[NFL] vBook: Colts vs Patriots (Deflategate)

[Irish Insanity]

Pot, meet kettle.

Reported sexual assault at Notre Dame campus leaves more questions than answers | National Catholic Reporter

I don't believe I pointed the finger anywhere that didn't include myself.

 

[palinurus]

Pot, meet kettle.

Reported sexual assault at Notre Dame campus leaves more questions than answers | National Catholic Reporter

For the record, LAX has posted on this topic previously, showing that much of this story has been discredited. But, in any event, it's a red herring. The consistency of detractors doesn't have anything to do with the Patriots' cheating.

 

[ACamp1900]

This would be my first comment ever on the Seeberg thing that I can remember, didn't follow the story much, let it play out, it went away and I moved on... so back to defending clear cheaters over nothing but fanboydom...

 

[wizards8507]

I don't believe I pointed the finger anywhere that didn't include myself.

Fair enough.

For the record, LAX has posted on this topic previously, showing that much of this story has been discredited. But, in any event, it's a red herring. The consistency of detractors doesn't have anything to do with the Patriots' cheating.

It's not a red herring. Lax discrediting the article proves that the "where there's smoke there's fire" argument is bullshit. Lax discrediting the article because he has more knowledge about the situation than some journalist with an ax to grind is no different than Pats fans discrediting a report because we have more knowledge than some journalist with an ax to grind. This came up during Deflategate. Patriots fans aren't biased towards Brady because we like Brady, we've just been paying closer attention to the story than the rest of the country so we know more details than whatever the national media finds convenient to report.

 

[Rhode Irish]

As we all seem to say:

'Where there's smoke there's fire. '
But I guess that only goes for other teams, not if it's one of your own.

When you see a lot of smoke, you can usually make a reasonable assumption that you will see a fire soon. If you wait and wait and wait and you never get any fire, just more smoke, then maybe it is time to consider that there is someone with a smoke machine who wants you to think there is a fire.

Any of you Pats fans ever consider that your team may have so many wins in large part because of the stuff they've been getting away with to this point??? That report yesterday was pretty damning imo.

That story showed two things: (1) the Patriots filmed the defensive signal callers extensively from when Belichick got to NE until 2007 and (2) that there are people in the league that are paranoid that the Patriots are cheating cheaters that cheat all the time. Both of those things were known well before yesterday, if not by everyone then at least by people who have followed Spygate for the last eight years.

Filming the opposing signal callers was never and is still not against the rules - only the location of the camera is regulated by the League. The Patriots are hardly the only team to participate in the practice during that time. The Patriots' sin was doing it from the sideline as an "F-U" to the league, for which they paid a penalty. All of the rest of the stuff about headsets, stealing play sheets, bugging locker rooms, etc., has all been out there for years and was finally codified helpfully yesterday by ESPN. But it remains as unproven and hilariously paranoid as it has ever been, despite ESPN trying to lend credence to it. (As the Patriots called it yesterday, "myths.") Show some shred of proof, or GTFO.

 

[wizards8507]

When you see a lot of smoke, you can usually make a reasonable assumption that you will see a fire soon. If you wait and wait and wait and you never get any fire, just more smoke, then maybe it is time to consider that there is someone with a smoke machine who wants you to think there is a fire.

Filming the opposing signal callers was never and is still not against the rules - only the location of the camera is regulated by the League.

Quoting the TL;DR version for truth.

 

[gkIrish]

My biggest issue with the OTL report is they never once mentioned that video taping signals was legal, which speaks to Rhode's illustration above.

Instead, we get crap like this:



And we're supposed to believe everything written in the OTL report?

Spygate boils down to a video camera being in the wrong location for the Sept 2007 Jets game, a violation the Jets themselves committed during a 2006 game in Foxboro. Cheaters!

Did they film from the wrong location for 40+ games? We don't know that to be true, but assuming it is, coaches knew other teams had access to their signals regardless of where the camera was positioned and several teams failed to change signals throughout the season.

Why isn't anyone talking about the fact the Patriots went 17-0 in their next seventeen games after "Spygate" before a horribly botched non-holding call on the Tyree catch cost them the Super Bowl? It's just easier to label them cheaters and try to tear down the best franchise in professional sports, which is what we saw happen in farce that was Deflategate. It's the world we live in today. Very sad.

