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.

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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, 16:56:29 UTC

If it gets him one last Superbowl? Maybe. If he thinks he can get away with it? Probably.

And losing a #1 pick is devestating in the future. Suspending your head coach in the playoffs? Or even in the runup to the playoffs if you haven't secured a berth? That might not be as "devestating", but it is far more immediate and far mroe definite. Would you rather have your head coach suspended in the playoffs or miss drafting Ryan Leaf? The draft is a gamble and it has no bearing on your current season. Get fired 'cause you didn't win and you're not going to care about the draft.

bryant January 11 2011, 17:04:43 UTC

So... what prior punishment would change that equation? Sounds like you're saying that he should have been banned the first time it happened.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 17:07:21 UTC

I'm saying the NFL should have come clean with the tapes they destroyed. I'm saying Bellicheck should have been suspended for a few games. Losing a draft pick you can easily think you're clever enough to make up for that. Hell your "amazing" QB was a 6th round pick.

bryant January 11 2011, 17:14:09 UTC

If he'd been suspended for a few games, wouldn't you just say that it's a small price to pay for winning three Super Bowl rings and winning three more would be worth additional risk?

lynxreign January 11 2011, 17:17:03 UTC

Not if it kept him from having a winning season. If the penalty directly interferes with the reason for cheating then there's no reason to cheat as it is counter-productive if you're caught. Especially if it is linked with escallating punishment as you suggest.

If the suspension is effectively enforced and he has no contact with the team and the team doesn't make the playoffs he's unlikely to try again, especially if the second time he's suspended without pay for a season.

I don't like the idea of lifetime bans, but I suppose that at some point that's what you're left with.

bryant January 11 2011, 17:22:14 UTC

You're saying having a single winning season is more important than three Super Bowl titles?

lynxreign January 11 2011, 17:31:14 UTC

I'm saying that if the penalty prevents another superbowl then yes. Plus an admission of guilt. The purpose of cheating is to win more. If you are caught and then lose more then it makes sense to stop.

Are you suggesting taking away the past superbowl wins? If the NFL would investigate properly, they might be tagged with * in the record books, but that's unlikely to happen. While that does bother me, what's more important is making sure it doesn't happen again and I think suspensions are a good way to achieve that.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 17:03:30 UTC

And it also all depends on if Bellicheck believes the consequence will be as severe as banning from the NFL. As it stands, thanks to the NFL's complicity and his not being even suspended the first time, he probably doesn't. Or if he thinks he has his scapegoats set up. A lot of it depends on what happens to Steve Scarnecchia. Maybe if he's banned, but Bellicheck might think he's special since he's a head coach and revered. Part of the reason he's still revered is because of the cover-up. We're not to know if he cheated to get those championships and that's a big part of why I can't believe the penalties that have alrady been handed down and the threat of banishment matter. Has anyone ever been given a lifetime ban before in NFL for something other than gambling?

bryant January 11 2011, 17:06:40 UTC

Yes. Dexter Manley got a lifetime ban, for example.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 17:12:21 UTC

OK, I should have said other than gambling or drug tests, criminal activities.

For all I know Bellicheck may feel he has no option but to keep cheating. If his players and team and coaching seem ordinary all of a sudden, that could be more damning than any single allegation of cheating. Had he been forced to admit what he'd done, had the NFL released the tapes we might have a * next to a few seasons, but it'd be over. If he's exposed now, his entire career could be tainted. If he gets caught one more time it could still be explained away as a few instances.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 15:54:14 UTC

Oh, and as for the Packers thing (and it happens on almost all of the teams unfortunately), many teams have programs to help with that, punishments are handed down and most teams don't try to shield the players from the law. I'd like it to be better than it is, and it is getting better, but it isn't there yet.

I liked the way the Jets dealt with a sexual harrassment charge earlier this year. An apology was immediately issued, fines were handed out and everyone involved with the Jets had to attend sexual harrassment prevention training. In fact, I think they've set up a permanent, required course.

lynxreign January 11 2011, 16:08:46 UTC

I said this to head58 below, but I'll repeat it here in case you don't read that.

I really want to believe the Pats aren't cheating, but I have no reason to do so at this time. No remedy has been applied. It isn't that we don't have proof they aren't cheating, we have no reason to believe they haven't continued.

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