PFT: BELICHICK APOLOGIZES FOR "MISTAKE"

[nyjetsjetsjets]

POSTED 10:07 a.m. EDT, September 14, 2007

BELICHICK APOLOGIZES FOR "MISTAKE"

In a statement regarding the punishment imposed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick, Belichick describes the incident as a "mistake." (The entire statement currently appears on the entry page to the team's official site.)

Specifically, Belichick said: "I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused."

Folks, it wasn't a "mistake." A "mistake" is forgetting to ask the waitress to hold the mayo. This was a way of life, and we're convinced based on everything we've heard over the past three days that it went on for years. And years.

We had the same reaction to Michael Vick's apology. Use of the term "mistake" implies that the action was not consistent with the person's character. In both cases, we believe that the actions are proof of character, specifically the lack thereof.

Belichick also explains that he has "never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress." Even if that's true, so what? This statement implies that the competitive advantage would have been obtained the next time the Patriots faced the same team or one of the coaches involved in the game, since coaches tend to move around and might use the same signals in the future.

Either way, creating and using the video is cheating.

Belichick offered up the distinction to support his position that his "mistake" came from an "interpretation" of a rule that ended up being "incorrect." The rule in question, per the NFL's release regarding the punishment, states that "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." Apparently, Belichick believes that the phrase "during the game" means that it's okay to record defensive signals as long as the video isn't used "during the game" in which the video is made.

With all due respect, that's a crock.

As if the rule isn't clear enough, the league explained it in a September 6, 2006 memo to all teams as follows: "Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."

If Belichick thought that this memo conflicted in any way with his "interpretation" of the rule, Belichick should have asked someone in the league office about it. Belichick probably realizes how dumb the question would have sounded.

It would have sounded almost as dumb as his current explanation.

[Sperm Edwards]

Pretty funny.

See, that's what would have been really good: a real statement where BB admits guilt AND admits he knew damn well what he was doing, at the request of Goodell. Goodell wants to really make the HC's know that they're his bitches? Tell BB that his "statement" was unsatisfactory. That it is misleading to suggest that he was doing anything other than purposely breaking league rules to gain a competitive advantage. This is essentially what cheating is.

He made a "mistake" as to "interpretation" of a rule? Goodell should call him up & say, "I just heard your statement. Are you f**king with me? Get back out there & admit you intentionally broke league rules, & knew what you were doing, or you're suspended from the league indefinitely. Dickhead. Do not f**k with the Jesus!"

Never happen, but I can always wish.