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About the Author - CriticalFanatic
"Kevin Pritchard is working over the NBA"

Jason
Chicago, IL
Male 28 years old

About Me:
Somehow remain a passionate sports fan despite living and dying with the Chicago Cubs and Michigan State athletics. Born in California, grew up in Michigan and went to college at Miami U (Ohio). All of which have shaped my sports fandom. Also a featured blogger and editor of this fine website you might have heard about called FanIQ.
New England Patriots Suspected of Stealing New York Jets Signals With Camera
by CriticalFanatic CriticalFanatic | >7 days ago15 Comment Comments »
New England Patriots Suspected of Stealing New York Jets Signals With Camera PhotoUh oh. Bill Belichick usually cuts off the sleeves on his hoodie, but that doesn't mean he still isn't hiding something further up. This is just speculation at this point, but it's worth noting that if these rumors are true it could be quite damaging. The New England Patriots are suspected of stealing defensive signals with a video camera.

"NFL security confiscated a video camera and its tape from a New England Patriots employee on the team's sideline during Sunday's game against the Jets in a suspected spying incident, sources said.


The camera and its tape were placed in a sealed box and forwarded to the league office for investigation, the sources said. "We don't have any comment," an NFL spokesman said Monday.

The Patriots' cameraman was suspected of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches who were sending signals to their unit on the field, the sources said. The league also is investigating some radio frequency issues that occurred during the game."
This wouldn't be the first and last time an NFL has tried to steal signals, but remains a possible big story. Who's to say the Pats wouldn't have rolled over the Jets anyway, but a 38-14 beating with near perfect pass protection combined with this rumor certainly makes you consider its validity.

Chris Mortensen just reported on ESPN radio that one of the many penalties would be a loss of many draft picks. If true, do you think this is a serious infraction or merely just a part of the game?

Wouldn't this be as serious a breach of the game's integrity as steroid use?

Buzz: Were the Pats stealing signals?
(The Jets Blog)

Read Related:  NFL
Teams:  New England Patriots | New York Jets
  
15 Comments | Sorted by Most Recent First

Vote for your favorite comments. Fans decide the Top Comment (3+ votes) and also hide poor quality comments (4+ votes).
#1 | 302 days ago

+1 thumbs up

Weren't the Patriots accused of doing this to the Jets last year?

#2 | 302 days ago

MrNFL wrote:

Weren't the Patriots accused of doing this to the Jets last year?

I thought the same thing.
#3 | 302 days ago

kappafla211 wrote:
I thought the same thing.
I thought it was against the Dolphins ... but yes.
#4 | 302 days ago

+2 thumbs up

Belichick strikes as the kind of sneaky bastard that would try something like that.

#5 | 302 days ago

(Edited 09/10/07 4:26PM by CriticalFanatic)
CriticalFanatic wrote:
I thought it was against the Dolphins ... but yes.
+2 thumbs up

It was actually the Saban coached phins against the pats. Maybe Bill took a page out of the Saban playbook. Blue twenty-two, blue twenty-two, ready TAPE!

 

 


 

#6 | 302 days ago

kappafla211 wrote:

It was actually the Saban coached phins against the pats. Maybe Bill took a page out of the Saban playbook. Blue twenty-two, blue twenty-two, ready TAPE!

 

 


 

I knew it was something in that division.
#7 | 302 days ago

Mort on ESPN just said that the same guy who got thrown out at NY also got thrown out at Green Bay while working for ESPN.
#8 | 302 days ago

I should have clarified ... the spy who had stuff confiscated was not Chad Pennington.
#9 | 302 days ago

(Edited 09/10/07 4:42PM by Nick S)
This is definitely something Belichick would do, its a do anything to win thing for him.
#10 | 302 days ago

I wonder how many draft picks they would lose?  The more the better in my opinion, and before a Patriot fan accuses me of being jealous... I probably am a little bit, and I'm fine with that.