Because games always come down to one play and the Patriots never received the benefit of any bad calls/dumb rules before (i.e. Tuck Rule)....

Damn what happened to the Yankees? They lose all 27 of those championship trophies?

 

[NDWorld247]

Because games always come down to one play and the Patriots never received the benefit of any bad calls/dumb rules before (i.e. Tuck Rule)....

Damn what happened to the Yankees? They lose all 27 of those championship trophies?

It's funny that you're the 2nd person to highlight that part of my post yet completely ignore the point I was making.

I was being facetious with my best franchise in sports comment. Lots of great franchises in professional sports, including the Patriots. The Yankees don't count though. They are cheaters.

 

[IrishLax]

Wizards, irishfan, and Rhode Irish circling the wagons with false equivalencies. Two of the boards more erudite posters (and an ESPN turncloak) versus the world...

Irishfan's analogy in post #1540 doesn't actually work, because it's a completely implausible hypothetical that doesn't use enough specifics and is therefor impossible to contrast to the Patriots' situation. For a college football parallel, there are a number of far more analogous examples people could've used with respect to accepted cheating allegations without "proof."

When Mike Frank, et al. know of players that have taken money/benefits from UNC/Clemson/etc. and share that information, they don't have "proof"... just what they were told from good sources. To use a recent example, Clemson got a job for Richard Yeargin's brother in exchange for him flipping. This is a story known by insiders, but there is no "proof." There is no hand written, signed, and notarized letter saying "We, Clemson boosters, do agree to get Richard Yeargin's brother a job in exchange for him flipping his commitment"... but it is well known, and it is accepted. If this report was publicly printed by ESPN or SI or Rivals or wherever, Clemson University and Clemson fans would be inclined... much like the Patriots or Patriots fans... to say "fuck you, prove it." Do I believe Mike Frank (and really good sources) would just make up a story like that for no reason? Do I need "proof" to trust him and the sources? No. Of course not.

Similarly, with Ole Miss recently tons of people talked about them paying players and having other recruiting violations related to that monster '13 class. There were first-hand accounts, and some rather interesting "smoke." The hubbub got so bad that Hugh Freeze came out and said "fuck you, prove it" in a press release (actually, it was closer to "if you have evidence you can prove send it to our compliance department, otherwise shut up and sit down"). Ole Miss fans acted like Pats fans are now, doesn't mean they were right.

Do I need hard "proof" that Bama offered Kiel money? No, a solid first-hand account by the primary source is good enough. Do I need "proof" of crazy shenanigans/violations involved with Marvin Austin and Arrelious Benn? NO!

I expect any fanbase to be defensive and biased, it happens every time. Notre Dame is not any different. What's hilariously disappointing is that while some are able to admit bias, none are willing to admit that the more plausible explanation is likely correct. Instead of accepting that if the entire league and dozens of sources attest to cheating by the Patriots, it's instead "where's your hard evidence?"... or "this is a calculated conspiracy because everyone is just jelly"... or "ESPN is liars you can't trust"... or, on the few points they accept, "meh, that cheating wasn't a big deal though."

 

[wizards8507]

I love how I'm not allowed to have an opinion about ESPN and their coverage of college football because I'm obviously pro-ESPN biased and also not allowed to have an opinion critical of ESPN and their reporting on the Patriots because I'm obviously anti-ESPN biased.

To Lax I would point out that not all rule violations are cheating. In the one instance in which the Patriots were shown to have violated rules, it is because they recorded opponents' signals with cameras placed on the sidelines. In a world in which it is perfectly legal and permissible to record signals from certain camera locations but not others, I do not believe that improper camera placement is cheating, defined as acting dishonestly or unfairly in order to gain an advantage. There was no advantage whatsoever. Therefore, not cheating. It also wouldn't be cheating if Marshawn Lynch decided to wear Skittles-branded cleats. Against the rules? Yes. But not cheating.

 

[Rhode Irish]

Lax, all due respect and I do understand what you're saying, but I think you're being slightly obtuse about this. You can't always get irrefutable documentary evidence, but you can usually get something. I don't think that anyone accusing the Patriots has brought anything more than their own suspicions to the table to try to prove they cheated.

