Specter: Bill Bellichick Videotaping Opponents Since 2000

Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents' defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots' coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday.

"There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over," Specter said.

Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.

"There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell," Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters after the meeting. "I found a lot of questions unanswerable because of the tapes and notes had been destroyed."

Goodell said Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal; Goodell said he did not concur.

"He said that's always been his interpretation since he's been the head coach," the commissioner said. "We are going to agree to disagree on the facts."

Specter, from Pennsylvania, wants to talk to other league officials about what exactly was taped and which games may have been compromised.

"We have a right to have honest football games," he said.

Goodell noted that "we were the ones that disclosed" the Patriots' illegal taping of the New York Jets' defensive signals in Week 1 of last season. Further, Goodell said, they had an admission by Belichick.

"I have nothing to hide," Goodell said.

Goodell also told Specter that that he doesn't regret destroying the Spygate tapes or the notes.

"I think it was the right thing to do," Goodell said.

Still, Specter wants to know why penalties were imposed on Belichick before the full extent of the wrongdoing was known and the tapes destroyed in a two-week span. Asked if he thinks there was a coverup, Specter demurred.

"There was an enormous amount of haste," Specter said.

He scoffed at the reasons Goodell gave for destroying the tapes and notes, particularly about trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping.

"What's that got to do with it? There's an admission of guilt, you preserve the evidence," Specter said. As for keeping the tapes out of the hands of others: "All you have to do is lock up the tapes."

Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000 because of the Spygate incident. The Patriots also forfeited a first-round draft pick.

Specter has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the matter and raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers. Specter also raised the threat of Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

A league official clarified to ESPN's Chris Mortensen that the NFL's current proposal to Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh includes a legal guarantee that he will not be sued by the league or the Patriots for any information or material he would provide to the NFL.

As Goodell said, the proposal stipulates that Walsh must be truthful and return anything he took improperly.

Walsh has had no response, according to Goodell.

Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

Specter said he, too, wanted to talk to Walsh and perhaps offer a different deal.

Goodell also said he reserves the right to reopen the investigation if more information is uncovered.

Giants Stun Patriots 17-14 In Super Bowl XLII

Eli Manning, just like his brother Peyton Last Year, Was Voted Super Bowl MVP.
With the Super Bowl on the line, look who had the perfection thing down pat: Eli Manning and the road-conquering New York Giants.
And what a beauty their 11th straight road victory was, a 17-14 Super Bowl win Sunday that shattered the New England Patriots' unblemished season.


In one of the biggest upsets in Super Bowl history, Manning, New York's unlikely Mr. Cool, hit Plaxico Burress on a 13-yard fade with 35 seconds left. It was the Giants' fourth consecutive postseason away win and the first time the Patriots tasted defeat in more than a year.

"There's something about this team," Manning said. "The way we win games, and performed in the playoffs in the stretch. We had total confidence in ourselves. The players believed in each other."

It was the most bitter of losses, too, because 12-point favorite New England (18-1) was one play from winning and getting the ultimate revenge for being penalized for illegally taping opponents' defensive signals in the season opener against the New York Jets.

"I don't rank them," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said. "It's disappointing."

The Giants had the perfect answer for the suddenly imperfect Patriots: a big, bad defense and the improbable comeback led by Manning. Yes, Eli Manning, who outplayed league MVP Tom Brady and furthered the family legacy one year after older brother Peyton led Indianapolis to the title.

"I talked to Peyton and he said, 'Go in there, have some fun, you can do it."'

It was how Eli and the Giants did it.

After Brady found Randy Moss for a 6-yard touchdown with 2:42 to go, New England's defense couldn't stop a final, frantic 12-play, 83-yard drive. It featured Manning's unlikely sack-avoiding scramble and a spectacular leaping catch by David Tyree, who had scored New York's first touchdown on the opening drive of the fourth quarter.

"It's the greatest feeling in professional sports," Burress said before bursting into tears.

"That's a position you want to be in," said Manning, who followed Peyton's MVP performance last year with one of his own. "You can't write a better script. There were so many big plays on that drive."

And now the 1972 Miami Dolphins can pop another bottle of champagne in celebration of a record still intact, the NFL's only perfect season.

"As for the 1972 Dolphins, I don't take joy in the fact the Patriots lost - period," said Jim Mandich, the tight end on the 17-0 team. "But I do relish and savor the fact that there has only been one unbeaten team in the history of the NFL, and it is the 1972 Miami Dolphins."

The Patriots were done in not so much by the pressure of the first unbeaten season in 35 years as by the pressure of a smothering Giants pass rush. Brady, winner of his first three Super Bowls, was sacked five times, hurried a dozen more and at one point wound up on his knees, his hands on his hips following one of many poor throws in New England's lowest scoring game of the season.

"They played well," Belichick said. "They made some plays. We made some plays. They just made a few more. We played as hard as we could. We just couldn't make enough plays."

