Roethlisberger elaborates on concerns about headsets, Patriots
Posted by Mike Florio on September 15, 2015, 3:41 PM EDT
Before Steelers coach Mike Tomlin declared that the team was done talking about the headset problems at Gillette Stadium, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger elaborated on the problems the Steelers had on Thursday night against the Patriots.
"In a lot of games, the offensive coordinator to quarterback headset, there'll be — whether it's one play, it's static, something — it'll go out," Roethlisberger told 93.7 The Fan in Pittsburgh on Tuesday morning. "It doesn't matter if it's at home, on the road, it just never fails. There's almost always some kind of communication [problem]. But it's real brief. It never lasts very long. I think the difference this time — and this is, like I said, there was no communication issues really between Coach [Todd] Haley and myself — but what I was told and what Bruce [Gradkowski] told me when he listened is that when we had the ball on offense, our coach-to-coach communication, so the guys up in the box to the guys on the sideline, were not only hearing themselves but they were hearing the radio broadcast of the game. And from what I was told from Coach Haley it was only when we had the ball. When the Patriots had the ball there was no radio broadcast."
This meshes, possibly, with the claim made by the Steelers' official website on Friday that the problems would stop when league officials would arrive to inspect the situation and start when they would exit — if, of course, the league officials were arriving when the Steelers didn't have the ball and were leaving when the Steelers did have the ball. Either way, it's at best a strange coincidence that the NFL's statements on the matter never addressed.
Roethsliberger also talked more generally about the perception that the Patriots have inside information about an opponent's game plan, which for Roethlisberger dates back to the AFC title game that ended his first NFL season.
"Whether we were outcoached or outplayed or they had some kind of a leg up, I always felt that they knew some of our offensive plays," Roethlisberger said. "For whatever reason. Maybe it was better scouting or whatever. But I had always felt that. But I'm not one to sit and say, 'Hey,' you know, to pout about it or talk about it. I just felt that they were — they beat us on that day and maybe I was a rookie and didn't know any better but I always felt that the knew some of the plays we were calling."
It may have been better scouting or better coaching. The Steelers, for example, had known that the Patriots like to simultaneously shift multiple players on the defensive line to induce a false start. But the Steelers weren't adequately prepared to deal with it when it happened. Or they wouldn't have moved when the Patriots shifted.
So the Steelers had spotted the line-shift technique. And they'd failed to do anything about it.
But that's the problem with having a track record of breaking the rules, as the Patriots do from the Spygate controversy. Other instances of superior knowledge that could be explained away by factors like scouting or coaching or updated injury reports morph into cheating when the same minds that failed to properly scout, coach, and/or read the updated injury reports are trying to figure out why and how they were hoodwinked.
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224 responses to "Roethlisberger elaborates on concerns about headsets, Patriots"
thinredline69 says:
Ben doesn't have to come out and call the Patriots out for being cheaters….this is already common knowledge.
hehateme2 says:
There is no coincidence when dealing with the Patriots*.
Serial cheating is their way of life.
nflrulebook says:
Ben what stopped you from hearing no? Was it head set malfunctions?
brwmstr says:
"But I'm not one to sit and say, 'Hey,' you know, to pout about it or talk about it."
unless…..I DO TALK and POUT about it……WOW
kurdishpats1 says:
You lost. Every player, coach, and their mom say it's normal. Get over it.
realeyezlife says:
that's a classic pic..tom lady and ben rape-n-berger .. a match made in heaven
lambeauheap says:
NFL players must have to check under their beds every night to see if BB is hiding under their beds.
BB is the boogeyman
unbreakable02215 says:
I would start worrying about week 2 Pittsburgh.
New England is in everyone's heads.
espnsux says:
The Steelers simply are poorly coached.
Jon DiPietro says:
If the Patriots get caught cheating again, they're going to lose an entire draft, Belichick will be suspended for at least a year and Kraft will be fined $5M or $10M. It will be a de facto death penalty because, three strikes and you're out. And they know it.
With that said, does everyone really think they'd be that brazen/stupid to do something that has a highly questionable effect at best?
envybreedsidiocy says:
"Our program is built on competition and working hard and not built on excuses." ~ Bill Belichick
Only whiners blame their failures on excuses.
azarkhan says:
Ben, don't lower yourself by defending your whiny coach.