If Mike Frank thinks some kid got paid because "how else can you explain it?!?!?" then he would be doing exactly what the Patriots' accusers are doing now, in my view. The people making the accusations against the Patriots (not the authors, but the actual sources) do not have any earthly idea if what they are saying is true. They are saying it because it is convenient and self-exonerating and maybe because they are actually crazy enough to believe it (some people are convinced they were abducted by aliens). They are still basing it on nothing but paranoia and suspicion.

 

[Irish#1]

Confirmation bias. You think the Patriots are cheaters so you're going to look for the Patriots to be cheaters and assume they are if you see anything even remotely questionable.


Why is it so hard to believe? Honestly, from THIS fanbase of all fanbases. Go ask random Notre Dame hater what they think about the University. This article is the journalistic equivilant of this OTL report.


Right, like losing to the Patriots... for fifteen years.

Confirmation bias? LOL LOL I'll give you credit. You'll go to your grave trying to justify and/or negate a reasonable argument even if everyone else is telling you the same thing.

It was an incredible catch, but watch Richard Seymour on the play. The umpire, who I know personally, admits to blowing the call. He froze in the moment. No conspiracy, just a bad mistake at the worst possible moment.

But that wasn't my point. Point was the report doesn't mention filming signals was legal and the Pats went 17-0 in their next 17 games.

Did he really blow it? I never hear that brought up. He may have admitted it, but what about all the holding calls that never get called? They effect the game just as much. How about Michael Jordan's famous push to get open to hit the game winner in the NBA Finals? It happens all the time.

Common denominator is a very large hatred towards the Patriots for winning too much, not having any issue with running up the score, and a coach who comes across as an asshole to those who aren't Pats fans.

There's a reason teams get caught pumping in crowd noise or heating up footballs on the sideline and no one cares. It's because they don't win 12+ games every season and embarrass a few teams along the way to what is annually a deep playoff run.

Then why did the Falcons get fined for pumping in crowd noise if no one cares? Wasn't it the Vikings who got fined for heating up footballs? If either got caught again, I think you'd hear a lot about it. Maybe their level of cheating isn't anything near what the Pats do?

 

[Irish#1]

Lax, all due respect and I do understand what you're saying, but I think you're being slightly obtuse about this. You can't always get irrefutable documentary evidence, but you can usually get something. I don't think that anyone accusing the Patriots has brought anything more than their own suspicions to the table to try to prove they cheated.

If Mike Frank thinks some kid got paid because "how else can you explain it?!?!?" then he would be doing exactly what the Patriots' accusers are doing now, in my view. The people making the accusations against the Patriots (not the authors, but the actual sources) do not have any earthly idea if what they are saying is true. They are saying it because it is convenient and self-exonerating and maybe because they are actually crazy enough to believe it (some people are convinced they were abducted by aliens). They are still basing it on nothing but paranoia and suspicion.

One point that Pat fans are missing. You (Pat fans) keep asking why don't these coaches, officials, team employees, etc. come forward if they have this proof? I think that's easy to explain. Like any workplace, being the whistle blower can have its drawbacks and this wouldn't be much different. An employee goes public with knowledge, but may lose their job because of the unwanted attention it may bring to a franchise. Not all owners are like Mark Cuban who relish any opportunity to be in the spotlight and ruffle some feathers. But lets say an employee went to the GM or owner. More than likely the owner will take that info and pass it along to the league and let the league run with it. You still ask where's the proof? When Green Bay catches Kraft Productions filming when and where they shouldn't, I don't think their first thought is to get their own camera and record themselves catching the person. They simply report it after escorting the person out. BTW....still waiting to see the documentary.

 

[irishfan]

Then why did the Falcons get fined for pumping in crowd noise if no one cares? Wasn't it the Vikings who got fined for heating up footballs? If either got caught again, I think you'd hear a lot about it. Maybe their level of cheating isn't anything near what the Pats do?

The Falcons lost a 5th round pick for something that is very easy to argue is worse than Spygate or the no-proof Delfategate....it's also something widely believed to have been done by the Colts for many year. The Panthers got a warning for heating up footballs. I think it is incredibly unrealistic to think that the public reaction or penalty for the Patriots would have been the same as it was in these situations. The Panthers literally affected the PSI of a football on live TV and know one knows or cares. Most people don't even know it happened. I only know the story because most Pats people have shared the story to show how ridiculous it is that the Pats deflate story took on a life of it's own.

