DMN Blog: Jeff Fisher fired up about the "everyone" cheats perception

[WoodysGirl]

Fisher's fired up

2:06 PM Wed, Feb 27, 2008 | Permalink
Albert Breer E-mail News tips

With the Spygate controversy lingering, Titans coach Jeff Fisher took exception at the NFL scouting combine with the perception that "everyone" cheats, and the Patriots simply got caught.

"Not everybody does it. That's the misunderstanding," Fisher said. "I know the truth, and the truth is everyone doesn't do it. As far as we know, only one team did it and, fortunately, we discovered it."

Fisher said earlier that day that the rule the Patriots broke -- which says that there should be no videotaping from high above the field -- was "very clear" and not ooen to interpretation.

"I think the genesis of the rule was that we all were going to stay in the same competitive level and in the same situation from this standpoint - We're going to have a sideline tape, we're going to have an end zone tape, we're going to tape the game, we're going to have Polaroids," he said. "That's the only electronic device allowed on the sideline.

"As a committee, we could allow these things to happen, and we'd get into a Star Wars age of football. We don't want to get to that. We have rules that we abide by."

So here was my question. Everyone steals signals. Everyone acknowledges it. What's the difference, then, between methods of larceny?

Fisher leaned on the "Star Wars" methodology.

"There's not a bylaw against sitting up in the press box and taking notes as fast as you can," he said. "That's OK. Not everybody does it. But there is a bylaw as far as videotaping the sideline. That was the issue. We have to be very careful when we say everybody does it. This is the only team that videotaped coaches' signals.

"I'll try to give you an example. Every team in the league has advance scouts. And they're going to go out and watch teams warm up and they're going to time snaps on punts and kicks and look at pre-game injuries and they're going to look at personnel groupings. That's their job. They do that with a pen or a pencil. They don't do it with a video camera. We all do different things. But you don't do it with a video camera."

 

[J-DOG]

When I hear Jeff Fisher say the rule is very clear about video-taping I have to think back to Belicheck saying that he had a misunderstanding of the rule.
This organization had several warnings and then they were caught red-handed.
How Belicheck got off without a suspension is beyond me.
If nothing else, suspending Belicheck would have embarassed Belicheck about his cheating and sent a big time message.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I like Jeff Fisher and always have.....he is a good coach

 

[5Stars]

When I hear Jeff Fisher say the rule is very clear about video-taping I have to think back to Belicheck saying that he had a misunderstanding of the rule.
This organization had several warnings and then they were caught red-handed.
How Belicheck got off without a suspension is beyond me.
If nothing else, suspending Belicheck would have embarassed Belicheck about his cheating and sent a big time message.

Well, J-Dog...no matter what happened, the Pats reputation is now destroyed forever...and thay can thank their coach for that!

They deserver it...

 

[Yeagermeister]

On the main page I saw Jeff Fisher fired and was

:laugh2:

 

[Jimz31]

One of the few coaches that when he speaks it's not full of smoke & mirrors all the time.

There is a time for smoke & mirrors....such as during the draft, etc., but he seems to be an honest guy.

 

[Da Hammer]

great point by fisher! only reason the NFL is trying to cover it up is because they won SB's and they dont want the league to look bad by making it seem they werent able to police their own teams. if they hadnt won a SB he would have been suspended a long time ago and lost a lot more than just 1 1st rd pick...

 

[tyke1doe]

great point by fisher! only reason the NFL is trying to cover it up is because they won SB's and they dont want the league to look bad by making it seem they werent able to police their own teams. if they hadnt won a SB he would have been suspended a long time ago and lost a lot more than just 1 1st rd pick...

And you know this how?

I believe Fisher was among those members of the Competition Committee who said he was satisfied with the way Goodell handled the situation with the Pats.

But I agree with Fisher. The rules stated that you can not gain information in the way that Belichick did. It's a matter of violating a clear policy.

 

[lkelly]

In my opinion the league is in full CYA mode and doesn't want their TV deal threatened or any further erosion by the fan base. I'm sure guys like Fisher who speak out will get a nice call by the commish explaining that they would prefer that all future complaints be aired behind closed doors.

As sad as it is, Fisher's boss has more to lose by this story continuing out of control than he does if the Pats cheated and got away with it.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

great point by fisher! only reason the NFL is trying to cover it up is because they won SB's and they dont want the league to look bad by making it seem they werent able to police their own teams. if they hadnt won a SB he would have been suspended a long time ago and lost a lot more than just 1 1st rd pick...

