My Final Thoughts On Spygate

[YJF]

This is exactly what the entire NFL wants. They want this issue to just go away and eventually it will. Like many, I am sick of reading and discussing this matter. These are my final thoughts on this matter. I am playing in to the NFL's hands here and putting this issue to bed. As a Jets fan, Even though this whole spygate thing hurts a heated rival like the Pats. I hate this whole issue. It's bad for the league and it's bad for the fans. I wish that it had never come to this.

It's real simple to me. The NFL has always had and will always have cheating. Off the field and on. Teams will always look to gain a competitive advantage in every area that they can. There's cheating on the field and off. There's a standard level of cheating that everyone has come to accept when it comes to pro football.

Everyone has quietly accepted things like dis-information from NFL teams. Either through injury reports or whatever, This is a widely accepted practice. Each team is responsible for protecting their own teams interests. I have always been cool with that. Even though it involves lying. It's part of the fabric of competition in the NFL.

Everyone has quietly accepted cheating by players on the field and or teams practicing cheating and then implementing it in games. A great offensive lineman knows how to hold and get away with it. A great corner or WR knows how to interfere on pass plays to gain an advantage. I have always been cool and accepting of this.

Every team studies other teams plays. They watch countless hours of video and breakdown every play and every situation to try and figure out what an opponent may try to do. I am also cool with this. It involves strategy. Information and knowledge is the king of competition.

The New England Patriots are most likely not the only team that has attempted to or has stolen information from opponents. It's part of football warfare. If The Pats cut a QB, You sign that QB before you play the Pats and rack his brain for information. Even though this is shady, This has been a widely accepted practice for a long time. If The Jets cut Brett Ratliff in camp, Miami could consider signing Ratliff just to get a better "understanding" of the Jets offense.

The New England Patriots by stealing opposing teams signals during a game, They crossed the line. By hearing and knowing another teams plays during a game, That is crossing the line of what is generally accepted in football warfare. The Pats cheated on a grand scale for a long time and got busted. Their team and organization deserves to get heat for it. They simply crossed the line. What they did was an ultimate sin. Is it as bad as paying off the referees to call a game in your favor? NO but it's dangerously close.

Does what New England did tarnish their legacy and championship run?

Like it or not, It does somewhat because it leads to more questions as to how far, The Pats went to win games. Did they do more than just steal teams signals? It's really bad for the history and integrity of the NFL if you believe that. You don't want to enter this zone. You'd hate to think that there was more here than there already is.

By the same token, You can't completely erase the Pats accomplishments. They have been a great run team and a great organization. You don't want to rob their players and coaches who worked hard to get to the mountain top.

If you want to dis-credit the Pats championship run. It also dis-credits everyone who was apart of them during their run. That includes key members of the Jets like Eric Mangini, Brian Daboll, Bryan Cox, Matt Chatham etc... If The Pats have always been cheaters and everyone knew, Then Eric Mangini was in on it and he too is a cheater and his rings don't count.

The NFL wants to sweep this under the rug and it will eventually be. They should however implement a strong security system that prevents the level of cheating that went on here and that goes on. The most important part of the NFL is it's integrity. They can't have this level of cheating, They can't have crooked players, coaches or refs. That kind of stuff would ultimately destroy the league and game. This matter has to be taken seriously.

Ok, I am done with this. It's off my chest and my brain. I am moving on to other football matters like who is going to be the Jets backup inside linebackers and who will be their quarterback come opening day against Miami.

[JonEJet]

Great read as usual

I hate the Pats, so i don't let it go until the very, bitter end

[Maxman]

I don't think it erases their accomplishments. It does tarnish them. I am a strong believer that there are 3 sides to every story. The two parties involved have their versions and the truth usually resides somewhere in the middle.

So you can't take away Super Bowls or anything drastic like that. The biggest problem with this is the punishment that was handed out. A 1st round pick would have been bad but they had two, so it eased the pain. The financial fine? Yes it was high as far as fines are concerned. But after winning several Lombardi's money is not a deterrent for them. There is no price they wouldn't have paid to gain a competitive advantage.

The biggest issue I have is the NFL wants to suspend guys for conduct that doesn't give one team an advantage. Pac Man Jones is the Devil for running around with cash and doing bad things in casinos. Albert Haynesworth is considered unstable because of his temper. So they all get suspended.

Yet if a coach is caught cheating he doesn't get suspended? That is a mixed message if one ever existed.

[faba]

If they want to crack down on players they should do the same for coaches and organizations for violating rules. That being said it is time to beat them on the field to shut them up.

[SoFlaJets]

. There is no price they wouldn't have paid to gain a competitive advantage.

QUOTE]

I have to agree with this line; At this point I would trade my dignity as a Jets fan for 3 SB wins