 

[irishfan]

One point that Pat fans are missing. You (Pat fans) keep asking why don't these coaches, officials, team employees, etc. come forward if they have this proof? I think that's easy to explain. Like any workplace, being the whistle blower can have its drawbacks and this wouldn't be much different. An employee goes public with knowledge, but may lose their job because of the unwanted attention it may bring to a franchise. Not all owners are like Mark Cuban who relish any opportunity to be in the spotlight and ruffle some feathers. But lets say an employee went to the GM or owner. More than likely the owner will take that info and pass it along to the league and let the league run with it. You still ask where's the proof? When Green Bay catches Kraft Productions filming when and where they shouldn't, I don't think their first thought is to get their own camera and record themselves catching the person. They simply report it after escorting the person out. BTW....still waiting to see the documentary.

Which is it? The OTL article said this Deflategate punishment was a long time coming to make up for all the owners being upset about the Patriots getting off "easy" for Spygate. So, the league has been getting all this information about the Patriots cheating for years now and decided to act on what may or may not be .2 PSI? You would think with all the cheating that has been going on, they would have picked something stronger to nail the Pats for, right?

 

[Irish#1]

The Falcons lost a 5th round pick for something that is very easy to argue is worse than Spygate or the no-proof Delfategate....it's also something widely believed to have been done by the Colts for many year. The Panthers got a warning for heating up footballs. I think it is incredibly unrealistic to think that the public reaction or penalty for the Patriots would have been the same as it was in these situations. The Panthers literally affected the PSI of a football on live TV and know one knows or cares. Most people don't even know it happened. I only know the story because most Pats people have shared the story to show how ridiculous it is that the Pats deflate story took on a life of it's own.

Band of Brothers!

These teams aren't getting caught for multiple infractions. That's why the Pats are getting all the attention.

 

[wizards8507]

These teams aren't getting caught for multiple infractions. That's why the Pats are getting all the attention.

Neither. Are. The. Patriots. They haven't been "caught" for jack shit.

 

[NDWorld247]

Did he really blow it? I never hear that brought up. He may have admitted it, but what about all the holding calls that never get called? They effect the game just as much. How about Michael Jordan's famous push to get open to hit the game winner in the NBA Finals? It happens all the time.

Idk man, you tell me... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GGSyzXKy6_I

Sure, refs blow calls all the time and as a football coach I tell my players it should never come down to one play or the referees call/non-call. But, I'm unaware of other blown calls on "the greatest play in NFL history". Of course you could spend some time researching it and get back to me, OR, you could admit the holding call should have been made (it's pretty obvious in the video). Who knows, maybe Manning makes a ridiculous play on 3rd and 20 something and the Giants win the SB anyway. Point is, they won 17 (should have been 18) games in a row after Spygate.

 

[Rhode Irish]

One point that Pat fans are missing. You (Pat fans) keep asking why don't these coaches, officials, team employees, etc. come forward if they have this proof? I think that's easy to explain. Like any workplace, being the whistle blower can have its drawbacks and this wouldn't be much different. An employee goes public with knowledge, but may lose their job because of the unwanted attention it may bring to a franchise. Not all owners are like Mark Cuban who relish any opportunity to be in the spotlight and ruffle some feathers. But lets say an employee went to the GM or owner. More than likely the owner will take that info and pass it along to the league and let the league run with it. You still ask where's the proof? When Green Bay catches Kraft Productions filming when and where they shouldn't, I don't think their first thought is to get their own camera and record themselves catching the person. They simply report it after escorting the person out. BTW....still waiting to see the documentary.

Apparently everyone in the league wants to take the Patriots down, so I kind of doubt that providing the smoking gun would have negative ramifications for someone's career.

 

[NDRock]

Pot, meet kettle.

Reported sexual assault at Notre Dame campus leaves more questions than answers | National Catholic Reporter

Pretty much this. I'm not surprised that Pat's fans are blindly defending their team, I am surprised that people on a college football forum are surprised. We do the same thing.

 

[Rhode Irish]

I am not blindly defending anything. I think the Patriots are being smeared and I think the way it is happening is insulting to the intelligence of football fans. I am only saying something because I care about the Patriots, but if it were any other team I'd think the same thing.

