Belichick denies Patriots taped Rams' 2002 Super Bowl walk-through

ESPN ^ | February 18, 2008, 6:05 AM ET | ESPN.com news services

[Hatteras]

Patriots coach Bill Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli issued a broad denial Sunday in a report on The Boston Globe's Web site regarding suggestions by a former employee that their team taped a St. Louis Rams walk-through before the 2002 Super Bowl.

"In my entire coaching career, I've never seen another team's practice film prior to playing that team," Belichick told the newspaper Sunday. "I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team's walk-through. We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see ourselves do anything, that's the pace that it's at. Regardless, I've never been a part of that."

[Hatteras]

Oh, well I guess that settles that! ;-)

[kittymyrib]

Camera malfunctioned, Bill?

[mewzilla]

Discovery in those lawsuits is gonna be a hoot....

[Billg64]

19-0 in 08-09 season go pats

[cspackler]

Good thing all of those tapes were destroyed, huh? Just guess we’ll have to take ol’ Bill’s word for it.

[mewzilla]

According to FNC’s Brian Kilmeade a few weeks ago, dupes of at least some of those tapes exist.

[tirednvirginia]

Of course, guilty until proven innocent - that’s the American Way.

[Constitution Day]

We don't even film our own. We don't even want to see ourselves do anything, that's the pace that it's at.

"Cameras? What are cameras? I have never even heard of such a crazy invention.

Do you mean you can actually take MOVING PICTURES of things that happen? It's preposterous!"

[Soliton]

Of course, guilty until proven innocent - that’s the American Way.

You believe they only cheated one time?

[jennyjenny]

Wait, I thought “everybody does it.” You mean Belichick and the Patriots are the only team that doesn’t do it?

[mewzilla]

Meanwhile....

Walsh seeks protection With it, lawyer says he's set to turn over Patriots tapes

[Hatteras]

Pioli probably would have been wise to keep his mouth shut instead of trying to smear somebody that may have incriminating evidence (not just game tapes) against the Patriots as well as the NFL.

[mewzilla]

NFL’s anti-trust deal merits Senate scrutiny

Ruh roh...

[jennyjenny]

You believe they only cheated one time?

Most don't believe it was cheating even the one time. It was just a "rule violation."

[mewzilla]

From February 2nd....

Pats executive Scott Pioli has the perfect job

Snort.

[EQAndyBuzz]

“”In my entire coaching career, I’ve never seen another team’s practice film prior to playing that team,” Belichick told the newspaper Sunday.”

Bummer. Watching another teams practice films I would consider a normal occurrence. Listening in on the playcalling from the eye in the sky during a game is another matter.

[misterrob]

They broke rules on videotaping. He used a very, very questionable interpretation of the rules to do it but they also did it in the wide open so just how much were they trying to hide? If rule breaking is cheating then I guess that is going to apply to a lot of other teams that cheat on other matters including play on the field and roster decisions.

Stealing is part of the culture in the NFL though. The game seems to allow a lot of other stuff which tends to breed this behavior.

[Hatteras]

"Most don't believe it was cheating even the one time. It was just a "rule violation."

Sorry, "most" DO believe it was cheating. Those that don't want to believe it was cheating would be more correctly characterized as "some".

And now that more information is starting to trickle in, the opinions will continue to grow against Belichick and the Patriots. And my prediction is that even Roger Goodell's integrity will take a beating over this before the dust settles.

[sargunner]

Probably went completely digital. No magnetic media. THerefore an honest answer.

[FreedomProtector]

funny.

[misterrob]

Is holding the OLB/DE on every play not cheating? How about pushing off? Holding the WR at the line? What about all the stuff you don’t see in the pile? How about stashing your players on the IR so they can be around for camp next year?

What about sending interns into other locker rooms to dig through the trash? Looking at play books from other teams when a player signs after getting cut from his last job?

[jennyjenny]

Sorry, it should have read, "Most patriots fans "don't believe it was cheating, as evidenced by the poster above. Everyone else knows it was cheating.

[sirchtruth]

I love the reaction of you Patriot, or should I say success story haters. Let me remind you people Belichick has never shown a propensity to outright lie. Electionally taping defensive signals, and being the only team to get tattled on is not an indication the best coach in history will fall prey to a friggin RUMOR.

Jealous are we?

[misterrob]

The Commissioner’s integrity will take a beating from the nameless folks out there like yourself. He’s done a great job as commissioner so far and shown himself to be a hardass when needed.

There is nothing else that has rolled in yet, just innuendo and unsubstantiated claims.

By the way, NC’s football team had its own scandal a few years back when several key members of the team were found to have CHEATED by using roids. Even during the SB in 2004. NFL culture is less than ethical I will grant you...

[rbmillerjr]

There is tolerance for almost everything in America; except success.

