Patriots are "Habitual Line Steppers"

[petegz28]

On Thursday night, it was the headsets.

It didn’t matter that the Patriots beat the Steelers by a touchdown at home, with Tom Brady — a guy who’s in the discussion for best quarterback ever — playing probably the greatest season opener of his career. It didn’t matter that on multiple plays the Steelers appeared to forget to cover Rob Gronkowski, the number-one tight end in football, who scored three touchdowns.

It was the headsets.

Right.

On Thursday night, for periods of much of the first half, the Steelers coaches were unable to communicate over their headsets because of interference from the Patriots’ radio broadcast. After the game, the NFL explained that they provide the headsets to both teams, and the issue was one that affected both teams due to the rainy conditions and the set-up at Gillette Stadium.

It didn’t matter. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, miffed, said that his coaches’ radios never work against the Patriots. “That’s always the case. Yes. I said what I said,” Tomlin said.

And here’s the thing. It doesn’t matter that the Patriots also complained of the same issues — Belichick said he had to switch microphones multiple times and they were going to switch out Tom Brady’s helmet at one point. It doesn’t matter that the NFL issued a statement that they handled both teams’ headsets and the Patriots did nothing wrong.

Everyone thinks the Patriots cheated. And the Patriots only have themselves to blame.

That’s what you get when, in the words of Charlie Murphy, you’re a habitual line stepper. Was letting a little air out of a football a big deal? I’d argue no. Was filming opposing teams’ signals a big deal, even when those teams are making those signals in front of 80,000 people? Meh. You could make a case, but not really.

Was it a big deal to go into an opponents’ locker room, as an ESPN report alleges, and see if they could grab any play sheets the other team had left around? Well, actually, yeah that one is a big deal.

Is having the other team’s headsets repeatedly cut out a big deal, even if it’s happening to both teams? According to the NFL, no.

But here’s the thing, when all those small to medium things add up, that constant flirting with the line, you get a reputation. Patriots fans can say all they want about jealousy and the other teams just wanting to take down the king, and there probably is a little bit of that. But come on.

The Patriots earned this. They stepped over the line so many times that their credibility is gone. People will always think they’re cheating now, no matter what. Until Bill Belichick and Brady are gone, or until the Patriots lose 10 games a season and no one cares about them, people will think the Patriots are cheating.

This drives Patriots fans insane. They get indignant and come up with wild conspiracy theories. But they should probably just adopt the attitude of Belichick on this one. Just own it. People will always think you’re a cheater, so stop caring what people think.

Throw on those cargo shorts, smile at the press, and get on with it. What else can you do?

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/09/from...s-are-cheating

[petegz28]

[mr. tegu]

Ryan Lilja said some interesting things on the radio this morning about how when the went to Foxboro, Dungy and Peyton would communicate about adjustments out in the halls during halftime instead of in the locker room because they thought it was bugged.

He mentioned just how in general when they went there they took extra steps such as not leaving any playbooks or other materials behind in hotels or lockers rooms. He said they didn't throw them in the trash either.

[Reerun_KC]

As they should be. When you have a commissioner willing to cover it up or support their actions behind the scenes, they should continue to push the limits.

Until the other owners step up and end Goodells* reign of abusing absolute power, there really isn't nothing to be said. NFL owners are enabling these actions by not cutting the head off the snake to ensure its dead.

Don't treat the symptoms, find a cure for the disease. Remove Goodell* and get a NFL commissioner that is more concerned about the direction of the league than protecting and defending the Patriots.

[BigMeatballDave]

Speaking of conspiracies, I heard it was Robert Kraft on the grassy knoll.

[ClevelandBronco]

This guy's professional whining is a welcome break from the constant amateur whining around here.

[Reerun_KC]

Blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the other 31 owners... Until they have had enough, this will continue.

[ClevelandBronco]

Originally Posted by Reerun_KC

Blame lies squarely on the shoulders of the other 31 owners... Until they have had enough, this will continue.

Not to mention the other 31 head coaches, the other 31 quarterbacks, the other 31 defenses...

[Chiefnj2]

I just don't understand why the other 31 NFL teams just don't go out of their way to make the PATs miserable on the road. Have someone break the AC on hot days, break the heat on cold days, interfere with radio signals at inopportune times, power outage at halftime, hot Gatorade. Mess with them 100 ways til Sunday. If you aren't willing to give it back, don't complain about it.

[ptlyon]

We took out Brady's knee. Does that count?

[ptlyon]

But then I guess we got ****ed in the ass by getting Cassel afterwards

[Rain Man]

Even if both teams' radios go out, you can get an advantage depending on the timing. When the radios go out on a two-minute drill, it helps the defense. I have no doubt that the Patriots do stuff like this, given their history.

I saw some NFL Network show a while back where someone was talking about this, I think against the Raiders but maybe it was the Patriots. Some opposing player/coach commented that the radios would always have problems when his team was on a critical offensive drive.

The uniform number thing last year really cemented the point home about the Patriots. If you recall, they were having linemen and running backs check in and out as eligible receivers in a move that had nothing to do with on-field strategy and was intended to subvert the NFL rules about uniform numbers. Was it technically illegal? No. But it was incredibly unsportsmanlike. That episode sullied their reputation with me more than even the spygate stuff. It was tacky and classless.

Based on stuff like that, I have no doubt that they do things like jam radios and dig through trash cans. After all, if it's not in the rule book it's legal, right?

[Reerun_KC]

You answered your own question Ptlyon....

We paid for that celebration dearly...

[CoMoChief]

Habitual line steppper

Those Dave Chappelle Show "True Hollywood Stories w/ Charlie Murphy" sketches are ****ing hilarious.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chiefnj2

I just don't understand why the other 31 NFL teams just don't go out of their way to make the PATs miserable on the road. Have someone break the AC on hot days, break the heat on cold days, interfere with radio signals at inopportune times, power outage at halftime, hot Gatorade. Mess with them 100 ways til Sunday. If you aren't willing to give it back, don't complain about it.

I'd love to see this. Raw sewage backups in their locker rooms, marching bands outside their hotels, whatever it takes. Run out on the field and dump a barrel of lubricant where their kicker's plant foot will go. After all, if it's not in the rule book it's legal. The Patriots have embraced that philosophy, so the rest of the league should, too. If the NFL doesn't want you shooting a fire hose at the quarterback on third and long, they should say so in the rule book.