2007 New England Patriots

ucsbledbetter wrote:

So when does the asterick go up on the Patriots season?

Sorry pal, but the answer is "never".
The tape confiscated 7 minutes into the first game of the season was never viewed by the Pats' coaching staff, Commisioner Hardass said so.
No result from this season has been in any way affected by that breakage of the rules, aside from maybe some extra motivation for the Pats to prove to media types (and a few select players and coaches who opened their mouths) with attitudes like yours that they are the best in the game currently.

Poncier wrote:

Sorry pal, but the answer is "never".
The tape confiscated 7 minutes into the first game of the season was never viewed by the Pats' coaching staff, Commisioner Hardass said so.
No result from this season has been in any way affected by that breakage of the rules, aside from maybe some extra motivation for the Pats to prove to media types (and a few select players and coaches who opened their mouths) with attitudes like yours that they are the best in the game currently.

Its a sad world we live in when a team "tries" to cheat. I guess its the only way to do business anymore. How do we know that they did not cheat in any of those superbowls prior to this season?

WhiteMaleRat wrote:

last night was not a bad game by the refs, no way. every single Baltimore penalty was legitimate, no marginal calls. they were mauling the receivers.

do you people watch the same game? you guys don't know football.

did you even read my post? why are pats fans super defensive about anything that is said about their team? the holding call was clearly terrible, but as I wrote earlier the Ravens set the tone by beating the crap out of Pats receivers, and the call was there to be made all night and it wasn't until it happened on 4th down with 1 minute left in the 4th. It also sucked that the ref spoke to a player in a racist tone setting off the defense, preventing them from focusing on the Pats offense, and it sucked that the Pats won a game they had no business winning. At the same time the Pats won, and had they lost on the last play of the game that would have been a terrible no call as well (I didn't say that the refs had a bad game just for the Pats).

ryan198 wrote:

. It also sucked that the ref spoke to a player in a racist tone setting off the defense, preventing them from focusing on the Pats offense,

This situation should not be overlooked. You're in Baltimore Ryan, so I'm sure there is more info on this there...is there any proof of this that can be sent to the league (I read that one of the officials was calling the defenders "boy"), and if so that official should be fired immediately.

ucsbledbetter wrote:

Its a sad world we live in when a team "tries" to cheat. I guess its the only way to do business anymore. How do we know that they did not cheat in any of those superbowls prior to this season?

we don't know if the Pats cheated other than the one incident and we do not know if they gained any advantages. But we know that past Denver, Cowboys and Steelers SB teams did cheat (steroids, drugs, salary cap, etc.).

ryan198 wrote:

again this is the same claim bonds defenders use...that "everyone else was doing it" so his home run record is fine. the fact is that the Patriots cheated, got a relative slap on the wrist, and are having a record breaking season much like Bonds had a record breaking career. If you cheat, and do well because of it people have the right to question it, just as you have the right to defend it...I would say that if you defend the Pats you have to defend Bonds, not one or the other, otherwise it's hypocritical.

The thing is - the relative slap on the wrist may be justified. Is there a difference between murder and attempted murder in terms of punishment by the legal system? The answer is yes. The Patriots intended to look at the game film they were taking of the Jets and they were caught in the first quarter before they ever had a chance to look at it. So technically they did not receive any advantage and had intended to cheat, but were caught before hand. Now if they were caught "cheating" i.e. adjusting their play calls after they had viewed the tape they were making - I think their punishment would have been more severe.

But losing a 1st round pick is pretty standard in the NFL for violations. I mean the Dolphins lost one in 1970 when they were caught tampering and signed Don Shula away from the Colts when he was still under contract. A handful of teams have lost 1st round picks over the years so it was a pretty standard punishment.

And yes you can argue that they were caught in the act, but they didn't actually commit the full offense or gain an advantage from it.

Also, in a prior post you said no team on the Pats schedule will hit as hard as the Ravens. Obviously, you're not a diehard Steelers fan who watches them every week. The three hardest hitting teams in football are the Ravens, Steelers and Jags. So next week the Pats WRs should have their hands full again.

ryan198 wrote:

did you even read my post? why are pats fans super defensive about anything that is said about their team? the holding call was clearly terrible, but as I wrote earlier the Ravens set the tone by beating the crap out of Pats receivers, and the call was there to be made all night and it wasn't until it happened on 4th down with 1 minute left in the 4th. It also sucked that the ref spoke to a player in a racist tone setting off the defense, preventing them from focusing on the Pats offense, and it sucked that the Pats won a game they had no business winning. At the same time the Pats won, and had they lost on the last play of the game that would have been a terrible no call as well (I didn't say that the refs had a bad game just for the Pats).

yes I read your post and you said:

"The pats won, plain and simple. Refs have terrible games now and then, and last night was definitely one of them."

the holding call was not terrible. It should of been pass interference on the 1 yard line.

Poncier wrote:

Looked to me more like he was just transferring it from his hands to the crook of his arm, not really a juggle and always in control of the ball, so therefore possession.

And had it been overturned for some reason, that was on 1st down, so the Pats would have been second and goal from the 8, but wait 2 Unsportsmanlike Conduct penalties on Scott would have twice moved the ball half the distance and the Pats would have had 1st and goal at the 2 with 44 seconds and a timeout, so in all odds they score anyway.

I know I was thinking about that as they were reviewing it - would have loved to see the reaction if they overturned it but the Pats had 1st and goal on like the 2.

NOCODE#1 wrote:

um how much more clutching and grabbing did the ravens think they were gonna get? the only reason it was close was the holding!

how much more clutching and grabbing were the patriots gonna get away with? if it were for all these penalties the ravens had, patriots should've blown this game out. but they didn't... maybe it's because the ravens did indeed play a good game.

give the credit to the ravens dude. just be happy your team won.

WhiteMaleRat wrote:

I hate to bring up the racism issue - but the "boy" comment was supposedly made at the end of the game after the TD - so it had no bearing on the Ravens performance. Plus we don't know in what context he used boy, boy can be used without being derogatory. We don't know what was said exactly, so you can't really bring it up.

But you notice that none of this whining, excuses, racism card is associated with Boller - the QB - the most prominent postion on the field. Or from the white head coach?

If any of the allegations are true, the only bearing it had on the game would be the field position for the final drive, cause it led to 30 yds in penalties on the kickoff.

But don't be naive...if "boy" is being used towards a grown man it is deroatory, and if as in this case it is used by a white man towards a black man or men, its got a 99% chance of being racist on top of being derogatory.

So it needs to be brought up...not so much in terms of the game's outcome, but it needs to be addressed immediately by the league.