Are the Patriots cheating on Special Teams?

[Jerry Jabber]

I was listening to the morning show on WGR550 this morning, and Sal C. mentioned that the Patriots have six blocked punts this year (start at 12:50 on the link below). Jeremy started a conspiracy theory that they might be getting coached through the play as it's going on through one of the player helmets. I know one Special Teams player is allowed to have his helmet mic'd up, similar to offense and defense. Now that theory that Jeremy discussed wouldn't be surprising as it's been mentioned in the book "Spygate," about how Doug Flutie accidentally picked up Tom Brady's helmet and heard an alternate frequency, but later, Flutie recanted that statement. Does anyone know the record for most blocked punts in a season? Also, what else could Belichek and the Patriots do to gain an illegal advantage on Special Teams?

 

https://wgr550.radio.com/media/audio-channel/12-20-sal-capaccio-with-howard-and-jeremy

[Your Brown Eye]

[RiotAct]

I mean, yeah, probably. 

[NewEra]

Hadn’t heard that about Flukie picking up bradys helmet before.  I don’t doubt that he’s keeping patriot secrets.  Never liked flukie 

[DasNootz]

5 minutes ago, NewEra said:

Hadn’t heard that about Flukie picking up bradys helmet before.  I don’t doubt that he’s keeping patriot secrets.  Never liked flukie 

That was probably the most revealing part of the book Spygate - and defensive players saying they were given a list of opposing team's audibles just prior to game time.  

 

Someday there will be a Lance Armstrong moment that brings this whole thing down....  but I hope we beat them repeatedly before that point comes.

[row_33]

2 minutes ago, DasNootz said:

That was probably the most revealing part of the book Spygate - and defensive players saying they were given a list of opposing team's audibles just prior to game time.  

 

Someday there will be a Lance Armstrong moment that brings this whole thing down....  but I hope we beat them repeatedly before that point comes.

 

dinna take much to make you happy

 

[njbuff]

The Patriots make me sick to my stomach.

 

And I didn’t even mention the cheating yet.

[Franco_92]

Somehow the part about Flutie recanting his statement never makes it into the retelling by bills fans. This is the first I've heard of that.

[billsfan1959]

It would be a shorter answer if you asked, "Is there an aspect of footbball where the Patriots*** do not cheat?"

 

Answer: No

[PatsFanNH]

how do you coach them so the other team misses their block? its not like 10 seconds long like 2 or  3 seconds..  i dont see how it would help... I mean Buffalo the guy just didnt block him...thats just a mistake that was exploited.. one was a hand going around the end.. 

[BuffaloBillies]

I wonder if the Bills (or any team) ever practice an even longer snap to the punter.

I'd gladly give up 2 yards of field position to have Bozo not get his kick blocked.

Could they snap it 2 yards further back than normal?

Edited December 20, 2019 by BuffaloBillies

[Ed_Formerly_of_Roch]

Recall the story think it was back in the early 70's the Raiders and Steeler's were playing for the AFC championship.  Two days before the game on Friday the Raiders finish practice and head to the locker room, last full practice prior to the game.  Madden calls them all back out to practice (NFLPA today would fine them heavily for this) and has the team start practicing completely different modifications to the game plan.  

 

The theory was Al had his spies at the Steelers practice and they just reported back to him so now that Al knew what their plan was, started practicing to counter act that.  And oh bye the way, the Raiders won the game that year. 

[whatdrought]

It could just be dominance, but it is intriguing cause special teams don’t leave a ton of room for variance... hard to say.

[MDH]

1 hour ago, DasNootz said:

That was probably the most revealing part of the book Spygate - and defensive players saying they were given a list of opposing team's audibles just prior to game time.  

 

Someday there will be a Lance Armstrong moment that brings this whole thing down....  but I hope we beat them repeatedly before that point comes.

I’ve thought of the Armstrong comparison too but the difference is the NFL would hide any and all information about the cheating from the public. They’d never let it see the light of day, otherwise the legitimacy of two decades of their sport would be come into question.

 

 

[Warcodered]

Honestly you could just go

 

"Are the Patriots cheating on/in/during _____________?"

 

Yes.

Edited December 20, 2019 by Warcodered

[Don Otreply]

They have been shown to be cheaters on more than one occasion in the past, and yet again,  shown to be cheating presently, one can no longer afford them the benefit of doubt on any suspected behavior, they long ago lost that consideration. There will always be an asterisk, marking that team. 