Ben, don't lower yourself by defending your whiny coach…
Add little Ben to the list of grown men who can't accept the fact that they lost and have to cry and make excuses
Thought this guy was better than that, but I also thought a lot of these guys were better than that only to find out otherwise
getakluwe says:
Belicheat.
That's the legacy.
chrontroit says:
Waaaaaaa. Someone get Ben a baby bottle.
welltobefair says:
LOL. He says he's not one to complain, and yet, he openly says he's suspicious just based on things other people have vaguely described.
Get over it and focus on getting your own team out of it's 0-1 hole.
weepingjebus says:
He can't even articulate what he thought was the problem. If I were a cop, I would have closed my notepad, helped him in off the porch, and left a glass of water on the table next to him on the sofa for his hangover in the morning.
exodus316 says:
The ratings may be up and the dollars may roll in, but this league is not at its best when teams whine after getting beat. Tomlin and Roethlisberger embarrassed themselves and their organization Thursday night. Any team that fails to cover Rob Gronkowski (multiple times!) has no business claiming they were cheated. They got beat. They should be big enough to accept it.
scutz1972 says:
But you are talking about it and whining about it! You lost! You were out-coached and out-played! I'm losing more respect for you by the day. Just say you lost, good game and move on!
goodellclownshow says:
Cry-gate!!!
JohnG says:
I love this so-called "track record" people say the Pats have. Other than spy-gate, what else is there that the Pats have been caught doing?
skooter519 says:
Sounds more like sour grapes for losing. Ben even said that the headset problems happen in a lot of different cities. I know for a fact that Tomlin is easily outcoached by Bill Belichek
dontletfactsgetintheway says:
This just in, according to Patriot hater nation, the only team in NFL history to cheat is the Patriot's. For the full story go to crybabyhypocrites dot com!
ibelievebrady says:
The Colts called. They want their title of "Biggest Whiners" back.
packmanfan says:
Seeing how they are getting away with cheating all the time it's a great time to be a Pats fan.
themikegun says:
Missed covering Gronk? Blame the headsets.
Missed two field goals? Blame the headsets.
Caught a potential TD pass with a foot out of bounds? Blame the headsets.
Got beat by a better prepared team? They must have cheated.
nhpats says:
This has been a really bad last few weeks for the haters….. We may have to put #haternation on suicide watch.
Until the NFL grows a pair, we will continue to see cheating time and time again.
They need to send a stronger message to all teams that cheating will never be tolerated again by stripping them of their SB titles and taking back the rings and trophies.
afancydraft says:
Good for Ben coming out and speaking his mind. Now, let the NFL investigate and if it is found that it had nothing to do with the home team suspend him and Tomlin for the duration of the millennium. See ya in the twenty-first century folks!
darthbelichick07 says:
You can't figure out why they're better than you
You can't figure out why you keep losing to them
You can't understand how they're winning in a league set on parity
Therefore, it must be them. And not you.
sansbushman says:
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
Even Tomlin had shut up, though a bit late.
dansardo says:
I don't have a problem with ben's statement, he is a player that has always been on a team that was outplayed and out coached by the patriots, of course he feels that way.
The pats have the reputation they have because they have won so often for so long against just about everyone and, yes one of the ways they have done that is being smart enough to go right up to the letter of the rule without crossing it and finding loopholes if they are to be found. And Belichick is arrogant and the fans (like me) who have seen them win for so long are probably are a little arrogant too. People think this started with Belichick in 2000 but the pats have won far more games than they have lost since 1995 actually and even been to a SB when brady was in high school during this period, that is how good they have been.
But the reputation for "cheating" is crap. Spygate happened and they broke a rule….that didn't exist before 2007. Whatever advantage anyone thinks the type of filming they were doing, there was no rule in the nfl rule book against it prior to 2007; never mind other organizations (including the steelers) also did it.
Spygate is an excuse for people that don't like the pats, not a reason.
If (when) the Patriots get caught cheating again, they're going to lose an entire draft, Belichick will be suspended for at least a year and Kraft will be fined $5M or $10M. It will be a de facto death penalty because, three strikes and you're out. And they know it.
Yup. They think they are above the laws. Just wait and see.