Hardly a familiar position for the record-setting Patriots and their megastar quarterback. This time, it wasn't the Patriots but the Giants making the game-winning rally. This time, the unflappable quarterback making the clutch play wasn't Brady but Manning, who had been booed by Giants fans for most of his four seasons for a lack of emotion.


Oddly, it was a loss to the Patriots that sparked New York's stunning run to its third Super Bowl and sixth NFL title. New England won 38-35 in Week 17 to finish the spotless regular season. But by playing hard in a meaningless game for them, the Giants (14-6) gained something of a swagger and Manning found his footing.

Their growing confidence carried them through playoff victories at Tampa, Dallas and Green Bay, and then past the mightiest opponent of all.

Not that the Patriots were very mighty this day. They even conceded with 1 second on the clock as Belichick ran across the field to shake the hand of jubilant Giants coach Tom Coughlin, then headed to the locker room, ignoring the final kneeldown.

That it was Manning taking that knee was stunning. He showed the maturity and brilliant precision late in the game usually associated with, well, Brady.

Peyton Manning was seen in a luxury box jumping up and pumping both fists when Burress, who didn't practice all week because of injuries, caught the winning score.

"We just hung in there on offense, kept executing," said Burress, who wasn't far off on the 23-17 prediction he made a few days ago. "It came down to one play and we made it."

The Giants became the first NFC wild card team to win a Super Bowl; four AFC teams have done it. They also are the second wild-card champions in three years, following the Pittsburgh Steelers after the 2005 season.

The upset also could be viewed as a source of revenge not only for the Giants, but for the other NFL teams over Spygate back in September. That cheating scandal made headlines again late in Super Bowl week, and could have placed an infinite cloud over New England's perfection.

There will be much more coverage of this tommorow! Congrats to all you Giants Fans, The Better Team Won Tonight!

Super Bowl XLII: Giants Vs Patriots

Congratulations to the New York Giants and the New England Patriots, who both earned the right to go to Glendale,Arizona to play in Super Bowl XLII. The New York Giants earned the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl with a thrilling 23-20 Overtime victory over the Green Bay Packers. The New England Patriots earned the right to represent the AFC in the Super Bowl with a 38-34 victory over the San Diego Chargers. In Week 17, these two teams met with the Patriots completing their perfect regular season, overcoming a twelve point defecit to win 38-35.

Key Players on both sides of the ball:
NEW ENGLAND O: Tom Brady, Patriots QB: Tom Brady already has three Super Bowl Rings, and is in unprecedented territory. With a win on Sunday, he will join Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four Super Bowl Rings. Tom Brady has the chance to have four Super Bowl Rings at the age of thirty, which is unheard of in NFL History!

Tom has been well so far in the postseason, playing smart, being patient, not turning the ball over often, and putting the ball in the hands of his playmakers, Laurence Mauroney, Wes Welker and Randy Moss. Brady also has been bailed out when he turns the ball over (A Rarity) by this great New England defense.

Tom Brady will play smart, be patient, not turn the ball over, and go deep for his playmakers. Tom Brady has so many weapons, You cannot stop them all!

NEW ENGLAND D: Tedy Bruschi, Patriots LB: Bruschi is, no doubt the heart of the Patriots D. The Patriots D revolves around him and Rodney Harrison.

NEW YORK O: Eli Manning, Giants QB: Eli’s Brother, Peyton, won last year’s Super Bowl. Now the Pressure is on Eli to do the same. Eli has been making smart decisions and taking advantage of what the defense gives him. That’s why the Giants have won nine road games in a row and have won all of their playoff games, which were on the road. Eli will have to keep this formula working if the G-Men are to pull the upset.

NEW YORK D: Giants Front Four, : New York DE: The Giants Front Four will have to get pressure on Tom Brady, forcing him to throw the ball before he wants to. Easier said than done.


Coaches: Bill Bellichick already has his name on three Lombardi Trophies, although the circumstances about how he won them are now in question. Whether the wondering is fair or not, the fact that the Patriots are 18-0 in this era of the NFL, with Free Agency and the Salary Cap, Is Absolutely Incredible.

The Last time Tom Coughlin led the G-Men to the Playoffs Wild Card Weekend Last Season, The Eagles knocked them out with a last-second Field Goal. Now, The Giants have the last laugh, as they are where the Eagles were last time the Patriots were in the Super Bowl.


Special Teams: If the offense and defense are neutralized, Special Teams is going to be how the Super Bowl will be won. Will the Giants Special Teams squad be able to contain the Patriots speedster, Ellis Hobbs? Will the Patriots be able to score points when they need it most? Or will they have to settle for field goals from the Adequate Stephen Gostowski, who is a fine replacement for Adam Vinateiri, who already has three Super Bowl Rings, he got those with the Patriots?

