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Pats deny report that worker filmed Rams before XXXVI
Associated Press
"We were aware of the rumor months ago and looked into it. There was no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press.
Giants stun Patriots
Citing an unidentified source, the Boston Herald reported that a Patriots employee recorded the Rams' walkthrough at the Superdome in the New Orleans a day before the Super Bowl. New England beat the heavily favored Rams 20-17 its first NFL title.
The Herald reported that a source close to the Patriots in the 2001 season said the team held a walkthrough at the Superdome in New Orleans before the game on Feb. 3, 2002. After the Patriots took a team picture, a member of their video department stayed inside the stadium and taped the Rams' session.
It was not known whether the cameraman was told by the Patriots to film the practice or what he did with the tape, the Herald said. The Rams were two-touchdown favorites, but lost on Adam Vinatieri's last-second field goal.
"The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI is absolutely false. Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue," Patriots spokesman Stacey James told the AP.
Rams spokesman Rick Smith, reading a statement from team president John Shaw, said, "At this point, we have no comment."
The unbeaten Patriots will try to win their fourth Super Bowl in seven seasons Sunday when they play the New York Giants.
Early this season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined New England coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick after the Spygate scandal. The Patriots were accused of videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches as they signaled to players.
New England did not have a walkthrough Saturday. The Giants held one at the Arizona Cardinals' practice facility.
A walkthrough is done without pads or helmets, giving teams a chance to practice their formations.
Goodell spent much of his state of the game address Friday talking about that episode. He said he did not think the Patriots used such tapes to win previous titles.
"There was no indication that it benefited them in any of the Super Bowl victories," he said.
Goodell also defended his decision to destroy notes and videotapes linked to the Spygate, saying "there was no purpose for them."
Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who sent Goodell a letter asking for explanation, said Goodell's response "didn't make any sense at all."
Member Comments
Nothing will change the outcome of the Rams loss to the Patriots in theie first Super Bowl win. But that said. The Patriots should not have been there on the worse call ever made in a football game. Clearly a Brady fumble against the Raiders. And now, possibly filming the Rams walk through. All that said & done, I could not be happier right now. The Giants could be my new favorite team. I HATE the Patriots and everything realted to them. This is a day I've been waiting for for a long time. Pay back is beautiful. By the way, does anyone else think Bellecheck looks like a ugly old lady when he wears that rediculous head ban?
RealisticRamFan2/4/2008 14:34:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Hey Congress-<br /> If you guys need something to do up there on capital hill, there's this country-thingy that needs some attention, you know, running the USA, and all.<br /> Quit using tax payer time and money on sports issues!!
nuggjugg2/4/2008 11:07:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Well it's true.<br /><br />What goes around comes around!<br /><br />Chowds complaining the refs gave the game to NY!<br /><br />How sweet their cries are to a RAM fan!
OCleftcoast2/4/2008 2:42:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Well, it's not how you start but how you finish. Congratulations NY Giants!!!!!!!
shamrockman7682/4/2008 2:18:00 AM(Report inappropriate content)
Wow! This is classic! Check this response by the "NFL" to allegations of spying against the Rams prior to the 2002 SB: "We were aware of the rumor months ago and looked into it. There was no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true," <br /><br />Does the last line not kill you? Ha, Ha, Ha! "And the Patriots told us it was not true." Well, now, I'd stake my whole life's integrity on that! God, I'm just rolling!!!
KahanaJeff2/3/2008 21:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Lets face it, the patriots have always pushed things past a legitimate competitive edge into cheating. When they beat the Rams in 2001 they abused the rules mugging Rams receivers to the point where Peter King from sports Illustrated said they could have been called for holding on every play. They continued that style of play until Tony Dungy had the NFL change things spawning the "patriots rule" where receivers couldn't be held after 5 yards. Then the Patriots get caught cheating outright and further allegations arise that they have been cheating for many, many years. The fact is that the Pats shouldn't have beaten the Rams in 2001 and they weren't good enough to beat the Giants in 2008. Without cheating they probably wouldn't have beaten the Panthers or Eagles either. There should be an asterisk next to every SuperBowl win they have had! PS- Pats fans are insecure arrogant d.ouch. bags!