Kaz says:
If it happened only when they were on offense, that doesn't look good for the Defense, that looked like it had completely lost all connections with the coaching staff.
tom lady & belli-cheat – "we will not retire until we win a superbowl without an asterisk!"
trevor190 says:
Of all the people that should go the "where there's smoke there's fire" route, Roethlisberger probably isn't one of them.
hooded12 says:
It's crazy how misleading comments like this will cause the pageviews to skyrocket on an article like this.
I understand the Pats have lost the 'benefit of the doubt' with much of this, and the Pats fan in me hates to say that even though it probably didn't equate to much of an advantage, the perception it caused was that the Pats bend the rules.
The most unfortunate aspect of all of this is that this loss of doubt the Pats suffer through now overshadows what would otherwise be applauded for the sheer preparedness and ability the to sustain a franchise for 15 years.
As impartial as I can be, I truly believe that no other coach prepares and plans for EVERYTHING like Belichick does, and should be recognized as one of the greatest coaches of all time. It's sad to see that there are teams that will take shots at him, when they should be showing respect that this man has clearly earned.
As an oft-Patriots detractor Richard Sherman said, "The players still need to go out there and execute". No other team can say that their players execute on the same level as the Patriots have for the past 15 years.
ashleyschafferbmw says:
Tomlin was asked a question in a press conference and answered it. Since apparently most people don't know how the media works, that automatically equates to tomlin grabbing the mic kanye west style and shouting and "whining" about the patriots and their headsets.
gysot says:
With the 23 pick in the first round of the 2016 draft the new England patriots select………AWWWWWWWWW
pedmeg says:
What a pathetic sad bunch the 'Steel Curtain' has become.
Also interesting that neither Tomlin nor "No Means Yes" Ben makes mention of the fact that as soon as the Steelers brought the headset issue up at the game the officials immediately made the Pats sideline TURN OFF their same headsets.
If they continue to play like they did last week I look forward to more cry baby excuses from QB and coach from week 2 onward.
mullman76 says:
@JohnG:
They phoned in the Tuck-Rule call.
Everybody knows about it, we just didn't tell you.
sowhatbrady6 says:
Well, they cheated the Steelers into not covering Gronk.
They cheated the Steelers into playing with 10 men on defense.
They cheated the Steelers into having the Steelers run a trick play.
They cheated the Steelers by not playing the home opener in Pittsburgh.
They cheates the Steelers by having a better coach and QB
So Ben says the problem occurred when the Steelers had the ball. The funny thing about that is the Steelers offense gained over 100 yards more than the Patriots offense. Perhaps the Steeler coaches should listen to the Patriots announcers every game?
truths4all says:
How do you hear about Steroid cheating over the headsets? Come on, man, its still going on and your old Steeler players are dying young before their time, wasting away with a huge variety of mental disorders, and still trying to compensate for the permanent major shrinkage in their male organs from chronic 'Roid abuse and 'Roid cheating.
grogantomorgan says:
Poor preparation and subsequent execution.
audio2sell says:
Whiner Nation
The Lonely Number says:
Big words for a double rapist.
liftheavyorliftheavy says:
I guess the Pats also made Gronk invisible.
hockeykrishna says:
The NFL did investigate and found nothing.
This by teams that lose is getting kind of old…..
collinsj2015 says:
Suspicions cut both ways. I, for one, don't think it likely, but possible, that the NFL (which runs the headsets) did this to embarrass the Patriots. Not likely, but possible. That would be far worse than the Pats (and a million other teams) doing it. But that is the "suspicion" that Goodell has earned, while we're on that subject.
raober says:
As we all know, taping signals was and is legal. As we also all know, taping signals could occur from any location prior to 2006 at the earliest.
Other coaches are on record as saying that they tried it, but found no benefit from it.
Is it just possible, as Mike alludes to here, that the Patriots WERE able to gain benefit from it because of their personnel and their meticulous methods? Benefits that most other teams were not able to realize? It would then follow that, assuming many of those details in the ESPN article were true, that if the Patriots did know what plays were going to be run, then that information was obtained TOTALLY LEGALLY?
If so, then I suggest that those early 2000s Super Bowl wins need asterisks. Not for "cheating" (there is no cheating when nothing illegal is done), but for being aided by truly innovative scouting methods that basically broke the system, and thus being some of the craftiest championship wins EVER.
So wait a minute. The Steelers actually studied something, were aware of it and should have been prepared for it but weren't ? So to hide his lack of properly preparing his team Tomlin cried waaaaa headsets cheating ?
