Perfection doesn't come easy.
For the New England Patriots, the perfect record of 16-0 came with some bumps, bruises, and accusations of "spy gate" tactics.
Right from the beginning of the season, Patriots coach Bill Belichick was answering questions about spying. The Patriots opened the season against the New York Jets and it turned into a drama filled game with NFL security confiscating a video camera from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella. During the game, Estrella was filming the Jets' play signals from the sideline and with that comes the questions, answers, fines, and punishment.
Belichick issued a statement of apology "to apologize to everyone that has been affected."
He then spoke with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about the interpretation of the rule on using video. In the NFL Games Operations Manual, it clearly states "no recording device of any kind is permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game."
If that doesn't explain it clearly, then Belichick is kidding everyone, because he then issued another statement in which he apologized for what he called a mistake in his interpretation of the rules and denied ever using videotape to gain an advantage while the game was underway. Goodell, however, didn't believe him and fined him $500,000 and the Patriots $250,000. The Patriots were also punished by forfeiting their 2008 first-round NFL draft selection.
Just as in baseball, should an asterisk be placed by their cherished perfect record? Should a call be placed to Marc Ecko? In real life, this is called cheating, stealing, lying, and spying. This season should be noted as the season that the Patriots were using practices that don't go along with the game of football.
The Patriots' rise to stardom didn't come easy. They have been in the spotlight several times for other practices that don't make a team look too well in the paper or on television. Back in 1990, they were part of a sexual harassment scandal involving former Boston Herald sportswriter Lisa Olson. While reporting from the locker room, Olson was sexually and verbally abused by Patriots players in their locker room and was noted as a "classic bitch" by team owner Victor Kiam. Then NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue did an investigation and fined players Zeke Mowatt for $12,5000, Michael Timpson for $5,000, and Robert Perryman for $5,000. The team was also fined for $50,000 for their actions, which made national television and several members of them media banishing the Patriots for their actions.
There was also the whole Bill Parcells and Robert Kraft falling out, in which Parcells left to join the Jets. While that happened, there was a merry-go-round of players and coaches switching teams to either be with the Jets or the Patriots. For the 1999 season, Pete Carroll was handed the reigns, but was fired after subpar team performance. Then after Carroll was fired, Parcells decided to leave the Jets and handpicked Bill Belichick to take over as head coach. That lasted one day with Belichick leaving a note that he quit to take over the Patriots.
It has been noticed that the team's attendance and play on the gridiron has improved since Robert Kraft bought the team in 1994. Prior to Kraft, the Patriots won the AFC East three times and made the playoffs six times, with their AFC championship berth in 1963 and their trip to the Super Bowl. Under Kraft and Belichick, they won the AFC eight times, made the playoffs nine times, and won the Super Bowl three times in four trips. Also, since 1996, every Patriots game at Foxboro and Gillette stadium has been sold out.
"I think you always feel better when your record is better than when it isn't," Belichick said at his December 27th press conference. "But still, the most important thing is to, after the game, turn the page."
A page that has seen the good and bad of the New England Patriots.
Leave a Comment