We have heard rambings over the years about the Pats maybe cheating.... my question: Was this rule made for them? If so, how DUMB is Belicheat for breaking it?..... excuse me "misinterpreting" it..... or was it "misremembers"? oh wait thats Clemens LOL

 

[tyke1doe]

In my opinion the league is in full CYA mode and doesn't want their TV deal threatened or any further erosion by the fan base. I'm sure guys like Fisher who speak out will get a nice call by the commish explaining that they would prefer that all future complaints be aired behind closed doors.

As sad as it is, Fisher's boss has more to lose by this story continuing out of control than he does if the Pats cheated and got away with it.

I don't understand this perspective. It is already widely known that the Pats cheated.

And to add insult to injury, the Pats lost the Super Bowl, creating the biggest, collective rejoicing this side of the heavenly host.

So what is the further harm that can be done?

It would be different if Goodell was trying to hide the fact that other teams cheated. That, IMO, would be a greater blow to the NFL.

But I just don't see the NFL's popularity taking a dive because of Spygate.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

And to add insult to injury, the Pats lost the Super Bowl, creating the biggest, collective rejoicing this side of the heavenly host.

Hey... the illegal defense team for the Pats is here.... yeah...


No... MORE THAN "insult to injury" the loss by 3 pts put a MAJOR dent in the now fading Pats Dynasty/legacy. That loss was big. Cant win it be 3 when you dont cheat, huh?

 

[Dallas]

I don't understand this perspective. It is already widely known that the Pats cheated.

And to add insult to injury, the Pats lost the Super Bowl, creating the biggest, collective rejoicing this side of the heavenly host.

So what is the further harm that can be done?

It would be different if Goodell was trying to hide the fact that other teams cheated. That, IMO, would be a greater blow to the NFL.

But I just don't see the NFL's popularity taking a dive because of Spygate.

You say you are a reporter during the day. May I ask which paper/magazine/internet site you report for? Could we have a smidgen of some of your articles?

Do you cover sports? What is your field of expertise?

My money says you will not answer any of my above questions.

 

[baj1dallas]

On the main page I saw Jeff Fisher fired and was

:laugh2:

me too man...was like NO WAY IN HECK. he is a great coach imo, i'd take him over anybody.

 

[lkelly]

I don't understand this perspective. It is already widely known that the Pats cheated.

And to add insult to injury, the Pats lost the Super Bowl, creating the biggest, collective rejoicing this side of the heavenly host.

So what is the further harm that can be done?

It would be different if Goodell was trying to hide the fact that other teams cheated. That, IMO, would be a greater blow to the NFL.

But I just don't see the NFL's popularity taking a dive because of Spygate.

Follow the money.

NFL, behind closed doors, deals with the issue while putting up a public front of "this was a one time thing and it's been handled." That's what they've tried to do to date. Some coaches grumble, but how much can they bite the hand that feeds (the owners).

Alternatively, the NFL allows the Spygate thing to continue to fester with politicians getting involved, crazy publicity seeking attorneys fronting bizarre class action lawsuits, and the media stoking the fires. Think fans will be happy to know that their blessed Super Bowls may have been tampered with? Think the TV networks who pay staggering rights fees will be happy to know that the competition on the field may not have been fair? Imagine the attorneys salivating over that. It's a nightmare for the owners who would like nothing more than this Spygate thing to disappear.

How much do you think baseball owners are enjoying the continued steroid attention and the public stain on their most hallowed records. They have a generation of sure hall-of-fame players who may serve as a constant scar for the next 20 years as their names continue to be paraded in front of the public. Think fans are snapping up Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens jerseys and voting Bonds' career record home run the "ESPN greatest highlight?"

How much did the NBA enjoy the referee cheating scandal? They tried to put out that fire as quickly as possible by taking the "it's a one time thing by a rogue individual" stance.

As far as Goodell hiding the fact that other teams cheated - who knows what he's hiding? He's already destroyed evidence to keep anything else from leaking out. Even if it's just the Pats, he'd love to be able to make any additional cheating proof go away so the media can go back to talking about the draft, free agency, and Tony Romo's love life full time. If Goodell were an impartial third party, he'd be looking to bring the truth to light and fairly punish any offenders. Instead, he works for the owners and is part of the NFL machine that generates huge revenue. Everyone puts on a happy face, wrists are slapped behind closed doors, NFL security quietly puts in measures to prevent future camera incidents, and they keep the golden egg laying goose warm and well fed.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[tyke1doe]

Hey... the illegal defense team for the Pats is here.... yeah...


