[ QUOTE ]
Just because the Panthers suck you don't have to tell tales SZ.
[/ QUOTE ]
Yes, I will agree with you that the Panthers suck out loud this year, and that I hold a special reserve of hatred for the Patriots when they beat us by three points in the Super Bowl lo those three years ago, but I am not telling tales about the Patriots cheating. It's simply a fact. -
Illegal sideline videotaping
Dubbed "spygate",[4] on September 9, a Patriots video assistant was caught by NFL security filming the New York Jets' defensive signals. Jets coach Eric Mangini, a former Patriots assistant, tipped off league officials that the Patriots might have been filming their signals. After the game, the Jets formally complained to the league.
Two days later, Belichick issued a statement "to apologize to everyone who has been affected," and also stated that he spoke with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about Belichick's "interpretation of the rule."[5] Page 105 of the 2007 NFL's "Game Operations Manual" states, "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game." Belichick stated that he believed that if footage so collected was not used during the game, its collection was legal. [6]
On September 13, Belichick was officially fined $500,000 -- the largest fine ever imposed on a coach in the league's 87-year history,[7] and the maximum permitted under league rules. The Patriots were also fined $250,000. Additionally, the Patriots will forfeit their first round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. If the Patriots had missed the playoffs, they would have instead forfeited their second and third round selections in the 2008 draft. Goodell said that he fined the Patriots as a team because Belichick is effectively the team's general manager as well as head coach, and exercises so much control over the Patriots' on-field operations that "his actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club." Goodell considered suspending Belichick, but decided that taking away draft picks would be more severe in the long run. [8] The Patriots officially clinched their fifth straight AFC East title on November 25, in the process becoming the first NFL team to be docked a first-round pick.
Belichick issued a statement in which he apologized for what he called a "mistake" in his interpretation of the rules. However, he denied ever using videotape to gain an advantage while a game was underway.[9]
And Belichik is a sloppy dresser.
SZ