I don't know if you guys understand the seriousness of these latest allegations. But, first, to respond (as I often do) to several things at once...
I thought they went to a guy with a dot on his helmet who has audio in his helmet.
Once more, the ORIGINAL complaint filed by our guy Eric the "Man"gini, included TWO components. Firstly, the P*ts were filming sidelines, particularly coaches giving signals. and SECOND, the P*ts were using extra radio equipment and tampering with radio signals.
Now this is important. If the Cheats TRULY are using all their extra radio equipment (they bring about 2 to 3 times as much radio equipment to away games as other teams) to "interrupt" radio transmission to the QB and Defensive Captain at critical times, you have to be aware that in order to interrupt that signal, you have to know the FREQUENCY. If you know the frequency, you can listen in. (Yes, I know the league implemented some scrambling technology. Why do you suppose they did that? Furthermore, if an algorithm exists to scramble a signal, a counter-algorithm exists to decipher it. Otherwise NOBODY would be able to hear the radio signals.) Short version, the P*ts have been listening in on radio calls for over a decade. They KNOW the calls going in to opposing QBs and defenses and Ernie Adams KNOWS each teams play-calling language. THIS is why the cheats are always in the right place at the right time, why they always have the perfect play dialed up. But, I will try not to rant.
but I'm hoping with the more of these "caught" in the act claims that someone somewhere will eventually come forward.
Someone already HAS. Read the original ESPN expose (some of which is quoted above.) People have come forward and explained a great deal of what the cheats do. Not all of it. Their schemes are compartmentalized so only Ernie Adams knows everything. Again, short version. One guy gets "scoreboard footage" showing time, down and distance. They sync this with the "high perspective" footage showing all 22 guys throughout the game. After syncing, they know time, down and distance for every play. This is cut into individual chunks for Ernie. Yet ANOTHER guy is used to film sideline interactions, particularly with the goal of catching signals or coach actions/mannerisms on the sideline. This is paired with each play. Finally, they use any captured audio data they have to get the actual play-call tied to each play. (It should be noted, the P*ts were caught putting microphones in their defensive linemen's pads to catch audibles too.)
With all THAT data, Ernie has the playcall for each play of the game, along with any anecdotal actions/mannerisms of the coach leading up to that playcall. He then begins the process (with his eidetic memory) of working out what happens during each play and compares that to the play call. In short order, he has "translated" the playcalling language of a team. He knows what each phrase and component mean. Then, in future matchups, when the audio stream is again captured and a playcall sent in, Ernie can instantly determine what the play is and send that information down to the appropriate helmet mic. The players STILL have to execute. Just because you know Leonard Fournette is about to come through your gap doesn't mean you don't have to stop him. THAT is why often times games aren't simply blowouts. THAT is why good teams still play the cheats to close games. Because it becomes execution against execution. The P*ts have merely removed the guesswork about what the offense or defense is trying to do.
Some bengal employees need to leak a copy of that tape online
as somebody else mentioned. PLEASE TMZ. I'm Begging You!
the NFL's credibility will agian take a huge hit. The actions of that team taint the whole league and yet it is held up by many as "The Model Franchise"
The NFL is actually in a very precarious position. One that the P*ts should NEVER have put them in. Consider. How many people on the P*ts are right now shoe-ins for the H.O.F.?
Obviously Brady. He may already have a bust in the hall.
Obviously Bellichik.
Obviously Kraft.
And there are other players that one assume deserves enshrinement. Gronk, of course. Edleman has put together an extraordinary career.
Now. Consider the ramifications of a new Spygate controversy. If you, the league, are forced to come out and announce that the P*ts have been caught cheating AGAIN, and it was basically the same thing they got dinged for, what, 12 or 13 years ago, does ANYONE believe that the cheats unbelievable run wasn't built on systemic, cancerous cheating?
And if THAT's the case, clearly Brady, Bellichik, and Kraft can't get into the H.O.F. And why would you put Gronk in? I mean, how much of his career was actually based on the cheats... well cheating? Same goes for Edleman.
Essentially you would be GUTTING the league. You'd be exposing that the entire last decade + of National Football Games were essentially rigged by a cheating team.
At face value, they just can't do that.
However, you also have a fairly serious undercurrent of unhappiness with NFL fans. Honestly, what is the point of watching the league anymore? You KNOW who's going to win. The only POSSIBLE wildcard anymore is whether the cheats will lose the SB by a FG or if they'll once more come out as undisputed champions of the ever-verse. Nobody gives a **** about the NFL anymore because it's becoming so obviously a manipulated product. At this point, you can't look at ANY teams wins and say, "Ya, I feel good about that." There are too many missed, blown or flat out bullshit calls that happen.
No, the league has a serious credibility problem and this thing with the Cheats is a full on ******* wrench in the machinery. I'm sure they would have liked for Brady to quietly retire, Belichick to slip off into book-writing and for the P*ts to expectedly suck for a few seasons. Then they could pretend that "yes, the P*ts were truly the greatest dynasty the league has ever seen and how awesome is it that they became amazing with 9-11? How great is it that in our country's greatest time of turmoil and attack that the
Patriots rose up and became the greatest unit America has ever seen?
Pretty ******* awesome!
You wanna **** all that up? You wanna shine a spotlight on the fact that the NFL has become the WWF? **** no! You say the sideline tape is inappropriate, but as the cheats suggest, there's nothing on it that would possibly give a team the upper hand. Indeed, it's so boring and mundane that it's been returned to the Cheats. Although the cameraman has been fired because he did a crap job getting crowd footage for the P*ts "do your job" special.
The ONLY way anything is going to come of this is if somebody leaks the tape and people can see for themselves whether or not there is any possible advantageous footage. (However, you have to look at even THAT through the lens of realization that the sideline footage is just ONE component of their spygate process.)