Sports 'N Stuff: Spygate — Enough Already
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In case you have no idea what I'm talking about, here it is a nutshell:
Last year, a rumor surfaced that New England had videotaped a St. Louis Rams team walkthrough the day before the Super Bowl in 2002. This was after the Pats were caught stealing signals from the Jets coaches during a game.
Consequently, it also was revealed by Walsh that more tapes existed of several other offensive and defensive squads from other teams. There is a bit more to it but I think you get the idea.
What I am here to tell everyone who keeps yammering about this thing day and night is ENOUGH ALREADY!
Media professionals and other critics are calling for everything from firing the head coach, Bill Belichick, to handing out fines to the organization and even docking them upcoming draft picks. They have been called cheaters, liars and frauds. Their Super Bowl victories have been tagged by many as tainted.
A few things just pop out at me and I am curious to know what you think.
First of all, haven't teams been watching game footage of other teams since the invention of film? Don't you think that legendary coaches like Lou Holtz and Tom Landry have spent countless hours breaking down offenses and defenses on tape? Quarterbacks prepare themselves by watching defensive alignments ON FILM so they can prepare. How is this any different?
The Patriots are comprised of the best owner, the best GM, the best head coach and, arguably, the best quarterback and wide receiver in the game. They have consistently used the NFL draft as a way to build a championship team and had a perfect 16-0 regular season last year.
Was some of it from watching and studying game film? Of course it was. Everyone knows that already. If this was a team that had not won enough Super Bowl rings to outfit a jewelry store it wouldn't even be an issue.
The argument of the Pats being cheaters is ridiculous and the media needs to move on to something else. In recent meetings over the last couple of days with Matt Walsh, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said new information had come to light and that Walsh told him, in fact, he did not know of or possess any footage of the Patriots taping the Rams walkthrough. Therefore, the issue is now over.
Every sport from now until the end of time will record other teams in order to prepare. They always have.
All of you who are whining because your team is not as good as the Pats, quit it. The Pats do it the right way. Until your team does they won't be as good.
Trust me — my team is way behind!
Brian Flagg was co-host of "The Sports Page" on local public access stations for nearly five years. The North Adams resident has been coaching girls' basketball and softball for 16 years. His column usually appears every other Monday.
