Comments | lynxreign: Failure

lynxreign

Failure

Jan 10, 2011 20:02

The failure of the NFL to address this makes me far less interested in the NFL as a whole.

I still care about the Packers and I'm not saying people shouldn't like their team, but the handwaving and "nothing to see here" taints the entire enterprise for me.

I posted this on Facebook, but I probably should have just posted it here. Ah well.

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

telepresence January 11 2011, 03:14:02 UTC

Is there any actual evidence the Patriots are cheating? It mostly seems like this guy is just angry because the Patriots are doing really well this year.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 03:37:20 UTC

This year or in years past? They've been caught and fined in the past, but nothing was really done to make sure they stopped and the earlier cheating was covered up by the NFL.
There's nothing to suggest they've stopped. Would you let Bernie Madoff handle your investments today?

telepresence January 11 2011, 03:50:57 UTC

It just feels like trying to prove a negative to me. Yes, they got caught cheating in the past and were fined for it. Now apparently the standard of proof is...we don't have proof they aren't cheating?

lynxreign January 11 2011, 04:07:49 UTC

They were fined for one of the infractions and the fine was about the same as you or I having to pay a dollar and not have to say sorry or promise not to do it again.

If it were (fill in the name of some team you don't care about) what would it take for you to believe they weren't cheating any more? At the very least, Bellicheck should have been suspended. Make it something they'll actually care about.

I'm not saying they definetely are and neither is the guy that wrote the article. I'm just saying that there's no reason to believe they aren't.

It may be a bit like trying to prove a negative, but that's one of the consequences of cheating. Absent decent proof or a punishment that might deter recidivism who would trust you again? Should Michael Vick be put in charge of an animal shelter? Who would trust him? Should BP be put in charge of environmental safety? Who would trust them?

(The comment has been removed)

lynxreign January 11 2011, 14:36:06 UTC

That's a very different question if Brady had previously been convicted of beating his wife, isn't it?

(The comment has been removed)

lynxreign January 11 2011, 14:58:42 UTC

I'm not saying the effects are the same, but the issue of trust is. He was just the first person I could think of who you wouldn't trust to do something he used to do.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 15:04:19 UTC

Here's one reason to suggest it is still going on
http://predominantlyorange.com/2010/11/27/broncos-dealing-with-video-tape-incident/

Former Pats staff caught trying the same trick now that he's on another team. At least it was dealt with better in Denver.

Had it just been one incident in NE, that'd be one thing, but the allegations of someone who used to be on the staff combined with the allegations of cheating years before that show a pattern of behavior and nothing has shown that there's any reason for that pattern to have changed.

(The comment has been removed)

lynxreign January 11 2011, 15:31:55 UTC

I didn't want to draw anyone into an argument about this. I posted this because I'm frustrated about the situation and had to vent somehow.

I'd also like to point out that I want to be able to believe the Pats aren't cheating. Nothing would make me happier. I'm not a Pats fan, but neither do I hate the team or have any real rivalry association. Unfortunately, their actions have tainted something I do care about and I want it to be fixed.

(The comment has been removed)

lynxreign January 11 2011, 15:50:54 UTC

Had the NFL not engaged in a cover-up, this wouldn't be nearly the problem for me that it is now ( ... )

bryant January 11 2011, 16:27:24 UTC

Note that Belichick personally lost 25% of his salary. In absolute terms, he had plenty of money left, but I would be very surprised if it didn't hurt ( ... )

lynxreign January 11 2011, 16:37:57 UTC

If a head coach who's been one as long as Bellicheck has and could 1/4 of 1 year's pay for a superbowl ring? In a heartbeat. And didn't Kraft essentially pay the fine for him?

And the NFL sent a very mixed signal. You're fined, but we'll cover up earlier instances. You lose a draft pick, but can trade up.

And all of the punishments that could hurt the team were future punishments. Plenty of teams sacrifice the future to try to win now.

bryant January 11 2011, 16:51:44 UTC

No, Kraft didn't pay the fine for him. That was explicitly forbidden and there's no evidence that it happened.

Regarding draft picks:

"'The loss of a No. 1 draft pick is about as serious a penalty as you could impose,' Mara [owner of the Giants] said. 'You could survive your coach being suspended a couple of weeks. But losing a No. 1 pick is far more devastating.'"

And you just completely ignored my point about progressive punishment. I'll make it again: the punishment gets worse the second time you get caught. You cited the Broncos incident this season. You should be aware that Steve Scarnecchia is facing a possible ban from the NFL because it's his second time. His first time, of course, was with the Patriots.

If Belichick is caught cheating again, that's what he's facing. Do you think Belichick would cheat if the consequence for being caught was being banned from the NFL?

Back to all threads