#11 | 302 days ago

kantwistaye wrote:

I wonder how many draft picks they would lose?  The more the better in my opinion, and before a Patriot fan accuses me of being jealous... I probably am a little bit, and I'm fine with that.

I think draft picks would be a bit harsh. Obviously I'm biased, but I think some fines and stricter supervision would be in order.
#12 | 302 days ago

I don't think that the stealing of signs is a breach of integrity at all. Last year the Dolphins stole the Patriots signs and while a big deal was made about it, I don't think anything ever happened.

 

To me it sounds like the Patriots/Dolphins/any other team that is stealing or attempting to steal signs, (which is every team in the league if they were smart) is taking a page from a baseball play book. Every MLB catcher knows that if there is a man on base, especially 2nd, that they are going to try and read the signs and steal bases. We don't call this a breach of integrity in baseball because the players know it is going on and they change the signs. And yes, I'm aware that baseball integrity is something of an oxymoron.

 

My advice to NFL coaches, if you don't want your plays stolen, change the signals, send fake signals, do anything you can do to trick and outsmart your opponent. If the other team is trying to out smart you, outsmart them, don't whine about it.

#13 | 302 days ago

this type of behavoir( if True) is strickly forbidden by the NFL and teams are warned before the start of each game that it is an illegal and punishable act. i personally think that a team should have to forfeit the game and lose draft picks for commiting this violation. whether it be the Patriots or even my Cowboys- it doesnt matter- its cheating and shows absolutely no integrity.  as the last post from Lynn compared it to stealing signs in baseball- IMHO its nothing like stealing signs at all. you dont video tape the signs in baseball.
#14 | 302 days ago

Lynn wrote:

I don't think that the stealing of signs is a breach of integrity at all. Last year the Dolphins stole the Patriots signs and while a big deal was made about it, I don't think anything ever happened.

 

To me it sounds like the Patriots/Dolphins/any other team that is stealing or attempting to steal signs, (which is every team in the league if they were smart) is taking a page from a baseball play book. Every MLB catcher knows that if there is a man on base, especially 2nd, that they are going to try and read the signs and steal bases. We don't call this a breach of integrity in baseball because the players know it is going on and they change the signs. And yes, I'm aware that baseball integrity is something of an oxymoron.

 

My advice to NFL coaches, if you don't want your plays stolen, change the signals, send fake signals, do anything you can do to trick and outsmart your opponent. If the other team is trying to out smart you, outsmart them, don't whine about it.

but the NFL states a rule that you cannot use a recording device at the game. It was fine last year, because the Dolphins studied the Patriots' moves OFF the field. That is the difference between last year's incident, and this incident. Now, i don't think it will be too much of an issue though, i don't see how the Patriots can be flawless by getting info sent to them during the game. You can't analyze teams in a mere hour... you review plays, video footage, audio, and more. Patriots will be ok, i'm not worried. The Jets just want something to make it look like they didn't really get their asses pounded on.

 

And just to squeak a note-- we know Randy Moss is definately NOT a bust. That said, go Randy! -and- Go Patriots!

#15 | 302 days ago

Chris wrote:

but the NFL states a rule that you cannot use a recording device at the game. It was fine last year, because the Dolphins studied the Patriots' moves OFF the field. That is the difference between last year's incident, and this incident. Now, i don't think it will be too much of an issue though, i don't see how the Patriots can be flawless by getting info sent to them during the game. You can't analyze teams in a mere hour... you review plays, video footage, audio, and more. Patriots will be ok, i'm not worried. The Jets just want something to make it look like they didn't really get their asses pounded on.

 

And just to squeak a note-- we know Randy Moss is definately NOT a bust. That said, go Randy! -and- Go Patriots!

That is the only thing I doubt. I know this is something Belichick would do, but there is no way they could review them during the game. If they were taping them for the next game, that would be pretty stupid because most teams change their signs during the year. There are a few things iffy about this but I have no doubt in my mind Belichick was trying to get the upper hand.

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