I am so incredibly sick of Spygate, of Patriots talk, and all of the ridiculous discussions taking place.
When the Patriots choked away the chance to go down in history as the only 19-0 team ever, I had some thoughts about the winners and losers of that result.In the wake of the recent allegations, evidence, and resulting media attention, I wanted to re-examine what seemed so clear just a few months ago.
This is a re-post of a blog I wrote in February shortly after the Giants won Super Bowl XLII. The original article can be found here:
http://bukotime.blogspot.com/2008/02/biggest-loser-how-about-only-loser.html
Nearly 100 million viewers watched the New York Giants upset the heavily favored and previously undefeated New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII. A grizzly, sloppy game until the fourth quarter, the finish was nothing short of spectacular.
When the gun sounded Eli Manning was the MVP and Bill Belichick was leaving the field with his pride...well except for the red hoody.
As I watched Mr. Spygate trudge towards Tom Coughlin and offer a hug that ranks in awkwardness to the handshake with Eric Mangini, I realized he was the only person with something to lose. And lose it he did, in dramatic fashion.
The 2007 season will forever be the season the Patriots couldn't finish.
Even with the rabid New York media, the Giants will always have to share the spotlight of this season with a team that won 18 straight and couldn't seal the deal in Glendale. For better or for worse, that is the burden of beating the Patriots THIS year.
The Patriots still did something no team in NFL history has done, and Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and that offense set records not soon to be broken.
Tom Brady already has three rings, and his Patriots place in history as an NFL dynasty was already solidified. Brady become the all-time Super Bowl leader in completions, passing some guy named Montana who I hear is pretty good.
The 2007 New England Patriots are the best team not to win a Super Bowl and the one of only a handful of teams to go 18-1. Had the Giants lost, they would have slipped into oblivion.
The problem is, the Giants won.
They went on the road and beat Tampa at Tampa, Dallas in Dallas, and Green Bay in Green Bay. That streak gave them 10 consecutive road wins, an NFL record, to cap perhaps the greatest run in history.
For a game normally wrapped in hyperbole and cliche, the discussion over "best ____ ever" has to be had after this game, this season. The New York Football Giants certainly had nothing to lose as they were playing with house money.
With a loss, the G-Men simply would have been the last highlights on another Patriots Super Bowl season DVD, something the Rams, Panthers, and Eagles all know about.
With a win, Eli Manning can play without the hounding pressure in the Meadowlands. Michael Strahan can retire on top, as one of the greatest rush ends in the modern era. Tom Coughlin completes a remarkable coaching job, banding together a team that had supposedly quit on him a season prior.
New York is actually one of the youngest teams in the league and had they lost, would certainly have all the tools to give it a shot next year.
But what about Tiki and Shockey?
This nonsense about this being a better team without Tiki Barber is ridiculous. Tiki Barber was not the problem on the Giants team, they simply didn't play consistent football, but Barber did.Regardless of the shots he took at Eli or Coughlin after the fact, Tiki Barber was and still would be the best player on that team. I can't agree with any logic that tells me the Giants are a better team without him.
The same can be said for Shockey.
While it was unconscionable for him to be in a box that looked like they were having an early Mardi Gras party, Shockey makes the offense dynamic down the seam. Eli loves to look for Shockey on third down and he is still one of the premier play makers at the position.As far as Shockey as a distraction, he is still on the team. He went to practice, meetings, and walk-through's all season. Sure, you might think Shockey is a loser in general, but this Super Bowl win is his gain because he makes them even better next year.
Boston fans, don't even think about it.
You were not cheated, jilted, or wronged. You did not lose either. Your Red Sox won the World Series and you're still the best team in baseball. You have the most talented team in the Eastern Conference, and you have 3 Super Bowl W's in less than 10 years.
I know about "the curse" and the plight of a Boston sports fan, but give me a break. You'll be back because you have superior talent evaluators and a proven blueprint. Sorry Patriots fans, but I think you'll manage.
One could make a case for advertising agencies here as the reported $2.7 million commercials left a great deal to be desired, we are still talking about how awful they were, so maybe it worked.
That leaves the hoody.
Bill, you cheated in week 1 against an inferior opponent and a former assistant coach. You then proceeded to downplay the event in public, and use as motivation for your team. You killed teams, went for it on fourth down up 20+, essentially telling the NFL you didn't care and to try and stop you.
While piling up 18 straight, you were flippant with the media and alienated fans.
Then, just days before the culmination of your perfect season, allegations over previous spying incidents come out. The Eagles suspected you had more information on their game then you should...now someone claims you had more information on the Rams than you should.
With your villain status already intact, there was one thing you had to do: Win. Had Bill Belichick won Super XLII, he would have been justified, now he's simply vilified.
And he's earned it.