[tirednvirginia]

Oh all that’s okay. Only the Patriots cheat and they are the only team in NFL who has taped other teams. Taping is cheating according to some but breaking other rules is just breaking the rules.

[tirednvirginia]

I’m not a Patriot fan - the Redskins are my team. I don’t believe taping is cheating because very little is gained. So there.

It is breaking an NFL rule, however, and they got caught and paid the price.

Do you believe they were still taping after the first game this season?

[jennyjenny]

Both teams are able to hold and push off and take the chance of getting an immediate penalty. That is why there is officiating, sometimes good and sometimes bad. The issue with the video taping is one team getting an unfair advantage over the other because both aren't doing it. The video itself is not a player on the field or part of the coaching staff.

What about sending interns into other locker rooms to dig through the trash? Looking at play books from other teams when a player signs after getting cut from his last job?

What about it? Do you have proof someone did this?

What if, what about, what if, what about, but...but...but.......

[patriotspride]

Bill Clinton special response.

I means literally he didn’t.... but others, well that’s their problem.....

[mmichaels1970]

Let me remind you people Belichick has never shown a propensity to outright lie.

Didn't he once lie to the New York Jets?

[jennyjenny]

Well that is where you and I are different. I’m a huge IU Basketball fan and I think Sampson should be fired even though I know other coaches have done the same or worse than what he is being accused of doing.

[Uncle Ivan]

the best coach in history will fall prey to a friggin RUMOR

Landry, Lombardi, and Bill Walsh are all dead and gone, you know.

[sirchtruth]

Didn't he once lie to the New York Jets?

About, not wanting to stay with that loser organization because he got a better offer?

No!

[jennyjenny]

My understanding is this investigation is not about whether or not they continued to videotape after they were caught this year. It is whether or not all evidence of prior filming was turned over for the investigation and why what was turned over was destroyed.

[OrioleFan]

Sandy Berger surely must have retrieved and destroyed the tapes.

[sirchtruth]

Landry, Lombardi, and Bill Walsh are all dead and gone, you know.

Show me the numbers!

[mmichaels1970]

About, not wanting to stay with that loser organization because he got a better offer?

I agree that it's a loser organizaiton. But wasn't he found in breach of contract by the commissioner? I think he had a year left. I also think the Patriots were fined or somehow punished for it.

[DonGrafico]

Amen to that. And it’s never been more apparent than on these football threads. Welcome to Norman Lear’s America.

[Hatteras]

"There is nothing else that has rolled in yet, just innuendo and unsubstantiated claims."

That's what makes this so much fun. Watching the storm brewing and seeing the Patriots fans squirming.

Unlike some, I will call a spade a spade and I do know right from wrong. If the Panthers (not my favorite team, but nice try, BTW) were guilty of something, I'd hope they'd throw the book at them. I'm all for keeping the integrity of the sport alive and not selling out for the sake of my own personal fan loyalty. If I want professional wrestling I'd turn on the WWF.

It's a 12-step program. First step is to admit you have a problem. After that? It's a piece of cake. ;-)

[Rippin]

Of course, guilty until proven innocent - that’s the American Way.

---

This is not a court of law, this is reality. Cheaters lose the benefit of the doubt. Live with it.

[massgopguy]

Don’t teams trade Game Films anymore?

[Pistolshot]

Not to mention George Allen, George Halas, Joe Gibbs.

Belechik showed all the class of a 2-dollar hooker as the clock ran out on the SuperBowl. And his interview afterwards sounded like a 5-yr-old that didn't get his cake after dinner.

Greatest coach? Not hardly.

[SoFloFreeper]

"We didn't tape it, we put it directly to video-disc."

[N3WBI3]

I will be anouther 35 years until an NFL team has that shot, The pats went from the bets team in the nfl to the biggest choker in the NFL on that last giants drive..

[Allan Bartlett]

If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying...right Bill?

[Soliton]

Stealing is part of the culture in the NFL though. The game seems to allow a lot of other stuff which tends to breed this behavior.

Art Rooney would have fired him on the spot. Sportsmanship means something and there are a few left in the NFL that still practice it.

[tirednvirginia]

This really can’t be settled here. Those that dislike the Patriots will believe the worse and will not give them the benefit of the doubt.

Only time will erase the bad PR against them.

[highball]

Most don't believe it was cheating even the one time. It was just a "rule violation."

Just goes to show that even conservatives are capable of re-defining words when their own sacred cows are being gored.

"Words mean things... unless they don't mean what we want them to mean," I guess.

[Soliton]

Without Brady, Billy Boy has a losing record.

[misterrob]

Jimmy Johnson said he would send interns out dumpster diving.....

While video might give some advantage the benefits are rather small. It’s an infraction and worthy of sanction but it’s become something bigger than what people make it out to be.