Shula: Give Pats asterisk if they go 16-0

[percyhoward]

The issue isn't whether or not NE is a great team. The Patriots have been the best team in the league over a 6-year period, but that doesn't necessarily mean they would have been good enought to win 3 rings without cheating. The Cowboys were the best team in the NFL over a 6-year period from 1977-82 and won only one championship. If Landry had been cheating over that time period, it's hard to imagine that it wouldn't have made a difference.

Stating that they're a great team isn't the same as saying they didn't benefit from what their coach was doing. You can be the best, cheat, and still gain an unfair advantage. Those were some narrow margins of victory in those Super Bowls.

 

[khiladi]

what gets me the most, is why would they have to cheat against the Jets of all teams. thats really dumb on their part. and i agree with Shula.

Because they have been cheating and it is part of their game-time 'preparation'... You don't cheat against sucky teams unless you have a habit of doing it..

 

[joseephuss]

Uhh.. Marcellus Wiley was a pro-bowl player when he played for Wade Phillips in Buffalo, meaning the SCHEME, i.e. the PLAY-CALLING can make a huge difference in the game, as well as 'execution'... when he came here, with Mike Zimmer, he sucked rotten eggs...

Wiley was done by the time he got to Dallas. He was good in San Diego without Wade as his DC in 2001. He went downhill fast after that with only 6 sacks in 2002, 3 in 2003 and 3 with Dallas in 2004 and 0 in 2005 and 2006. It wasn't scheme, he just lost it.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

What are you talking about? Barry Bonds has been getting an asterisk ever since the scandal He is boo'ed every time he goes up to bat, and his home-run record is criticized by every single person in the media. All the media does about the Patriots is defend them, and give them the benefit of the doubt...

Do you really believe that when his career is over, MLB and whoever oversees the record books is going to put asterisk by his numbers? I'll just say I don't. Besides there is some media who defend Barry Bonds.

 

[khiladi]

Do you really believe that when his career is over, MLB and whoever oversees the record books is going to put asterisk by his numbers? I'll just say I don't. Besides there is some media who defend Barry Bonds.

They can't do that because the scandal has so permeated the league that it wreaks of hypocrisy. The fact is the media has lambasted and criticized and played judge and jury for Barry Bonds, and he is already known as guilty. He is the prime suspect, though everybody in baseball has their hands tied to it. There is evidence for all these other players, yet Bonds is known as Arch Enemy Number 1, though he was a HOF before the incident even took shape, unlike the majority of players involved.

To even liken this to the Patriots appreciation they receive in the media is absurd, it isn't even worth defending....In fact, the media says things like, everybody else does it to defend the Patriots, and that it doesn't really effect the game, even if they did..

Another example of the hypocrisy is saying that this Patriots team justifies their previous Super Bowl victories, when it has absolutely nothing to do with them. The Patriots are a different team this year, even though I still think they cheat. They have Moss, Stallworth, and Wes walker, coupled with the best defensive player in free-agency last year, Adalius Thomas. It is a whole different level of talent than their previous teams.

They are on two opposite ends of the spectrum...

 

[khiladi]

Wiley was done by the time he got to Dallas. He was good in San Diego without Wade as his DC in 2001. He went downhill fast after that with only 6 sacks in 2002, 3 in 2003 and 3 with Dallas in 2004 and 0 in 2005 and 2006. It wasn't scheme, he just lost it.

Actually, that proves just the opposite. The majority of his career, he sucked rotten eggs, not just 'lost it'. It was only a BRIEF PERIOD of his career, he played decent, becuase he was in a good scheme. Even in 2001, the San Diego defense was strong, i.e. Wiley only performed well because of the scheme.

He was a beneficiary of his teams, not because he suddenly lost it for 4 years.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

They can't do that because the scandal has so permeated the league that it wreaks of hypocrisy. The fact is the media has lambasted and criticized and played judge and jury for Barry Bonds, and he is already known as guilty. He is the prime suspect, though everybody in baseball has their hands tied to it. Their is evidence for all these other players.

To even liken this to the Patriots appreciation they receive in the media is absurd, it isn't even worth defending....In fact, the media says things like, everybody else does it to defend the Patriots, and that it doesn't really effect the game, even if they did..

They are on two opposite ends of the spectrum...

How is it absurd??? I was simply taking a extreme situation about Bonds AND Mcguire and you can throw in Canseco, Palmeiro and whoever else. And comparing it to a situation that is not perceived as, as serious in the general media's eyes (Pats cheating) as the steroid scandal and saying that if the steroid using players aren't going to receive an asterisk for their cheating then the Pats aren't because of that perception.

Now I agree the Pats deserve to marked that way, as the baseball players who use and used steroids do, but IMO Shula's argument is futile because it won't happen and his argument will be seen as serving his own self interest and it is IMO.

 

[LeonDixson]

Stating that they're a great team isn't the same as saying they didn't benefit from what their coach was doing. You can be the best, cheat, and still gain an unfair advantage. Those were some narrow margins of victory in those Super Bowls.

I agree. This is why I definitely think their 3 SBs in 4 years deserve asterisks too. Each one of those victories was by a single FG. Three lousy points. They only needed to have their spying information pay off for them on one, ONE, of their drives to win each SB.