The NFL has unwritten rules, codes and standards to which players and coaches are to adhere. Karma comes around quickly and the only way to avoid it is to win while you can.
Bill Belichick took by far his best team to date to play in a game whose outcome was a foregone conclusion. Win, and the Spygate scandal and running up the score (the F U touchdowns) would all melt away in the magic of 19-0. Lose, and look like cheaters, bullies, and choke-artists.
Now Belichick will have a chance to go to the corner and think about what he's done.
Maybe he'll play by the rules next time.Until then, he's simply a loser.
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4 months ago
Load of crap
4 months ago
Wow....could you please be just a tad bit more opinionated? It's one thing to write about facts and stats and mix in a bit of ones opinion, but it's another thing to write about a bit of facts, not to many stats (if any at all) and toss in a load of your own opinion mixed with insults. Also, I don't recall ever reading any NFL rules that states that all coaches and players have to adhere to the unwritten rules.
4 months ago
Guys, always appreciate the feedback. I know I am doing what I should be doing when someone pushes back so strongly.
This article is not meant to present facts, but merely to entertain. The only relevant facts are that the Giants won the Super Bowl and the Patriots didn't. Oh and the Patriots cheated, and we know that they've been doing so for going on 8 years now.
My point was simply to show that the Patriots legacy has NOT been tainted. The original title of my article was "Biggest loser? How about the only Loser. Belichick is the one who comes out on the bottom of this equation, we don't hold it against Tom Brady or Teddy Bruschi or even assistants like Charlie Weiss who must have know it was going on.
I'm glad I was able to stir something in you, that is the point. I just wanted to make everyone (including Patriots fans) see that they have one person to blame for all of this and that is Bill, and he deserves it.
from 4 months ago
Again, I have to disagree. This has been round and round and has been done to death (the whole spygate and cheated deal).
It goes back to research. Taping signals IS NOT illegal. Where they were taped from apparently was.
It's all up to how one interprets the rules, and Bill interpreted them in black and white:
Rules state: "Use at any time, from the start to the finish of any game in which a club is a participant, of communication or information-gathering equipment, other than Polaroid-type cameras or field telephones, including without limitation videotape machines, telephone tapping or bugging devices, or any other form of electronic device that might aid a team during the playing of a game." Bill, or anyone on the Pats didn't use any tapes or film footage that they got from the game they were playing in to gain an advantage in that same game-therefore, nothing wrong with that.
The rules also state: "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches’ booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game. All video shooting locations must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.” The rule book also states that "The field is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide" (http://www.nfl.com/rulebook/field). Therefore, the sidelines are not "on the field" by the rules.
So, seeing that the Pats didn't record from an illegal location, and that they didn't use anything they taped in the same game (might aid a team during the playing of a game)-what is it the Pats have done for the last 8 years that you say is cheating?
4 months ago
Steve, your passion and vigor for this topic is quite clear, but I'm not sure you can really make any of the aforementioned statements about "Bill" or his state of mind. We have NO idea what he did with the video taped materials he got. I understand this was nothing new to the NFL landscape, but the bottom line is for you to say that he didn't break any rules is an untenable position to take. The NFL ASSERTED they broke the rules and cheated. That is why it cost them money and draft picks. The fact of the matter is, this was not an isolated incident, but rather a long history of such actions.
For you to be defending these actions in any way shows your blind trust in one of the least honest coaches in the NFL. You worry about ME being opinionated? I am not hiding my opinion, but rather I am sharing it. You are attempting to refuse my opinion with fact which is really just an obfuscation of facts to serve your ends.
The Patriots BROKE THE RULES, period. Bill Belichik is the culprit and should be punished. How he is even coaching is actually astonishing. If he had any class or dignity at all he would have resigned.
You can be a die hards Patriots fan, but you have to understand what your team did was wrong. The F U touchdowns are not against the rules, but then you have to deal with the karmic repercussions.
Be a fan, but don't be blind, because that is how you sound. I don't hate the Patriots, but I hate fans who refuse to admit that their team cheated or did anything wrong by running up the score in the 4th quarter of blow outs or their coach's inability to even be reasonable through out. It is a joke
4 months ago
See now, why is it ok for you to push your opinion, but not me? I stated facts while you stated opinion, and yet you tell me that I refuse to admit that the Pats cheated or did anything wrong.....and for the record I never mentioned running up the score-would you rather have the Pats take a knee 4 times in a row, then tell the defense not to tackle anyone just to keep the score close? Correct me if I'm wrong, but the idea of the game is to score points-not to coddle your opponents. By going for it on 4th down, it takes away a near guaranteed field goal and also allows the defense to stop us and take the ball. I'm guessing that you're referring to the Pats vs the Redskins? Where we beat them by a huge margin, but did you know it wasn't the largest gap in NFL history or even the most points scored? Nope, the most points scored by a team in a single game was....you guessed it-the Redskins-whom went for it on 4th down more than once and kicked a field goal with only seconds left on the clock rather than take a knee. So, you see, there are others who have done worse than the Pats, yet the Pats are made to be the scape goat.
