Patriots Violated Rules in Win Over Jets

Blogging the National Football League, Blogging the NFL

I thought I had heard it all until this report came in. I was absolutely floored to learn that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules this past Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets’ coaches. NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets’ defensive signals. The visual evidence confirmed the suspicion. Commissioner Goodell is considering severe sanctions, including the possibility of docking the Patriots multiple draft picks. I wasn’t aware of this, but I guess the Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents. The Patriots will be allowed an opportunity to present their case by Friday, most likely via telephone. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said today that no official decision has been made.

When I first heard this story, it sounded so ridiculous I had to laugh it off. But with the possibility that this kind of behavior has been going on for some time, it makes you stop and think about how the world is going to look at this team’s past and present successes. It’s an unfair competitive advantage and it’s unfathomable to me that the Patriots would do this. I thought they were a classy organization.

I really look at this as almost being the same situation as a steroid scandal. Once caught, you wonder how long the crime/advantage has been going on. I need to wait for the official ruling, but it definitely points toward tainting any previous success this team has had.