both peope (fans) and the media. The comment was not directed directly at you Robert-meaning I wasn't trying to insult you. I just wanted to clarify that.
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Jay Thomas about 1 year ago
People kill me.. they really do.. they make a mountain out of an ant hill and think the world is going to come to an end.
Seriously people.. organized crime? fixed games? The only true fixed game in sports is a game when a team intentionally looses. Why is that? Because there are to many factors to garrentee a win. So unless the Pats were stealing signals to loose.. try another theory.
All of the Pats wins were by 3 points or less. Do you think if they had cheated and it made a difference they would have won by more than a field goal in the last dieing seconds of those games? If they were cheating this year and went 18 and 0 I think you would have a strong case on your hands.
Spector needs to get a life.. and find a new hobby.
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Robert Dimond about 1 year ago
The only way to find out the truth Jay is to put them under oath. From Kraft to Godell to Rooney and everyone in between. Why was the cheating allowed to continue after Green Bay?
BTW. When a team intentionally looses it is called throwing the game. Any time organized cheating occurs in a sporting event (throwing the game, taking a dive etc.) regardless of the outcome the game is said to be fixed. Sometimes for what ever reason, the fix dosen't work.
Walsh told Specter that the Pats could anticipate 75% of opponents defensive formations. It isn't mentioned often but they were cheating on the offensive side too. The fact that the games were so close shows just how important cheating was to the pats success.
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Robert Dimond about 1 year ago
Hey Steve,
Ask one of the millions of people who lost money betting on the teams the Pats cheated if they think it's a joke. Ask someone who lost their shirt betting on the Steelers at home in the AFC championship games if they think it is a joke or is being blown out of proportion. This should have been a criminal investigation from day one.
And once those involved knew the taping was working to their advantage, the next logical step would be to go to the local bookie. How did Walsh move to Hawaii after making 20K a year with the Pats? You think some third string DB or first string for that matter, wouldn't bet on the closest thing to a sure thing you could get? You think Walsh or anyone else that knew about the cheating wouldn't let his friends and family know so they could benefit also? And after seven years, with so many people knowing, if you think it is a stretch to think the mob knew then you also think Billy Boy didn't understand the rules.
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Jay Thomas about 1 year ago
Robert they won three championships in a matter of four years by 3 points, the first two by last second field goals by Adam V. and the last game in 2004 was by 3 points as well. It is now 2008 (4 years later) and they have yet to win another SuperBowl.. if their cheating was doing something for them its not very evident. Were they 18 and 0 for the last 8 years.. not even close.
If someone lost thier shirt betting on sports then they should have been buying food for thier family instead of gambling thier money on a professional sports game.
These is nothing criminal about stealing signals in a professional sports game, they have done it in baseball for years and its still legal in football as long as you dont video record it. It the Pats were throwing games and betting on them.. that consitutes something illegal. Robert no one in thier right mind would ever bet on a team to win based upon an unmeasurable advantage.
Teams that play at home would most likely have a 100% greater advantage to win than the Pats would have trying to look for small patterns in signal calling. You still have to execute the play. As someone else mentioned.. you may know its a fast ball but you still have to hit it.
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Robert Dimond about 1 year ago
If they cheat they win by 3. If they don't cheat they loose by 14.
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Steve Frith about 1 year ago
So, what you're saying is that after 7 years of cheating, and 7 years of "Walsh or anyone else that knew about the cheating wouldn't let his friends and family know so they could benefit also?" (meaning that everyone and their mother knew about this) that it's just not coming to light? Why isn't everyone jumping up going "Yep, I knew that since 2001-all the games were fixed and that's why I'm now driving my $200,000 import vechicle and living in my million dollar house burning wads of cash for heat in the winter while I wait for my purchase offer to be accepted for that island just off of Florida."
Yes, it's a joke that anyone, mob included, would "fix" a football game. If people are losing their shirts betting on NFL games, then they need to seek professional help.
They can anticipate the majority of the game becuase they've been playing the game for so long. Ever wonder why no one acts suprised when teams punt on their fourth down? BECAUSE THEY KNEW IT WAS COMING! Or, does every team in the NFL cheat to know that? It's called experience.
You're stretching so far here that it's mildly ammusing. Organized crime in the NFL....LOL!
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Heather Murphy about 1 year ago
IF Specter wants to reform sports so badly and really cares about the fans, then why doesn't he launch a full investigation into the NBA problem with officials betting on games they are officiating. Also for the guy who complained about the crackdown on players with personal problems are you serious? those "personal problems" happend to be AGAINST THE LAW Using steroids is AGAINST THE LAW, all Bill Bellichick did was break a rule- big difference. So far what Matt Walsh says when he is bound by the truth, or he'll lose his protection and have to pay his own attourneys fees, and what he says to the media through his attourneys is very different. I feal he likes to embellish in order to make himself look more important then he was.
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