It's people like you who make the Pats the scape goats and utterly refuse to let this whole spygate thing go. I've shown you facts and linked to the rules explaining where the Pats didn't "cheat", yet you keep insisting that they cheat and then turn around and tell me not to be blind and that I should admit that the Pats "cheated" and that the coach-that won coach of the year and a slew of other awards while marching his team to multiple NFL records including that of going 16-0 in the regular season-has an inability to even be reasonable? Wow, and you tell me that I'm blind? Really, you're just kidding yourself.
You said:
"For you to be defending these actions in any way shows your blind trust in one of the least honest coaches in the NFL. You worry about ME being opinionated? I am not hiding my opinion, but rather I am sharing it. You are attempting to refuse my opinion with fact which is really just an obfuscation of facts to serve your ends."
You also said:
"The Patriots BROKE THE RULES, period. Bill Belichik is the culprit and should be punished. How he is even coaching is actually astonishing. If he had any class or dignity at all he would have resigned."
Seriously-you don't see any of your own opinion in that paragraph? How about "one of the least honest coaches in the NFL." And also "If he had any class or dignity at all he would have resigned." Both of those seem pretty well opinionated to me. Also, it's obvious you haven't' heard that he was fined $500,000 for his actions-so, indeed, he was punished.
I'm not saying what they Pats did was right. I am saying that I'm sick of people trying to force their opinions as fact and disputing that their opinion is actually right despite what any one else says. You stated your opinion, and I stated facts: You rebutted by saying that I refused your opinion with fact ... to serve my ends. Yes, you're right, I proved you wrong by stating facts, and I'm sorry that you can't see that.
Unless you can show me some facts to support your outrageous claims like the one you made about"The NFL ASSERTED they broke the rules and cheated."-which the NFL NEVER ONCE said that the Pats cheated, only that they broke the rules-then I'll simply consider your posts nothing more than your very own opinion, which you are entitled to have. Just "don't be blind, because that is how you sound"-as you refute what I say even though I post facts and rules, you refuse them and accuse me of being blind, when it seems that you, too, are guilty of the same.
from 4 months ago
I would just like to point out that it never seemed okay to you that he pushed his opinion, so it is a bit hypocritical to ask him why it's okay for him and not you. You started with "could you be any more opinionated?" That's what writing for the site is about!
I have seen you give really thoughtful comments on every other occasion, so I am not going to judge you based on this one, but to say the Pats offense is less serious because taping itself is not illegal is crap--he did it illegally! Try using that argument the next time you get a speeding ticket: "Driving is not illegal, so I shouldn't get a ticket for speeding."
Plus, I have a bigger problem with practicing players on IR, which corroborates Bill's disregard for injuries that affected Ted Johnson and makes him more dispicable than taping.
Good article, and now you enter my lineup--not just because you appear to be a fellow Polack, either!
from 4 months ago
Point well taken MJ. I had a nice chunk of text all typed up. Spent about 30 minutes doing so. I hit post comment and got an error....lucky me.
Honestly, I can split hairs and break it down so that it shows that the pats were penalized for filming from a location that was against the rules by violating this rule: "All video shooting locations must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead.". Seems picky, I know...but the NFL says no shooting from the filed, while it describes the field as "The field is 360 feet long and 160 feet wide. The end zones are 30 feet deep." See what I'm getting at?
I'm just tired of hearing all of the "cheating" comments and having people refuse to see anything in favor of the Pats, like what the fine was actually for (it was in fact not for "cheating"), or that a memo isn't an official change to the rules. I've posted about it so many times in so many different ways I could probably cut and paste a reply. Not a bad idea, it would save me from typing so much! :)
4 months ago
Steve, you aren't even listening and I will not continue to waste my time explaining myself anymore except that by saying I was very upfront that my opinion was all I was propounding.
Your flawed position can be expressed in the simple fact that you believe "breaking the rules" is not in fact cheating. It is clear you've never played sports in your life. Posting rules and telling me I'm just giving my opinion does not in any way strengthen your position.
Just to recap: My article is opinion pure and simple. The Patriots broke the rules and therefore cheated.
from 4 months ago
It's a shame that you'd do nothing more than argue and continue to push your opinion as fact-having a camera on the sidelines is cheating? Stop and think about that-having a camera on the side line is cheating-as that is what the Pats were in trouble for-camera location, NOT for "cheating". Had the camera been in a location within the rules (roof overhead, etc. etc.), there would NOT have been any penalties imposed. You simply cannot see that, nor accept it as truth because it doesn't coincide with your opinion.