[TPS]

I'm not sure how one cheats on a punt?  We're coming, you better block us....

[Steptide]

On one of their blocked punts a few weeks ago (can't remember which team) they showed the replay from behind the punter. The guy who blocked the punt for the pats was hiding behind one of the linemen and when the ball was snapped he ran right up the middle totally unblocked. It was actually pretty genius. Even on the replay you couldn't see the Pats player until he was coming directly at the punter. I think their special teams play is simply desperation to help them win games 

[Pokebball]

Pats paying off our edge blockers?  Otherwise, I'm not feeling it.

[eSJayDee]

Quote

Could they snap it 2 yards further back than normal?

 

They sort of already do.  Way back when, punters were typically 14 yds back.  Now they're mostly typically 15.  I'd also imagine there aren't too many, if any,  3-step punters anymore.

[ocemur]

Can't we just give Massachusetts back to the Wampanoag Tribe already? We just have to build the Wall first.

[Jerome007]

1 hour ago, PatsFanNH said:

how do you coach them so the other team misses their block? its not like 10 seconds long like 2 or  3 seconds..  i dont see how it would help... I mean Buffalo the guy just didnt block him...thats just a mistake that was exploited.. one was a hand going around the end.. 

I would NOT be surprised they cheat but yeah, in the Bills case it was a BAD task/blocking assignment, and some videos showed how it happened a least twice before in the then short season. The Cheats just took advantage of a flaw that was there for all to see. 

Edited December 20, 2019 by Jerome007

[Gugny]

The NFL record for most blocked punts in a season is six by the 1990 Kansas City Chiefs. The last team with four blocked punts in a season was the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles.

[ALLEN1QB]

We may never know the extent of their cheating but I guarantee what we do know just scratches the surface.

[ElMarko]

Coach your own half-worthless punter to throw a flip pass to a TOTALLY UNCOVERED wideout. Watch as he runs unabated down the field for at least 25 yards before touched.

[1st&ten]

59 minutes ago, TPS said:

I'm not sure how one cheats on a punt?  We're coming, you better block us....

 

Just before the snap, Pats lineman says to punting team lineman---hey your shoe's untied---lineman looks down, Pats lineman bull rushes him to create big hole for punt blocker to run thru. Typical Pats poor sportsmanship.

[TPS]

2 minutes ago, 1st&ten said:

 

Just before the snap, Pats lineman says to punting team lineman---hey your shoe's untied---lineman looks down, Pats lineman bull rushes him to create big hole for punt blocker to run thru. Typical Pats poor sportsmanship.

I don't think that was a punt, it was on this FG attempt...

[Miyagi-Do Karate]

9 minutes ago, ElMarko said:

Coach your own half-worthless punter to throw a flip pass to a TOTALLY UNCOVERED wideout. Watch as he runs unabated down the field for at least 25 yards before touched.

 

Theoretically, yes.  But with Bojo, no.  I am just glad when he catches the snap. 

[TigerJ]

I think when NE blocked Bojorquez in the first game, the Bills just weren't prepared for the Patriots using an extra rusher rather than having a returner.  I would be shocked if Farwell didn't have his punt team practicing for that possibility this week.

[Marv's Neighbor]

2 hours ago, NewEra said:

Hadn’t heard that about Flukie picking up bradys helmet before.  I don’t doubt that he’s keeping patriot secrets.  Never liked flukie 

Never knew they had the same helmet size either.

[PetermansRedemption]

Well, they have blocked 4 of the NFLs 10 blocked punts this season ?

[buffaloboyinATL]

They’re not cheating, they are filming a documentary on other teams special teams play calling. 

[krf139]

They might be, but those guys on WRG are a tough listen.

[ChasBB]

3 hours ago, arcane said:

Somehow the part about Flutie recanting his statement never makes it into the retelling by bills fans. This is the first I've heard of that.

Really?  This is not the type of thing one would say randomly or for amusement purposes.  You can assume it WAS said - AND that is was MEANT.  The fact that he recanted the statement is somewhat meaningless.

[The Wiz]

49 minutes ago, TigerJ said:

I think when NE blocked Bojorquez in the first game, the Bills just weren't prepared for the Patriots using an extra rusher rather than having a returner.  I would be shocked if Farwell didn't have his punt team practicing for that possibility this week.