I can't wait for the Super Bowl. I Watch The World Series and the NBA Finals, but the only Sporting Event I Record every season is The Super Bowl. This will be my seventh year recording the Super Bowl. The first Super Bowl I Recorded was Super Bowl XXXVI, when the New England Patriots pulled off the biggest upset since Super Bowl III.

Eli Manning has had the clock ticking for his chance at a ring since Peyton got his chance at a ring last season. Tom Brady already has plenty of Super Bowl Rings on his hand, with a fourth on the way with a win Sunday

Can The Giants win the Super Bowl? Absolutely they can. When The Monday after the Championship Games were over, I thought that if the Giants won, it would be an even bigger upset than the Jets beating the Colts in Super Bowl III. Now, I realize this won’t be the biggest upset since Super Bowl III. It Won’t even be the biggest upset since Super Bowl XXVI. There are a lot of people out there underestimating the G-Men.


Knowing the Super Bowl, anything is possible, and that is why everybody loves to watch it, even if they watch just for the commercials.



Prediction: Both Eli Manning and Tom Brady will go deep to their playmakers early and often. This would have been impossible last Super Bowl due to the rain, but with a Retractable Roof Stadium, there will be no rain in this Super Bowl forecast. The Patriots Front Four will have to stop Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw. The Patriots Secondary will have to contain the 6'5 Plaxico Buriss. Ditto with The Giants defense having to contain Wes Welker and Randy Moss while also getting Pressure on Tom Brady. Once Again, easier said than done.

One Final Thing: What Is The Place in History for this Patriots Team if they win the Super Bowl? They will be the greatest Champs of all time.

What If They Lose The Super Bowl? They Will Be The Greatest Chumps of all time.

My Pick Is:
NEW ENGLAND OVER NEW YORK

NFL Fines Patriots Coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and team $250,000 for Spying

The NFL, yet again, has layed down the law. This time, Bill Bellichick and his team are the ones in the spotlight.

New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from a Patriots video assistant while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium. Goodell will not change the outcome of the game.

Goodell said he had considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

New England, strengthened by the addition of Randy Moss and two other first-rate wide receivers as well as linebacker Adalius Thomas, is considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the fourth time since the 2001 season. If the Patriots lose their first-rounder next season they still will have a first-round pick, obtained from San Francisco in the deal that brought Moss from Oakland.

NFL rules state "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" and that all video or coaching purposes must be shot from locations "enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."

The NFL statement said Goodell believed Patriots owner Robert Kraft was unaware of Belichick's actions.

But it said the commissioner believed penalties should be imposed on the club because "Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England's football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club."

The action against Belichick is the latest in a series of harsh disciplinary actions taken by Goodell, who took office last Sept. 1, succeeding Paul Tagliabue.

The most notable were the indefinite suspension of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick after he pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy and the one-year suspension of Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones after numerous run-ins with police.

Commisioner Goodell has contuinued his to insure of a fair NFL with no unfair advantage being acquired by another team. As I said, Whatever punishment Commisioner Goodell sees fit was appropriate, and this punishment certainly does fit the crime. Severe attempts to gain an advantage (like stealing signs, or as I like to call it, cheating,) will have a severe punishment. The Patriots are finding out right now the hard way:

Cheaters Never Prosper.

Bill Belichick: Genius Or Cheater?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets' coaches, according to league sources.

NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from a Patriots video assistant on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals. Sources say the visual evidence confirmed the suspicion.

Goodell is considering severe sanctions, including the possibility of docking the Patriots "multiple draft picks" because it is the competitive violation in the wake of a stern warning to all teams since he became commissioner, the sources said. The Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents.

The Patriots will be allowed an opportunity to present their case by Friday, sources said, most likely via the telephone.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said on Tuesday that no official decision has been made and that the club has not been notified.

The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday's game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.

This is a very serious allegation for the Patriots to be dealing with...again. This isn't even the first time that the Patriots have been accused of Stealing Signals. But, in New England Head Coach Bill Bellichick's Defense, teams have done it before, including the Dolphins, when they beat down the Patriots 21-0 in 2006.

The mere fact that this comes up again for Bill Belichick and the Patriots' yet again makes me a little concerned. For the sake of the Patriots, I certainly hope these charges are false, but they have come up before. Whatever punishment Commisionner Goodell sees fit is appropriate.

Coach Belichick, get ready to deal with the consrquence of your team stealing signs from the Jets, as that is just Downright Cheating.

In other Football News, Brady Quinn may be the Starting Quarterback for the Cleveland Browns after Charlie Frye was traded to Seattle for a Sixth Round Draft Choice, The Washington Redskins have signed veteran Wide Receiver Reche Caldwell, and the Tennesee Titans acquired veteran Defensive player Bryce Fisher from Seattle.

Kevin Everett has voluntary movement in his arms and legs, and he may be able to walk again after all, so that is some good news, but he is not out of the woods yet, so keep him in your thoughts and prayers.