I fail to see how citing rules and proving things that show you something other than your opinion doesn't strengthen my position. How is it I can point to rules and regulations and you dismiss them?
It appears that you are to set in your belief that you're opinion is fact-"The Patriots broke the rules and therefore cheated."-when by now, after my pointing out to you all the things I have, you still argue that you're right and everyone else is wrong by continuing to say that the Pats cheated simply because they violated a rule on camera placement. If you're going to make accusations, at least do some research on them-read about the technicalities of camera placement in regards to what is being filmed, read about how other teams do the same thing, read about how the footage the Pats got was used, read about how other teams have done similar things in the past, watch the interviews with various players and coaches and announcers-get informed then start forming an opinion, but please, don't have an opinion and stick to it just because you can.
You are wrong about me never playing sports-although it was a decent attempt at antagonizing me, or at least it seemed as such.
However, you are right about one thing-your article is all about your opinion, nothing more. It lacks in facts and fails to support any of your arguments. It's nothing more than one persons opinion, and, much like you have stated already, I'll not waste any more of my time explaining myself to you. I've stated facts attempted to vary your opinion, and have failed, if anything because you refuse to believe any of the information that I have posted and keep reverting back to your "I'm right because it's my opinion" mentality-which is fine, really, I just wish you were a bit more open minded that you could see some of the other sides of the story.
Agree to disagree I guess.
On the flip side, and despite our butting heads, I will say that your article was well written and looked professional (not all one big paragraph, etc. etc.). I'll be honest in saying that I'll probably read more of your articles.
4 months ago
The Giants are better with a HB like Jacobs, who consistently picks up positive yardage, compared to Tiki Barber who would pick up 50 yards on one play, then minus-3 yards on the next two plays. This was critical to the Giants...to consistently be in 2nd- or 3rd and short, rather than the uneven play that a cutback runner like Tiki would be able to contribute.
from 4 months ago
Phil, I agree that a bruiser like Jacobs was crucial to the success of the Giants offense, but just think about the kind of backfield you would have with the two of them together. Remember fire and lightening when both Tiki and Ron Dayne were young up-and-comers. The Giants rode them to a Super Bowl. Tiki was also critical to their screen and draw game in addition to his ability catch passes on flairs, check downs and wheels.
Yes Jacobs got the job done in a big way for the Giants, but it doesn't seem to me that Tiki's retirement was addition by subtraction. Maybe the Giants would have scored more points and kept that defense off the field early in the season. We could be talking about a team with home-field throughout
4 months ago
Steve's absolutely right about the rules. Although Goodell and the media continue to say the Patriots violated a rule by taping signals, there's nothing in the rules that says you can't. Yeah, yeah. Ray Anderson wrote a memo. Guess what? Ray Anderson doesn't have the power to change the rules. The only rules the league cited against the Patriots were camera location rules. The NFL's videotaping rules aren't in the rule book. They're in the POLICY MANUAL FOR MEMBER CLUBS VOLUME II: GAME OPERATIONS. Here's a four page excerpt posted by THE NEW YORK TIMES, including two pages about videotaping during games. Find something in there that says anything about recording signals. This whole Spygate issue is a bogus ploy to promote parity.
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/sports/20080511_NFL_DOCUMENTS.pdf
4 months ago
Scott, here is the point: regardless of what the Patriots did and did not do, what they did broke the rules. Not only were they breaking rules, they broke rules multiple times...I can't imagine with as smart as Bill and that coaching staff is that they didn't know the rules regarding camera placement, particularly after the memo was sent out. You only continually break rules because you believe it gives you an advantage. In that way, the Patriots broke the rules and thus cheated to get an advantage. The semantics of the violation does not matter, breaking the rules for one's benefit is the very definition of cheating.
from 4 months ago
See, you're twisting the facts to work in your favor-irregardless of what was said by either party-the NFL, the Pats, Belichick or any of the folks posting comments. While you might have a point Peter, you fail to recognize the fact that the Pats did not just tape the opponents signals. They taped a multiude of things, including the coaches, other staffers, the game clock, down markers, their own players and even cheerleaders. They didn't just sit there and tape the opposing teams coaches signals and then take them back to the office and decipher them so they could use them against them later in the season, nor did they decipher them at half time and use it to their advantage in the 2nd half of the game. People fail to realize that, or they just refuse to admit it. People that have never seen the tapes draw their own conclusions and stick with them. Their conclusions? The Pats cheated and that's it-no way around it, they cheated, they were caught cheating, it's as simple as that. It's not that simple. There's a bigger picture than what most people care to see. I dont' deny that the Pats were wrong. I do deny that they taped only signals and then used them to gain an advantage. It's been said by both the NFL and the Pats that this was not the case-but all most people say is "they cheated, point and case".
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