Headline..The patriots stole Eagles Super Bowl!
- From: Slick <goodtimes33702@xxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 19:39:32 -0700
I knew they seem to have an edge in some manner. It sucks really
bigtime. I think the NFL should scan tapes of games with the New
England Cheatriots, and see how long back the cheating Goes. Unreal!
NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- Roger Goodell's hard line on discipline, aimed so far at
players, came down this time on a coach and a team.
New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000
Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on
an opponent's defensive signals.
The commissioner also ordered the team to give up next year's first-
round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-
round picks if it doesn't. If the Patriots lose their first-rounder
next season they still will have a first-round pick, obtained from San
Francisco in the deal that brought Moss from Oakland.
Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Bill Belichick is in his seventh season as the head coach of the
Patriots.
Related Content:
» Belichick: profile
» Patriots: Team page | Official site
» Belichick meets with Goodell
» Video: Stealing signals
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid
longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest
competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the
Patriots.
The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from
Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York
Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants
Stadium.
The Jets issued a statement saying, "We support the commissioner and
his findings. The focus of our organization remains on the upcoming
game against Baltimore."
The NFL said the camera was seized before the end of the first quarter
and had no impact on the game.
Goodell said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely
because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine
and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft
choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore
more effective, than a suspension."
New England, strengthened by the addition of Randy Moss and two other
first-rate wide receivers as well as linebacker Adalius Thomas, is
considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the fourth
time since the 2001 season.
NFL rules 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." They also say all video for coaching purposes
must be shot from locations "enclosed on all sides with a roof
overhead."
That was re-emphasized in a memo sent Sept. 6 to NFL head coaches and
general managers. In it, Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice
president of football operations wrote: "Videotaping of any type,
including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or
defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches'
booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to
club staff members during the game."
The NFL statement said Goodell believed Patriots owner Robert Kraft
was unaware of Belichick's actions.
But it said the commissioner believed penalties should be imposed on
the club because "Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach
but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England's
football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed
to the club."
There was no immediate comment from the Patriots.
The action against Belichick is the latest in a series of harsh
disciplinary actions taken by Goodell, who took office last Sept. 1,
succeeding Paul Tagliabue.
The most notable were the indefinite suspension of Atlanta quarterback
Michael Vick after he pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting
conspiracy charge and the one-year suspension of Tennessee cornerback
Adam "Pacman" Jones after numerous run-ins with police.
Week 2:
Sunday, Sept. 16
» Buffalo at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. (CBS)
» New Orleans at Tampa Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)
» Green Bay at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX)
» Houston at Carolina, 1 p.m. (CBS)
» Atlanta at Jacksonville, 1 p.m. (FOX)
» Indianapolis at Tennessee, 1 p.m. (CBS)
» Cincinnati at Cleveland, 1 p.m. (CBS)
» San Francisco at St. Louis, 1 p.m. (FOX)
» Seattle at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
» Dallas at Miami, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
» Minnesota at Detroit, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
» Oakland at Denver, 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
» N.Y. Jets at Baltimore, 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
» Kansas City at Chicago, 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
» San Diego at New England, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Monday, Sept. 17
» Washington at Philadelphia, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
On Wednesday, Belichick issued a one-paragraph statement 10 minutes
before his regular availability, saying he had spoken with Goodell
"about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my
interpretation of the rules."
"Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone
who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," he
said.
NFL coaches long have suspected opponents of spying. In the early
1970s, the late George Allen, coach of the Washington Redskins,
routinely would send a security man into the woods surrounding the
team's practice facility because he suspected there were spies from
other teams there.
And coaches like Seattle's Mike Holmgren and Philadelphia's Andy Reid,
among others, always cover their mouths when calling plays from the
sideline because they fear other teams have lip readers trying to
determine their calls.
The most recent hefty fine against a coach was in 2005, when Tagliabue
fined former Minnesota coach Mike Tice $100,000 for scalping Super
Bowl tickets.
Last November, Goodell fined Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman
of the competition committee, $12,500 for criticizing officials. He
also fined Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney, one of his mentors and the man
who informed him he had been elected commissioner, for the same
violation.
.
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