[mustangdriver]

Originally Posted by PappyB

the pats got caught, and heavily penalized, And what the patriots got caught doing WAS LEGAL until this season (granted due to a loophole in the rules that was closed prior to the start of this season), so they cheated for a grand total of one game, and I'm sure the 20 point blowout was a direct result of their post-game videotape. You really think their whole season should be forfeit for attempting to read/steal defensive signals?

The steelers should end their season then.... or be quiet about it.

Bring it Steelers!



As a long time Pats fan the tapegate thing was a big disappointment, as I don't think they even should have been thinking they needed to do so something like that. Winning 16 games is a good start in making up for it--but means little without the next three. But seriously, if you think the Pats are the only team that bends the rules to try to gain an edge, I've some swampland...

What ai am upset about is how the NFL has their showcase teams, and let them get away with murder. The Steelers have never been one of those teams. Look at the horrible calls made in the game When Pittsburgh beat Indy to go to the Superbowl 2 years ago. The NFL actaully had to come out afterwards and say "We are sorry" Now would that have taken place if the Steelers would have lost? No way. The pats cheated, point blank. They should have had to give up post season play, and a draft pick. They only got caught in one game, who knows how long they did it. And for that matter the Jets were doing great moving the ball, and then out of now where the pats defense seemed to know every play. I wonder how that happened? The Colts get caught cheating against the Steelers by having huge speakers pumping up the crowd noise, which is also against the rules. What was the NFL's answer to another of their showcase teams? "Now don't do that again."

And for the record the Steelers will stop the Pats season.

[STARMAN 352ND]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

And for the record the Steelers will stop the Pats season.

I'm glad you think so.....After seeing these Pats play i have a feeling they are going to win the Super Bowl..
That Tom Brady is like a Joe Montana now days....
JP

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

What ai am upset about is how the NFL has their showcase teams, and let them get away with murder. The Steelers have never been one of those teams. Look at the horrible calls made in the game When Pittsburgh beat Indy to go to the Superbowl 2 years ago. The NFL actaully had to come out afterwards and say "We are sorry" Now would that have taken place if the Steelers would have lost? No way. The pats cheated, point blank. They should have had to give up post season play, and a draft pick. They only got caught in one game, who knows how long they did it. And for that matter the Jets were doing great moving the ball, and then out of now where the pats defense seemed to know every play. I wonder how that happened? The Colts get caught cheating against the Steelers by having huge speakers pumping up the crowd noise, which is also against the rules. What was the NFL's answer to another of their showcase teams? "Now don't do that again."

And for the record the Steelers will stop the Pats season.

I say all of this is the "spirit of the pub" as I would discuss it over a pint at the local sports bar -- I do not mean to personally offend by any means, you MD -- or anyone else.

The Patriots did their time in the League's basement -- I know, I've been a fan since the early 80's. So now's their time at the top I guess -- everyone seems to get a turn. I think your wishes for punishment are a bit... aggressive and over the top for what the actual transgression was. You could impose fines like that in teh college game, but the pros -- I don't think so. And I don't think the punishment fits the crime either. Do you really think the Jets have never tried to steal coaches signals, or anyone else for that matter? Why do you think every coach covers their mouth when making calls every week in every game? Because they are all practicing for when they play the Pats?

AT least the Pats did what they did "out in the open" -- it's not like the camera guy was disguised as a trashcan or something, it was the same guy with eth same camera doing the same thing he's been doing for years. Bill just chose to ignore the new rule, which was put in place probably for him alone, thinking he was "bigger than the game". He got his wrists slapped hard, publically embarassed, and now has to deal with the stigma.