 

[NDRock]

I am not blindly defending anything. I think the Patriots are being smeared and I think the way it is happening is insulting to the intelligence of football fans. I am only saying something because I care about the Patriots, but if it were any other team I'd think the same thing.

Blindly was probably a poor choice of words. I actually agree with much of the defense of the Pats. I think Spygate was much about nothing and Deflategate was even less. I have no idea about the new allegations but find it hard to believe a team would be so dumb as to leave their play sheet lying around unattended. That being said, i"m sure the Pats have at least pushed the limits of gamesmanship past the average NFL team.

 

[ND NYC]

"We're all part of the same hypocrisy, Senator"

 

[irishfan]

ESPN gives “tighter edit” to column criticizing ESPN’s Patriots opus | ProFootballTalk

There’s nothing like the smell of ESPN-on-ESPN crime to help wind down a hectic day.

After ESPN published (and trumpeted) on Tuesday a 10,000-word article that fully explored the rabbit hole of Spygate, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com wrote a reaction piece with seven takeaways from the story.

At some point, two of the seven takeaways were taken away by ESPN.

In response to the ESPN report that Patriots employees entered the visiting team’s locker room and stole materials like play sheets, Reiss provided a blast of common sense that was missing from the story: “Security’s extremely tight throughout Gillette Stadium. Don’t think too many people, if any, are casually walking into the visitors’ locker room. And let’s just say they are, who leaves play sheets around?”

Included in the original version of the article, it’s now gone.

Also removed from the original version was this final observation from Reiss: “When you’re at the top, everyone likes to bring you down. A longtime sportscaster with a deep history in Boston relayed this thought to me that resonated: ‘They used to say same the stuff about Red Auerbach.'”

Here’s what ESPN had to say about the changes: “[T]he story was given a tighter edit after its initial posting.”

Surviving the “tighter edit” was criticism of the corresponding SI.com report regarding the notion that Patriots coach Bill Belichick magically knew that injured players from visiting teams hadn’t traveled to Boston. As noted here last night, Belichick knew that because the visiting teams have an obligation to share that information as soon as the player doesn’t get on the plane.

So arguable criticism of the Sports Illustrated article survived, and arguable criticism of the ESPN article didn’t.

Forgive Patriot fans for not believing an ESPN report using unnamed sources. Especially considering how this entire Deflategate story not only started, but then was ignited by 24/7 ESPN speculation. Tweets below are quotes from the author of yesterday's OTL story.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is <a href="https://twitter.com/DVNJr">@DVNJr</a> From B.S. Report in December: <a href="http://t.co/osQKnI0U4o">http://t.co/osQKnI0U4o</a> (about 44min in) <a href="http://t.co/y0FQ43bt2k">pic.twitter.com/y0FQ43bt2k</a></p>— Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruceallen/status/641358344553234432">September 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is today: <a href="http://t.co/zOOzDcxw8O">pic.twitter.com/zOOzDcxw8O</a></p>— Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruceallen/status/641358694211436544">September 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You know what though, after Schefter discredited the last OTL Deflategate report minutes after it aired, I think I'm going to believe every conclusion and every unnamed source and unverified story in this report. And I'm certainly going to disregard the fact that ESPN is already censoring one of their reporters who commented on the story.

 

[gkIrish]

ESPN gives “tighter edit” to column criticizing ESPN’s Patriots opus | ProFootballTalk



Forgive Patriot fans for not believing an ESPN report using unnamed sources. Especially considering how this entire Deflategate story not only started, but then was ignited by 24/7 ESPN speculation. Tweets below are quotes from the author of yesterday's OTL story.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is <a href="https://twitter.com/DVNJr">@DVNJr</a> From B.S. Report in December: <a href="http://t.co/osQKnI0U4o">http://t.co/osQKnI0U4o</a> (about 44min in) <a href="http://t.co/y0FQ43bt2k">pic.twitter.com/y0FQ43bt2k</a></p>— Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruceallen/status/641358344553234432">September 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">This is today: <a href="http://t.co/zOOzDcxw8O">pic.twitter.com/zOOzDcxw8O</a></p>— Bruce Allen (@bruceallen) <a href="https://twitter.com/bruceallen/status/641358694211436544">September 8, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

You know what though, after Schefter discredited the last OTL Deflategate report minutes after it aired, I think I'm going to believe every conclusion and every unnamed source and unverified story in this report. And I'm certainly going to disregard the fact that ESPN is already censoring one of their reporters who commented on the story.