The same happened against the Steelers. They had to audible coverage before the punt on their last one because Steelers changed the play late. 

35 minutes ago, PetermansRedemption said:

Well, they have blocked 4 of the NFLs 10 blocked punts this season ?

So the reality is they aren't cheating but exploiting a rule from 1932 about how you can use a down lineman in a way that makes it so he's lined up off the line disguised and also an eligible receiver somehow in defense. 

Edited December 20, 2019 by The Wiz

[ChasBB]

2 hours ago, Don Otreply said:

They have been shown to be cheaters on more than one occasion in the past, and yet again,  shown to be cheating presently, one can no longer afford them the benefit of doubt on any suspected behavior, they long ago lost that consideration. There will always be an asterisk, marking that team. 

 

The Buffalo Bills must realize what they are up against:

 

1. Ernie Adams is former military intelligence - the guys who like to decode signals and communication (and cover their own tracks).

https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2008/feature/adams.html

http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=adams

2. Ernie Adams has a photographic memory (think Rainman)

3. Ernie Adams works hard and is a competitor - said to work 100 hours per week.

4. Erine Adams is the voice in Belichick's ear on game days.

5. Ernie Adams has been with Belichick for essentially Belechick's entire NFL career - they are childhood buddies.

 

This is tough to compete against.  Having instant visual/mental recall of ALL tape ever watched - wow - that is a pretty valuable skill, no?  It's like trying to play your computer in chess set at the "Expert" level - good luck.

 

I maintain that Belichick & Brady are certainly above average, but it is Ernie Adams that has made them a virtual machine for all these years.  Throw in the cheating (and the skills to get away with it) on top of it all and you have a powerhouse - which is exactly what they have been all this time.

 

Beat them with good, old-fashioned smash-mouth football so they don't know what hit them - that's the way to handle these #######s.

 

 

[tcampbell104]

i remember flutie saying once that he couldnt believe that they actually tell brady where the pressure is coming from

[Don Otreply]

4 minutes ago, ChasBB said:

 

The Buffalo Bills must realize what they are up against:

 

1. Ernie Adams is former military intelligence - the guys who like to decode signals and communication (and cover their own tracks).

https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2008/feature/adams.html

http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=adams

2. Ernie Adams has a photographic memory (think Rainman)

3. Ernie Adams works hard and is a competitor - said to work 100 hours per week.

4. Erine Adams is the voice in Belichick's ear on game days.

5. Ernie Adams has been with Belichick for essentially Belechick's entire NFL career - they are childhood buddies.

 

This is tough to compete against.  Having instant visual/mental recall of ALL tape ever watched - wow - that is a pretty valuable skill, no?  It's like trying to play your computer in chess set at the "Expert" level - good luck.

 

I maintain that Belichick & Brady are certainly above average, but it is Ernie Adams that has made them a virtual machine for all these years.  Throw in the cheating (and the skills to get away with it) on top of it all and you have a powerhouse - which is exactly what they have been all this time.

 

Beat them with good, old-fashioned smash-mouth football so they don't know what hit them - that's the way to handle these #######s.

 

 

Well not that good, they keep getting caught... hence my post. It is a given that they cheat, that, and everyone has known about rain-man for some time. That’s why the asterisk. 

[ChasBB]

Just now, Don Otreply said:

Well not that good, they keep getting caught... hence my post. It is a given that they cheat, that, and everyone has known about rain-man for some time. That’s why the asterisk. 

Yes, agree with you that they've been caught, but it's time something real is done as punishment - that's not really happened much save for when they lost a draft pick.  It is systematic and sophisticated cheating that has been going on since forever.  And think how much they've done where they have NOT been caught?  The few times they have been caught probably represents about 1% of what they have done over the years.  The FBI should have a look at these guys - seriously.  Think of the financial gains from all of the winning over the years.

[Johnnycage46]

4 hours ago, PatsFanNH said:

how do you coach them so the other team misses their block? its not like 10 seconds long like 2 or  3 seconds..  i dont see how it would help... I mean Buffalo the guy just didnt block him...thats just a mistake that was exploited.. one was a hand going around the end.. 

There really isn't much point trying to defend the Patriots' long and proven history of cheating.  I can understand that from your perspective you would want to defend it and try to deny it.  But facts are facts.  The Patriots are proven cheaters.  It is fact.