$750K in fines and a first round draft pick are not minor penalties. Perhaps Bill should have been suspended from the sidelines for a game or two, but I doubt that woudl have made a difference.So the Patriots are the new Raiders, it seems, well okay, fine. Spygate was four months ago, IMHO it's well past time to move on as it has no bearing on what the Pats have accomplished so far -- other than their own motivation. Bring on the haters, as it only seems to make the team stronger :-)

And I think the Bradshaw steelers during the SB runs probably enjoyed their share of the benefits that come from being at the top. What I will point out again is that your question about "how long the pats were doing it?" is moot IMO -- what they were doing WAS LEGAL, technically, per the NFL rules until THIS SEASON. So they were "caught" week 1, so how long they cheated was... 1 game, and since the tapes were meant to be reviewed post game, there really wasn't any benefit from it was there? Bill's long been acknowledged by his peers and rivals who hate him even as a master at making adjustments in the flow of the game. If you think it's all about the tapes, then maybe you weren't watching the last 15 games. (And I wouldn't be surprised if there were a few other teams burning some tapes of their own after week one... )

(I can't comment about your points on the steelers adn colts and teh speaker thing, but that stuff goes one all the time, every week, every year -- its widely believed the Redskins were interfering with the pats headset frequencies during their game, too, but the NFL quickly buried that... who knows?)

Regardless, a superbowl victory for the Pats is FAR from a given -- anyone in the AFC could beat them. Their D is looking tired down the stretch, which is a worry -- they made E. Manning look like P. Manning last night... IF they do make it to the big game, I don't think anyone in the NFC really poses much of a challenge, but we shall see. I think Green Bay would be teh toughest challenge for them, but I think the Cowboys will make it.
I like the steelers, so I'd much rather have them stop the streak than Indy, who seems to have their number lately. As for the steelers actually getting it done... 34-13?

[mustangdriver]

We are all good man, this is bar talk man. We need some beer and chips.

[Old Crow]

Since this is our "bar talk," I will just throw in with MD that the Patriots should have been penalized more heavily.

I will also admit I was rooting for the G Men to knock them off. Between this, the Red Sox and the Celtics buying their contending team, New England fans are going to be insufferable.

Course, I say all this with the caveat I am a Raiders fan and am still bitter about that snowbound playoff loss a few years and the Brady non-fumble. Tuck rule my #*@.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

Since this is our "bar talk," I will just throw in with MD that the Patriots should have been penalized more heavily.

I will also admit I was rooting for the G Men to knock them off. Between this, the Red Sox and the Celtics buying their contending team, New England fans are going to be insufferable.

Course, I say all this with the caveat I am a Raiders fan and am still bitter about that snowbound playoff loss a few years and the Brady non-fumble. Tuck rule my #*@.

Sorry if you are a Raider fan, any finger-pointing at any other team for foul play is hypocrisy and null and void in my book.

(That was certainly a convenient call -- but it didn't win the game, the following two patriot scores, and long field goals in the snow, did that.... )

And as for the Celts buying a contender -- its a free agency market, everyone buys contenders now. (And come on, after years of cellar-dwelling it's nice for BeanTown B-ball fans to have something to cheer about..) And as for insufferable, well you're probably right -- but we've earned it.

[mustangdriver]

Originally Posted by Old Crow

Since this is our "bar talk," I will just throw in with MD that the Patriots should have been penalized more heavily.

I will also admit I was rooting for the G Men to knock them off. Between this, the Red Sox and the Celtics buying their contending team, New England fans are going to be insufferable.

Course, I say all this with the caveat I am a Raiders fan and am still bitter about that snowbound playoff loss a few years and the Brady non-fumble. Tuck rule my #*@.

I knew I liked you man.

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by mustangdriver

I knew I liked you man.

Where's skunkie when I need him! ?

[SKUNKY]

Here I am, Pappy....New England fans being insufferable?...you bet,O.C.!... absolutely, unrelentingly, unabashedly, unashamedly, unremorsefully and uncircumcisedly...ahh, scratch that last one.....

We've sat around watching Lucy jerk the ball away from us for far too many years now to not enjoy the era we're experiencing at this time...I never thought I would see the Red Sox win a WS in my lifetime, let alone twice in 4 seasons....For years I would shake my head in sad recognition every time I saw a bumper sticker which said "The Red Sox killed my father, and now they're coming after me!" .....and now the Patriots, man it's some heady stuff to be standing on this end of the ladder....Now I know how those miserable Yankees fans have felt my whole life...Yes, it's great to be on this side of the fishbowl alright and we're going to enjoy it to the hilt!.....

Who knows when it might all come to a screeching halt and we have to wear that ridiculous shirt with the zig-zag pattern running around the bottom of it again?...