No... MORE THAN "insult to injury" the loss by 3 pts put a MAJOR dent in the now fading Pats Dynasty/legacy. That loss was big. Cant win it be 3 when you dont cheat, huh?

What does that have to do with anything?

I merely said that I don't think the NFL's popularity will suffer because of Spygate.

 

[tyke1doe]

You say you are a reporter during the day. May I ask which paper/magazine/internet site you report for? Could we have a smidgen of some of your articles?

Do you cover sports? What is your field of expertise?

My money says you will not answer any of my above questions.

You'd lose your bet.

I work for the largest newspaper in my state. I've covered everything from government to courts to education to police, etc.

I don't cover sports, in part, because I'm only interested in professional football. Other sports, while I enjoy them, I'm not as interested in covering them. Besides, you have to do a lot of traveling covering sports and at this period in my life, I'm more concerned about raising my two sons, one of whom is autistic.

I chose not to reveal which newspaper I write for and wish to maintain a certain amount of secrecy - if that's okay with you.

 

[Doomsday101]

I don't understand this perspective. It is already widely known that the Pats cheated.

And to add insult to injury, the Pats lost the Super Bowl, creating the biggest, collective rejoicing this side of the heavenly host.

So what is the further harm that can be done?

It would be different if Goodell was trying to hide the fact that other teams cheated. That, IMO, would be a greater blow to the NFL.

But I just don't see the NFL's popularity taking a dive because of Spygate.

I agree. Even this past season the NFL had some record broadcast of the game including the SB. What the Pats did was wrong but I think the NFL puts this behind them and moves forward and I don't see any negative effect on the league.

 

[tyke1doe]

Follow the money.

NFL, behind closed doors, deals with the issue while putting up a public front of "this was a one time thing and it's been handled." That's what they've tried to do to date. Some coaches grumble, but how much can they bite the hand that feeds (the owners).

Alternatively, the NFL allows the Spygate thing to continue to fester with politicians getting involved, crazy publicity seeking attorneys fronting bizarre class action lawsuits, and the media stoking the fires. Think fans will be happy to know that their blessed Super Bowls may have been tampered with? Think the TV networks who pay staggering rights fees will be happy to know that the competition on the field may not have been fair? Imagine the attorneys salivating over that. It's a nightmare for the owners who would like nothing more than this Spygate thing to disappear.

How much do you think baseball owners are enjoying the continued steroid attention and the public stain on their most hallowed records. They have a generation of sure hall-of-fame players who may serve as a constant scar for the next 20 years as their names continue to be paraded in front of the public. Think fans are snapping up Barry Bonds/Roger Clemens jerseys and voting Bonds' career record home run the "ESPN greatest highlight?"

How much did the NBA enjoy the referee cheating scandal? They tried to put out that fire as quickly as possible by taking the "it's a one time thing by a rogue individual" stance.

As far as Goodell hiding the fact that other teams cheated - who knows what he's hiding? He's already destroyed evidence to keep anything else from leaking out. Even if it's just the Pats, he'd love to be able to make any additional cheating proof go away so the media can go back to talking about the draft, free agency, and Tony Romo's love life full time. If Goodell were an impartial third party, he'd be looking to bring the truth to light and fairly punish any offenders. Instead, he works for the owners and is part of the NFL machine that generates huge revenue. Everyone puts on a happy face, wrists are slapped behind closed doors, NFL security quietly puts in measures to prevent future camera incidents, and they keep the golden egg laying goose warm and well fed.

Just my opinion of course.

Your opinion is noted. I still don't see how Spygate will decrease the NFL's popularity. It may "sully" the image of the Patriots, but not the NFL.

And last I checked, I don't think anyone around these parts has sworn off watching football because of Spygate.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

I agree. Even this past season the NFL had some record broadcast of the game including the SB. What the Pats did was wrong but I think the NFL puts this behind them and moves forward and I don't see any negative effect on the league.

Agreed. The NFL will survive this and it will fade.
The Pats wont be so lucky.

A MAJOR hit on the dynasty.

The worst thing that could happen to the them was losing by 3pts