Buffaloaf

Out of curiosity I looked up his pre-draft scouting report and arrogance and lack of leadership skills were mentioned. I hate to criticize someone's personality without knowing them, but just watching them on the sidelines he comes across very pouty. Here's the link to the report: https://walterfootball.com/scoutingreport2019kmurray.php

I just want there to be fewer penalties overall. Nobody tunes in to watch referees throw flags. Penalties have become such a big part of the game that I can't even get excited in real time because I'm waiting to see if there was a flag. Big QB sack (I hope they didn't touch his helmet or hit him low). Punt return (probably a holding flag somewhere). Big pass breakup (probably defensive PI). It's frustrating.

If they were to adopt the college format starting position would probably need to be moved back to like the 40 yard line. Field goals in college are much more of a crap shoot than in the NFL. I think the NFL is mostly concerned about game length and that's why they reduced overtime to 10 minutes.

This is already being spun by NFL reporters like Rappaport as a small issue. I don't think there is a high likelihood of anything significant coming from this. It sucks, but I think that's where it's heading.

Maybe someone like say, Matt Cassel

Peyton Manning believed the visitor's locker room was bugged and would not have conversations about the gameplan in the locker room. I think it was in the Spygate book. I wouldn't doubt that they've come up with all sorts of ways to cheat over the years. If they cheated their way to their initial success and all they lost was a draft pick and some money, why would they stop? They would just come up with better ways to accomplish their goal.

Maybe. The NFL may be threatening them with some sort of penalty if they do release it. Maybe they could release it unofficially through an anonymous leak.

This is my experience with contractors as well. The only way it would be different is if they were part of an NFL Films work crew or some other 3rd party. It's a good story, but it doesn't absolve them of any responsibility.

I made a similar point earlier in the thread. The NFL just can't afford to let the details get out. It would be the worst scandal in sports history and potentially ruin the NFL. I could see a superficial punishment of fines, draft picks, etc, but not likely to see anything beyond that publicly. Maybe Belichick will surprisingly retire after the season with a wink and a nod.

I like to think you're right, but the owners have to think about value of their teams and the league overall. If the Patriots are found to have been cheating for the duration of their dynasty, the public may lose faith in the sport overall and stop watching in significant numbers. This would cost every owner a lot of money. Is it better for the survival of the league to just sweep it under the rug? That's what happened with the original spygate. Personally, I want to see them punished to the fullest extent. As a fan of the Bills I'm probably a bit biased, but I would lose more faith if they just ignore this.

This is how I see it as well. I just don't think it's likely the NFL will ever let us know the details of the Patriots cheating ways. They may claim this was a one time error, worthy of punishment, and try to handle it behind the scenes. If it came to light that the Patriots had been cheating consistently for 15-20 years, while winning 6 superbowls and becoming essentially the face of the NFL, it would do too much damage. It would be the biggest scandal in sports history.

I don't disagree with you. I was just trying to make the point that players don't necessarily have to be aware of the pats cheating. I think it's likely Brady knows at least something is going on. Could be the reason he is willing to take less money than he could probably get on the open market. What the Patriots have done is just not statistically possible. Teams with little top talent, like many of the Pats teams over the years, don't win 12 or 13 games a year and go to the superbowl.

I've thought this myself. Hope it comes out sooner than that. The Patriots probably make every player/employee sign a ridiculous NDA along with their contract. Really, the players wouldn't even need to know cheating was happening. Even Brady. To him, it may seem like the coaches are geniuses because of how quickly they can diagnose defenses and get him in the right play. I think it was Bruschi who said they would receive the other teams audibles prior to the game. The players don't know where they come from or the details of how they are obtained, they just do what they're told. To me, this is all on Belichick, Kraft, and probably some other coaches like Adams and McDaniels. If all these accusations can be proven true they should be banned from the NFL and Kraft should either have to sell the team or become minority owner or something.

The Bengals should post the video online. I’m sure the league has told them not to but that would be great

Valid point. This behavior aligns perfectly with the 2015 article describing how they would develop cover stories for their videotaping though. I have no evidence but they could have created other cover stories for other teams. Maybe they only do this for teams with new coaching staffs? I have no reason to give them the benefit of the doubt.

This would only lead me to believe that they did this for every game this year. Cheating is a compulsion.

Thing is if all this is true, and I believe it is, there is no way I see the NFL revealing the truth. You’re talking about tainting the biggest dynasty the sport has seen. Belichick, Brady, and Kraft are faces of the NFL. They tried and largely succeeded at sweeping the original spygate under the rug. Other owners will probably go along with any cover up because if fans tune out because they think teams are cheating it will devalue their franchises. Now with gambling becoming legalized everywhere they can’t have a league mired in a cheating scandal.

The Bills should just never go in the locker room except to get dressed. Spend halftime on the field huddled up. Peyton Manning said he would leave the locker room during halftime to talk to coaches when they played at Foxboro

Guess I misunderstood what you meant. Seems we are in agreement.

I'm not sure what point you're trying to make here. Brady was a game manager type QB his first few years as a starter. He didn't start lighting the league on fire until a couple years later. Maybe you have a different definition of game manager?

I think Jackson is better than Tyrod. Jackson doesn't seem to be afraid to pull the trigger like Tyrod was. Still not entirely sold on Jackson long term, but he's better than Tyrod.

While Brady's completion percentage and INT numbers were better early than Allen's he was definitely talked about as a game manager at the time. He had 6 games under 200 yards passing his second season. 2 games under 100 his first season. Even into his 3rd season he had 7 games under 200 yards passing and one under 100. The difference is Brady's best games were better than we have seen from Allen thus far. I am in no way saying Allen is Brady, but it is true that Brady didn't come into the league as a consistently prolific passer. That came a few years later.

I agree with this. If you remember when they played the Colts in the playoffs years ago, they just continually contacted the Colts receivers beyond 5 yards and dared the officials to call it. It worked. Seattle's Legion of Boom operated similarly. I guess the question is do you think that is a good strategy or a bush league move that somewhat compromises the integrity of the game?

Good post. This has always been my take on the Pats as well. The team is great in their own right, but they have continually compromised the integrity of the game. The penalty thing is very hard to argue though I have tried. I think it was a couple years ago the Pats were one of the most, if not the most, penalized teams in the league. Yet it seems they get so many timely calls that other teams don't. The penalty on Tre White (I think it was him) on 4th down in the last game is good example. The ball was underthrown so the receiver slows down and White runs into him. Technically PI, but the I don't see the Bills or other teams getting that call on a regular basis.

Why even have a national anthem?