NFL 2007
Out of context: Reply #141
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- kingjulien0
"So since Jimmy Johnson and Barry Switzer did it then it's fine? Therefore everyone cheats?"
A. The Johnson/Switzer reference was used to demonstrate that coaches, all coaches, do this to some degree. They have a little more wisdom in this area than you or I, given their credentials. Therefore, I tend to believe two hall-of-fame coaches with direct knowledge of these things than a fan, regardless of how passionate or intelligent you are.
B. What Bill Belichick did was ignore a league mandate, one that the commissioner had just warned every organization about in the preseason. He is guilty of that, and was justly punished.
What I disagree with you about, which is fine, is that videotaping a coaches' signals is somehow cheating.
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I agree to a certain extent...however please explain how placing a guy behind the opposing teams bench and video taping their signals is 'intellectual.' That's about as 'intellectual' as using steroids so you can hit the long ball.
tommyo
(Sep 17 07, 15:24)The intellectual part was not the videotaping, per se, but the devising of strategy after the fact, whether it be at half time or the next time the two squads play. Trying to figure out what a team is going to run, and coming up with a scheme that will stop the opponent.
When a quarterback calls out an audible, the defense, if they have watched enough game tape, will have a scheme to match the sudden switch in formation. A quarterback calls out Blue-45, a linebacker recognizes that play, and attempts to counter it. Players move around and what happens, happens.
All of these are hunches and educated guesses. If the Jets were aware that the Patriots did this (and Eric Mangini complained about the Patriots to the league last year - ironic that he used to be Belichick's defensive coordinator, and thus participated in the same thing he's now whining about), they would have used all this to their advantage by switching their signals and tricking the Patriots.
That's what I meant by "intellectual" - using the mind to out-think your opponent.
You comparing that to taking steroids is apples to oranges, in my opinion. And I'm not trying to attack you, Tommy, as I like you, but you have to realize that by making this argument, you're essentially suggesting that there should be an asterisk next to the Chargers 14-2 record last year, since their best defensive player used steroids(and was suspended), and one of their offensive lineman (Castillo?) also got busted just prior to his rookie year.
I personally don't believe this - the Chargers were good because they were an excellent team - but you can't express moral outrage at one and not the other.