Ex-Fins coach Shula regrets Spygate comments

sr_news · January 25th, 2008, 09:30 PM

Don Shula revisited Spygate on Friday, saying his earlier criticism of the New England Patriots was ill-advised.

More... (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3215006&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines)
Full Article

BaldBil · January 26th, 2008, 10:42 AM

Mercury Morris a voice of reason in a sea of insanity?

ssigmanstinks · January 26th, 2008, 12:55 PM

I think Shula gets a bum rap here, since his opinion shared by many others who have also voiced this both in and outside of the game makes for a good story in seeming to be the voicings of a sore loser.

Regardless of public opinion, the record would still stand at 19 - 0, which in and of itself is the accomplishment. Fact is, they were fined for cheating, and much like another team doing it that may have had a weak schedule, or a few calls go there way that led to a victory, there is always going to be something in a perfect season to say "well it wouldn't have happened if they didn't do/have this"

Like it or not, Pats fan or hater, the cheating happened during the perfect season and will always be documented as such. How much it did or did not help them is not the end point, much like an athelete taking steroids would never really know if they would have hit 70HR's without the juice, fact is rules in place were broken, and there will always be those who remember and apply a taint to these records.

Shula I'm sure looking back would have kept his mouth shut, but then again, he got a ton of press and some time in the spotlight from it, so maybe it wasn't all that terrible for him.

Rusty27 · January 27th, 2008, 10:34 AM

I think it was obvious the Pats would have beat the Jets that game regardless.
There is no taint at all.Listen to what Mercury Morris said.

ssigmanstinks · January 27th, 2008, 12:09 PM

Ok, so cheating against a team you should beat is more acceptable than if they had the Colts in week 1? Great logic.

You're right, the league shouldn't have fined them and took a draft pick. ech.

Rusty27 · January 27th, 2008, 03:24 PM

Who are you talking to? I Didn't say any such thing.
Again,read Morris' comment. That's what I agree with.

ssigmanstinks · January 27th, 2008, 03:33 PM

Morris said:

"It was one game. It happened. I don't think their season should be defined out of that mishap," Morris said. "They soon realized they're so good, they didn't have to have that small advantage they tried to get. In hindsight, I'm sure they wish they hadn't done that."

If there is "no taint" as you argue, why would even the guy you agree with say that they wish they wouldn't have done that?

And by inferring that the Pats would have beat the Jets anyway, you're saying the cheating should be ignored or at least considered a less severe infraction because they cheated against a lesser opponent, and that the end result skewed by cheating or not, may very well have been the same.

If an olympic runner is found cheating in any way shape or form, there is never an argument as to how much the cheating in question helped, or did not help the end result, titles, times and records are stripped and suspensions handed out. There is not a question of "what if" left behind by mearly fining the persons involved.

Lets say that the Chargers and Pats were in a heated game last week that the Pats eeked out, later it is found that the Pats intercepted the Chargers radio transmissions and knew what play was coming on each down both on offense and defense. There would be little to no ground to argue that there wasn't a taint on the season. Now, that hypothetical example is only an extrapolated, more efficient, real time results based version of the cheating that occurred this season.

In my opinion:
1. It is unfortunate that what may be looked back upon as the greatest team playing the greatest season in the history of pro sports may have a "but" hung on the end of it for all eternity. As a sports fan, that is taking away something not only from the team, but from the fans of it, and the game in general.

2. The fact and argument that "it didn't help them all that much and wasn't needed" makes the fact that the cheating occurred all that more disturbing, and insulting.

Much like the argument heard for years that the perfect Dolphins season was only 16 games, there will be whether official or not, and asterix attached to this season.

ssigmanstinks · January 27th, 2008, 03:38 PM

Overall fact is, it happened, and some people care. It is not admitted Patriot haters like myself that keep this story in the media alone. Declaring the situation "not that big of a deal" does not cancel out the fact that it exists.

Rusty27 · January 27th, 2008, 03:44 PM

The fact is,if the Pats win next Sunday,there will be no asterisk in the record books.
That's all I mean.The only asterisk is in your Patriots hating mind.

Rusty27 · January 27th, 2008, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ssigmanstinks

Overall fact is, it happened, and some people care. It is not admitted Patriot haters like myself that keep this story in the media alone. Declaring the situation "not that big of a deal" does not cancel out the fact that it exists.

It did happen,they are being punished for it. But it did not affect them going 19-0 if they win the Super Bowl.

ssigman · January 28th, 2008, 10:02 AM

great logic...they win the superbowl and no asterick happens...did they not cheat then?? take away the fine and draft pick penalty as well..they won the superbowl...shoot, they won the most games ever, lets give them the #1 pick and raise the salary cap just for them another 20 million

January 26th, 2008, 10:42 AM	#2
BaldBil illegitimi non carborundum Join Date: 06-15-2006 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 5,763 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Mercury Morris a voice of reason in a sea of insanity? __________________ The Rant's pre-eminent something or other.