ozone19652/3/2008 21:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
ALL I HAVE TO SAY IS.....OOPS THERE IT IS..OOPS THERE IT IS...<br />GOOOOOOO GIANTS!!!!!!<br />GIANT DEFENSE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
balltilidie2/3/2008 19:24:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Congrats to the Patriots for a good season....and to the Giants for a GREAT one...go NY!!!!yah baby...
nasween2/3/2008 19:15:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
How appropriate, T Petty and the Heartbreakers....
nasween2/3/2008 19:14:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
the patriots do not deserve to be at the top with the rest of the champions; earn it; don't cheat.
cruise462/3/2008 15:00:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
What's the craziest prop bet you've seen on the game so far fellas?
cjclarke2/3/2008 13:53:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Paul revere and brandon<br /><br />Grown men acting like women
rule_changes2/3/2008 13:47:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
hey Yank take your honesty and pound sand!
rule_changes2/3/2008 13:43:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
PaulRevere<br />The words they bleeped where i d o i t' s
brandon1012/3/2008 13:42:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
PaulRevere<br />You are an idiot, To leave my name in your post showing you reported me because it was a cut and paste is so inconsiderate is is past stupitidy. To not take the time to delete my name so i would not think you reported me started this whole deal. You are either a complete idiot for leaving my name as showing being reported , or you are a liar and you did report me. You pick which one you want to be. I hear the Mickey Mouse web page is open now, That's where you belong, and i hear they even have a web page for your horse.
brandon1012/3/2008 13:39:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Sweep it under the table? So we can let Belicheat win another trophy in peace? Absolutely not. Take some phu <br />kin responsibility for yourselves. It doesn't matter the timing of this. If Matt Walsh had not signed the non-disclosure agreement in his contract we would already have the truth. He's already singing to the media, they just can't understand what he's saying. He does not want to get sued, so he is letting the media in on the secret so that an outlet like Congress or the NFL can request information about the subject, in which case he can spill everything he knows. This is not going to go away people, this is a real issue here and it's probably going to be a permanent black eye not just on the Patriots, but on the NFL forever. You don't mess with the Super Bowl people, Belichek, (if this is true mind you but fromt he looks of it, it is true) needs to be made an example out of. Maybe make him wear a suit for 12 straight hours, that would be torture for that grub.
cjclarke2/3/2008 13:26:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
Here is to all The players in all pro sports who don't cheat, beat or murder women or swallow 'roids for records...which even if the Pats org did cheat we can't hold the players to this .... they should keep their rings...and respect...<br />I was a Pats fan as my number two team... I respect the teamwork... the whole issue is making me sick .... I'll wash my Zofran down with some suds and enjoy the game.<br />Keep Rose outa the hall ...asterix the roid men ... yeah maybe even Roger... but shove this issue aside until after the game... Innocent until proven guilty ... and if they truely have tainted the game (not the Pats players) but staff then let the hearings begin.... we all want a game we can trust... and we should put the bastards in the stocks in Olde Boston and throw rotten food at them if they really did it then you tube it, forget the fines... done... hey pass the suds... I'm out to grille
patsnoone2/3/2008 13:18:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
DRRAJA wrote: Do you really think that none of other 31 teams in the NFL have ever broken a rule? You want an investigation? OK ? let?s have an investigation and dig up all dirt on all teams.<br /><br />No, let's not. No other team is being mentioned in any capacity for videotaping other teams practices, let alone in the Super Bowl. You should take a look and do the math at some of the numbers, you will pretty much see that the Super Bowl is the backbone of our consumer spending sector, right up there with Christmas. If you're phuckin with the Super Bowl, you're phuckin with a lot of different entities, and a close legal friend of mine threw some legal lingo at me basically saying that it's a felony to do such a thing. It's against the law to do any sort of cheating on a live sporting event. Not only do the Patriots have to worry about their Lombardi's, they're most likely going to have to keep their head coach out of jail. Believe me after the Super Bowl there's going to be a line that curls around Cape Cod of people waiting to take legal action. When money is on the line, people get angry. I already see a few lawmakers with steam coming out of their ears.
cjclarke2/3/2008 13:16:00 PM(Report inappropriate content)
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