New Spying Charge Hits Patriots - Updated
UPATE: NFL, Patriots Deny
PHOENIX (AP) - A new spying charge has nicked the New England Patriots. A member of the Patriots’ video staff taped the St. Louis Rams’ last walkthrough before they played in the 2002 Super Bowl, an unidentified source told the Boston Herald for a story Saturday.
New England beat the heavily favored Rams the next day 20-17 for their first NFL title. The unbeaten Patriots will try to win their fourth Super Bowl in seven seasons Sunday when they play the New York Giants.
Early this season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined New England coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick after the Spygate scandal. The Patriots were accused of videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches as they signaled to players.
The Herald cited a source close to the Patriots in the 2001 season as saying the team held a walkthrough at the Superdome in New Orleans before the game on Feb. 3, 2002. After the Patriots took a team picture, a member of their video department stayed inside the stadium and taped the Rams’ session.
It was not known whether the cameraman was told by the Patriots to film the practice or what he did with the tape, the Herald said. The Rams were two-touchdown favorites, but lost on Adam Vinatieri’s last- second field goal.
Told of the newest allegation, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said: “We have no knowledge of it.”
Rams spokesman Rick Smith, reading a statement from team president John Shaw, said, “At this point, we have no comment.”
An e-mail and telephone message sent by The Associated Press to Patriots spokesman Stacey James was not immediately returned. However, the Herald quoted him as saying: “The coaches have no knowledge of it.”
New England did not have a walkthrough Saturday. The Giants held one at the Arizona Cardinals’ practice facility.
A walkthrough is done without pads or helmets, giving teams a chance to practice their formations.
Goodell spent much of his state of the game address Friday talking about that episode. He said he did not think the Patriots used such tapes to win previous titles.
“There was no indication that it benefited them in any of the Super Bowl victories,” he said.
Asked specifically whether the NFL’s investigation of Spygate looked into any allegations involving the 2002 Super Bowl, he said: “I’m not aware of that.”
Goodell also defended his decision to destroy notes and videotapes linked to the Spygate, saying “there was no purpose for them.”
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who sent Goodell a letter asking for explanation, said Goodell’s response “didn’t make any sense at all.”
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fuckin pats. Even if this isnt true who is still going to call them the greatest ever legitimately?
Yes they are an unbelievably talented team, but who knows how many teams they videotaped through out the years. Speaking of this season, how many teams do you think changed their playmaking because of the pats? Probably not any because they knew the pats were going to be good and werent going to change everything they did because of one cheatin team. Im just saying its quite possible the pats have taped every team! or at least many of them, which is how they have came to be so amazing.
Im from maryland (if you saw the ravens pats game you would understand my angst) going to school in New England unfortunately, I plan on being the lone voice in my dorm screaming for the giants!
February 2nd, 2008 at 3:41 pmEvery team in the NFL game plans an opponent by using game film. Spying is a different issue. George Allen of the Redskins had a counterspy operation in place all the time
because at one time, spying was an acceptable practice.
Not anymore. To hell with NE. Giants 27 NE 24. Go Giants. (And I’m a skins fan… )
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:06 pmI can’t believe that A. Spector has the balls to go into football when there are about a million other things that he should be focusing on.
I mean think about it! Corruption, drugs, illegal immigration, taxes I can go on and on….. and they are going to have hearing about that!
Your tax $ at work.
February 2nd, 2008 at 4:56 pmBefoe this season it was standard practice to tape and all teams did it. Probably started off that way this year too, but a new sheriff came in and decided to stop the practice and enforce the rules. He made an example of the Pats and I suspect others decided they would shut their spy ops down. The Pats win because they are a TEAM of very good players who have worked together for several seasons and have a super quarterback, multiple excellent receivers, a great coach and owner management that is just plain decent people. Giants 10 Pats 35!
February 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 pmFirst off this report comes from The Boston Herald…not really where I go for actual news. Also, an unidentified source…yeah, that’s totally credible.
But no, since it’s the Pats they are pure evil and they cheat at everything so they should give up their super bowl rings. Just face it, the Pats are better than you. They don’t need to spy on you to cheat.
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:00 pm