January 26th, 2008, 12:55 PM	#3
ssigmanstinks and it's not a good stink Join Date: 12-28-2004 Posts: 4,489 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	I think Shula gets a bum rap here, since his opinion shared by many others who have also voiced this both in and outside of the game makes for a good story in seeming to be the voicings of a sore loser. Regardless of public opinion, the record would still stand at 19 - 0, which in and of itself is the accomplishment. Fact is, they were fined for cheating, and much like another team doing it that may have had a weak schedule, or a few calls go there way that led to a victory, there is always going to be something in a perfect season to say "well it wouldn't have happened if they didn't do/have this" Like it or not, Pats fan or hater, the cheating happened during the perfect season and will always be documented as such. How much it did or did not help them is not the end point, much like an athelete taking steroids would never really know if they would have hit 70HR's without the juice, fact is rules in place were broken, and there will always be those who remember and apply a taint to these records. Shula I'm sure looking back would have kept his mouth shut, but then again, he got a ton of press and some time in the spotlight from it, so maybe it wasn't all that terrible for him. __________________

January 27th, 2008, 10:34 AM	#4
Rusty27 Good ol' Rocky Top;Rocky Top,Tennessee Join Date: 07-15-2004 Location: Knoxville,Tenn. Posts: 31,377 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	I think it was obvious the Pats would have beat the Jets that game regardless. There is no taint at all.Listen to what Mercury Morris said. __________________ Last edited by Rusty27; January 27th, 2008 at 10:41 AM.

January 27th, 2008, 12:09 PM	#5
ssigmanstinks and it's not a good stink Join Date: 12-28-2004 Posts: 4,489 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Ok, so cheating against a team you should beat is more acceptable than if they had the Colts in week 1? Great logic. You're right, the league shouldn't have fined them and took a draft pick. ech. __________________

January 27th, 2008, 03:24 PM	#6
Rusty27 Good ol' Rocky Top;Rocky Top,Tennessee Join Date: 07-15-2004 Location: Knoxville,Tenn. Posts: 31,377 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Who are you talking to? I Didn't say any such thing. Again,read Morris' comment. That's what I agree with. __________________

January 25th, 2008, 09:30 PM	#1
sr_news Kent Brockman Join Date: 12-05-2004 Posts: 77,710 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Ex-Fins coach Shula regrets Spygate comments Don Shula revisited Spygate on Friday, saying his earlier criticism of the New England Patriots was ill-advised. More... (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3215006&campaign=rss&source=NFLHeadlines) Full Article __________________ <--- Thats the finger I use on Meik most nights.

January 27th, 2008, 03:33 PM	#7
ssigmanstinks and it's not a good stink Join Date: 12-28-2004 Posts: 4,489 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Morris said: "It was one game. It happened. I don't think their season should be defined out of that mishap," Morris said. "They soon realized they're so good, they didn't have to have that small advantage they tried to get. In hindsight, I'm sure they wish they hadn't done that." If there is "no taint" as you argue, why would even the guy you agree with say that they wish they wouldn't have done that? And by inferring that the Pats would have beat the Jets anyway, you're saying the cheating should be ignored or at least considered a less severe infraction because they cheated against a lesser opponent, and that the end result skewed by cheating or not, may very well have been the same. If an olympic runner is found cheating in any way shape or form, there is never an argument as to how much the cheating in question helped, or did not help the end result, titles, times and records are stripped and suspensions handed out. There is not a question of "what if" left behind by mearly fining the persons involved. Lets say that the Chargers and Pats were in a heated game last week that the Pats eeked out, later it is found that the Pats intercepted the Chargers radio transmissions and knew what play was coming on each down both on offense and defense. There would be little to no ground to argue that there wasn't a taint on the season. Now, that hypothetical example is only an extrapolated, more efficient, real time results based version of the cheating that occurred this season. In my opinion: 1. It is unfortunate that what may be looked back upon as the greatest team playing the greatest season in the history of pro sports may have a "but" hung on the end of it for all eternity. As a sports fan, that is taking away something not only from the team, but from the fans of it, and the game in general. 2. The fact and argument that "it didn't help them all that much and wasn't needed" makes the fact that the cheating occurred all that more disturbing, and insulting. Much like the argument heard for years that the perfect Dolphins season was only 16 games, there will be whether official or not, and asterix attached to this season. __________________ Last edited by ssigmanstinks; January 27th, 2008 at 03:36 PM.

January 27th, 2008, 03:38 PM	#8
ssigmanstinks and it's not a good stink Join Date: 12-28-2004 Posts: 4,489 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	Overall fact is, it happened, and some people care. It is not admitted Patriot haters like myself that keep this story in the media alone. Declaring the situation "not that big of a deal" does not cancel out the fact that it exists. __________________

January 27th, 2008, 03:44 PM	#9
Rusty27 Good ol' Rocky Top;Rocky Top,Tennessee Join Date: 07-15-2004 Location: Knoxville,Tenn. Posts: 31,377 Tournaments Joined: 0 Tournament Wins: 0	The fact is,if the Pats win next Sunday,there will be no asterisk in the record books. That's all I mean.The only asterisk is in your Patriots hating mind. __________________ Last edited by Rusty27; January 27th, 2008 at 03:49 PM.