The "tighter edits" should never have been in his article in the first place. The "points" he made weren't journalism, it was stuff you read on message boards. At best, it was stuff you would see Bill Simmons write, which again, isn't really journalism.

 

[Irish#1]

Which is it? The OTL article said this Deflategate punishment was a long time coming to make up for all the owners being upset about the Patriots getting off "easy" for Spygate. So, the league has been getting all this information about the Patriots cheating for years now and decided to act on what may or may not be .2 PSI? You would think with all the cheating that has been going on, they would have picked something stronger to nail the Pats for, right?

Not sure what you mean by "Which is it?". Maybe Deflategate was in retaliation for years of cheating. I don't know. A possible scenario. Goodell and Kraft are good buddies when Spygate comes out. Then the tapes get destroyed for the Pats benefit. Goodell tells Kraft to knock off the shenanigans yet the Pats continue to do things they shouldn't be doing. Goodell finally gets pissed because the Pats refuse to play by the rules and used Deflategate as an opportunity to do something.

Regardless of Goodell's actions just or unjust, it doesn't change the fact there are so many coaches, GM's and owners who have experienced some of the Pats wrong doings. (Save it Wiz. I already know what you'll say about the last sentence!) lol

Idk man, you tell me... https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GGSyzXKy6_I

Sure, refs blow calls all the time and as a football coach I tell my players it should never come down to one play or the referees call/non-call. But, I'm unaware of other blown calls on "the greatest play in NFL history". Of course you could spend some time researching it and get back to me, OR, you could admit the holding call should have been made (it's pretty obvious in the video). Who knows, maybe Manning makes a ridiculous play on 3rd and 20 something and the Giants win the SB anyway. Point is, they won 17 (should have been 18) games in a row after Spygate.

I'm not disagreeing that there was holding. Never said there wasn't. Coached for 14 years myself. I always told my players the same thing. Never leave it to the refs. I also didn't say there were other blown calls on that play. My point was that there are missed calls throughout the game. Each of them had some impact on the game which got it to the point where they were in the game when the catch was made. If that play had occurred in the first half, I doubt anyone would make as big a deal about it.

Apparently everyone in the league wants to take the Patriots down, so I kind of doubt that providing the smoking gun would have negative ramifications for someone's career.

Maybe, maybe not. I think you have to look at it for the incident and the moment. When GB employees caught the guy, I doubt they were thinking "league wise" and wondered if there were other teams that reported what they thought were questionable acts. Now if you're talking about something in the last year or so, I would agree with you, because all of this is out there.

 

[irishfan]

The "tighter edits" should never have been in his article in the first place. The "points" he made weren't journalism, it was stuff you read on message boards. At best, it was stuff you would see Bill Simmons write, which again, isn't really journalism.

So, he's not supposed to give his thoughts on the article? He's been a Pats beat guy since the 90s, he probably thought he could add more insight. Was he supposed to read the article, think about the large amount of home/visitor security that is in the stadium on gamedays, and then just not share how he thinks that impacts the rumor of stealing play sheets?

 

[wizards8507]

WEEI is going at Sal Paolantonio HARD live on the air right now.

 

[Irish#1]

So, he's not supposed to give his thoughts on the article? He's been a Pats beat guy since the 90s, he probably thought he could add more insight. Was he supposed to read the article, think about the large amount of home/visitor security that is in the stadium on gamedays, and then just not share how he thinks that impacts the rumor of stealing play sheets?

I'm not sure why the following was removed.

In response to the ESPN report that Patriots employees entered the visiting team’s locker room and stole materials like play sheets, Reiss provided a blast of common sense that was missing from the story: “Security’s extremely tight throughout Gillette Stadium. Don’t think too many people, if any, are casually walking into the visitors’ locker room. And let’s just say they are, who leaves play sheets around?”

Even given the tight security in NFL stadiums, Pats employees wouldn't have much of a problem getting into a visitors locker room with the right credentials.

 

[irishfan]

Adam Schefter Essentially Says Roger Goodell Lied, the NFL Suspended John Jastremski & Jim McNally | The Big Lead

I assume Schefter is untouchable, but most ESPN people who call out Goodell seem to end up at places other than ESPN.