May 27, 200817 yr comment_39554 http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/24830585/ Pats' latest scandal is serious business Some say letting injured players practice more serious than Spygate Those who love the New England Patriots continue to squabble with those who don't regarding the implications of Spygate and subsequent follow-up with former team employee Matt Walsh earlier this month. But there's an issue still floating around that can't be ignored, no matter how much the league might prefer to do so. When Walsh met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, he blew the whistle on the Patriots using players on injured reserve during practice. Goodell chose his words carefully at the press conference following the May 13 meeting with Walsh, explaining only that Walsh said "there was a tape at one point in time of a player inappropriately practicing." The question left unanswered is the extent to which the Patriots engaged in such conduct outside the presence of a camera lens, and after Walsh left the team in 2003. Enter Ross Tucker. The former Patriots offensive lineman has joined the media, and he recently wrote that the Patriots were using injured players in practice as recently as 2005. Tucker also says that none of the other three teams he played for did the same thing. Report
May 27, 200817 yr comment_39574 How many games have the Pats won by a game changing play? How many times have you heard the broadcasters remark about how they just seem to make plays when it counts? These just aren't game changing plays, they are season changing plays. Whether it is fresh legs for veterens or knowing the opposition's signals, the blatant cheating by the Pats is a stain on the game and their legacy. Is Brady that clutch? Or does he know the D that was called? You wonder why they lost the Super Bowl? Karma anyone? My Name is Earl... Report
May 27, 200817 yr comment_39578 I know a ton of folks that feel the same way... How many games have the Pats won by a game changing play? How many times have you heard the broadcasters remark about how they just seem to make plays when it counts? These just aren't game changing plays, they are season changing plays. Whether it is fresh legs for veterens or knowing the opposition's signals, the blatant cheating by the Pats is a stain on the game and their legacy. Is Brady that clutch? Or does he know the D that was called? You wonder why they lost the Super Bowl? Karma anyone? My Name is Earl... Report
May 27, 200817 yr comment_39590 This is a much bigger scandal than the Spygate one and the Patriots should be signficantly fine for such actions. I'm talking about a fine as significant as the Spygate one (if not more significant). The Patriots have shown absolutely no willingness to follow the rules and this type of actions can not be tolerated. Report
May 27, 200817 yr Author comment_39601 What is amazing is the transformation of Belicheat himself. He was a mediocre coach at best posting a 36-44 record with Cleveland with only one winning season in five years. He goes from that to the head coach of NE with a 91-37 record and 3 Super Bowls. Report
May 27, 200817 yr comment_39603 It really does make you wonder... But, there's something to be said about lucking into a really good QB as a low round selection. That makes up so much ground it's not even funny. What is amazing is the transformation of Belicheat himself. He was a mediocre coach at best posting a 36-44 record with Cleveland with only one winning season in five years. He goes from that to the head coach of NE with a 91-37 record and 3 Super Bowls. Report
May 28, 200817 yr Author comment_39615 It really does make you wonder... But, there's something to be said about lucking into a really good QB as a low round selection. That makes up so much ground it's not even funny. Yeah, but Brady would never even had sniffed the field if it wasn't for Bledsoe getting injured. Report
May 28, 200817 yr comment_39617 If this progresses to the point there is valid proof the league will have to hand out a harsher punishment than the forfeited 1st Rd pick of 2008. At that point the NFL's most recent dynasty team would have been proven to have cheated in two ways. That of course opens the door to everyone asking what else they did to cheat and that becomes a huge image problem that Goodell will seek to quell as quickly as possible. The fastest way to do that is to hand out an extremely severe punishment that everyone (except Pats' fans) can agree on. Don't do enough and people will keep talking about it. Report
May 28, 200817 yr comment_39631 All part of the "lucking into it".... Yeah, but Brady would never even had sniffed the field if it wasn't for Bledsoe getting injured. Report
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