It's not hard at all to imagine that if they knew what the opposing team's defense was going to do on just one play, blitz and go man to man coverage for instance, that that would allow them to complete a long pass to get in FG range.

Teams have also complained that when playing in Foxboro they would be in the middle of a drive where they were moving the ball well and all of a sudden their head sets would malfunction.

It's just my opinion but I put asterisks by all their Super Bowl victories. Just as I do San Francisco's 1994 SB victory when they cheated on the salary cap by playing some key players under the table so they wouldn't have to lose them to FA.

The thing that really stinks to high heaven about the investigation is the league destroying all the evidence. It makes me believe that the depth of their cheating was so great that if it had got out, the league would have taken a really serious hit to it's credibility.

 

[Sarge]

Don't worry they won't do it.

Oh yes they will.

 

[Pats Fan]

Shula's comments would have more credence if they were said in week 1, not week 9.

Sour grapes. This year is this year Shula.

 

[Q_the_man]

One of you geniuses please tell me, cause I don't know:

Did old man Shula's legendary team play in the 16-game regular-season era? Guess I will have to re-read the story if it does mention it.

It doesn't matter they did it, they beat Cleveland, Pitt and Wash in the playoff who had a combined 9 losses.

I don't think NE will go undefeated but they might. They can very well go undefeated in the regular season then lose in the playoffs which would be more embarassing then anything they can possibly fathom.

 

[Rack]

LOL

Bitter?

He sure is. But I just happen to agree with him.

 

[LittleBoyBlue]

Shula's comments would have more credence if they were said in week 1, not week 9.

Sour grapes. This year is this year Shula.

The best thing for the Pats is to not win the SB THIS year.

If they win: This story will rise from the dead(where Goodell buried it)

The media will be on them like flies to a steamy lump of horse manure.



Just be sure to come around when we whip thats patty arse in Feb... for your ONLY loss.

 

[Royal Laegotti]

The best thing for the Pats is to not win the SB THIS year.

If they win: This story will rise from the dead(where Goodell buried it)

The media will be on them like flies to a steamy lump of horse manure.



Just be sure to come around when we whip thats patty arse in Feb... for your ONLY loss.

I'm not sure why they cheated in the first place, it's obvious it hurt them in years past with barely winning the superbowls and all. Now that they're not cheating that way anymore they're kickin' everyone's hiney!

 

[Pats Fan]

The best thing for the Pats is to not win the SB THIS year.

If they win: This story will rise from the dead(where Goodell buried it)

The media will be on them like flies to a steamy lump of horse manure.



Just be sure to come around when we whip thats patty arse in Feb... for your ONLY loss.

Well, at least you have a sense of humor.

Me, I went from feeling bad about it to really getting this big huge chip on my shoulder. I now want our team to kick every butt in sight. I hope our team feels the same way. You are right the media is looking for anything, anything to say.

But you know what, I think our team, coach and fans are OK with it at this point. After a while it just falls on deaf ears.

 

[VietCowboy]

at this point, i think the pats have an 30% chance of going 19-0, about 90% of going 16-0. They will have to play the Colts and Dallas again, and the chances of them beating both teams AGAIN is doubtful. Dallas will be a lot stronger, and the Colts will have their starters and key back ups back.

 

[superpunk]

Well, at least you have a sense of humor.

Me, I went from feeling bad about it to really getting this big huge chip on my shoulder. I now want our team to kick every butt in sight. I hope our team feels the same way. You are right the media is looking for anything, anything to say.

But you know what, I think our team, coach and fans are OK with it at this point. After a while it just falls on deaf ears.

You also went from being sure that there was no way Bellichick cheated, and lecturing us on the morality of our coach to fully endorsing a team coached by cheats. Now, you want the team full of cheats to beat everyone up to cover the stench of the cheating, because you can't believe that anyone would have the audacity to question the Pats and their cheating ways.

You've come a long way, baby.

 

[SultanOfSix]

The rationalization that the Pats use is really bizarre, and is seemingly never questioned, but blessed by a media enigma that is apparently geared towards its propagandization.

The Pats: "OMG. The world is saying we cheated. We'll show them."
The Media: "They are playing with a chip on their shoulder."

WTH?

Well, you did cheat, so expect to be called cheaters. Expect everything you've done up until now, and in the present to be questioned.

I wouldn't be surprised if they're probably still cheating. Once a cheater, always one.

 

[Bleu Star]

LOL

Bitter?

yup. They won't do it though.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

It's easy to dismiss this as simply sour grapes.

But, the Pats were CAUGHT cheating this year. Whether that contributed to their record cannot be determined. But, no matter how you slice it, their record this season is marred by the fact that they cheated in (at least) their first game. If you put yourself in Shula's shoes, as a guy who spent his life working toward his achievements, I'm sure you can see where he'd be slightly upset that his record was broken by a team that cheated - and I'm sure you can see why he would want that fact memorialized.

which makes this whole situation comical, it was the Jets, of course they made the playoffs last year and this could be just hindsight, but still, thinking on it now makes me laugh all the more

it's like our industrial leaders spying on Tazmania's