Really ? That's pathetic.
Guess what. The Pats study harder and work harder than any other team. Brady is already studying the game film from away games on the flight home, plus has film of their next opponent for the flight home as well.
Its that preparation and hard work that gives them the leg up over the lazy coaches and teams that just want to coast for their multi million dollar paychecks.
whatjusthapped says:
The other evidence was when the oppossing team at Gillette Stadium was driving and an important 3rd down conversion was coming up, the communication system failed at precisely that moment. It happened so often that an opposing team brought the NFL into the booth and sure enough, at the critical moment, the communication system broke down.
Now the NFL is so afraid of its own shadow that they let PacMan Jones slam another player's head into the ground without a peep. Do you think they are going to go after the Patriots.
I know the Patriot fans will all shout from the rooftops that other communication systems have failed in other stadiums but the timing and consistency that they fail in Gillette Stadium is uncanny for an innocent team. Which the Patriots are not.
baltimorons says:
Keep cheating patriots*. You aren't going to get anything other than a slap on the wrist. It's just a joke at this point.
imjustagirl says:
We are in your heads! Just imagine BB or the players talking about headsets in a loss when they're days away from another game. I've lost so much respect for the Steelers. I always thought they were a little better than the whining Colts or hostile Ravens. Ah, it's all white noise at this point. Blah, blah, blah, cheaters, cheaters, cheaters. Everyone's an expert all of a sudden. Just play the damn game and shut it.
stburke40 says:
So Ben has no proof, and he's not going to pout or whine about it….but, he just thinks they did it……as to the headset issue, the league said it happened many times in several stadiums last week….yeah, I know the Pats sent people to every stadium to help cover their tracks-right? Here's my question, I assume the Steelers can't hear what's going on in the Patriots headsets….how did they know whether the Pats were getting interference or not? And now, Ben, let it slip, their coaches could hear each other they just could also hear a radio broadcast? Annoying, yes; but, not nefarious-happens all the time. I live in Massachusetts by the ocean and I can tell you whenever it rains, we lose internet. In the old days, we couldn't even watch broadcast tv because there was always the ghost of another channel on with the one we wanted to watch. But stay classy Ben, don't need facts, just use innuendo….anything as long as you don't dwell on how much the Steelers sucked.
buckyhamm says:
We cheat and beat you … get over it !
Fat Pats Fan
nbptma1 says:
Steeler fans can't even bring themselves to defend Roethlisberger. The guy is a dope both on and off the field and everyone in Pittsburgh knows it. He settled out of court on one of his sexual assault cases.
albloch says:
Not saying he raped anyone, but it's equally, if not more suspicious that when he's around college girls he is accused of rape, but when he's not around, he's not
zeenadog37 says:
The NFL had their tech people all over it as soon as it was reported. If their was any truth to that type of one sided glitch they would have been all over it. I mean this is the bunch who spent countless millions and eight months investigating a half pound of ball pressure
Bill is in your head. Season over for the Steelers already
3andone says:
But that's the problem with having a track record of breaking the rules, as the Patriots do from the Spygate controversy: In that case as it pertains to the Steelers
Impedegate (2013)
Steroidgate (1970-2007)
Salarycapgate (2000)
Shouldergate (1978)
Crampgate (2012)
Yet they get the benefit of the doubt, one can go on endlessly about other teams cheating infractions yet only the Patriots track record makes them susceptible to suspicion. hmmmm
flash1287 says:
TOM BRADY OWNS THE STEELERS
kenchun24 says:
Don't worry Ben…Trey Parker and Matt Stone have every non ****triot WWNFL fans back with another parody of this corrupt franchise in the season 20 premiere of South Park tonight. This time taking on Tom Shady after riffing on darth Chicky after Spygate.
"She's not even hot, she looks like a dude!"
Preach the truth Eric Cartman lol! Can't wait.
BenAnderson58 says:
Steelers fan here. YOu don't win a game when you turn the ball over 4 times. Rookie QB is why our guys lost that game. Bettis also fumbled. Bettis! The guy lost on average 1 fumble a year and lost one there that killed the team.
In 2001, it was 14 points surrendered by Special Teams.
Not cheating. The Gatetriots may cheat, but it wasn't the difference on those dates. The Steelers didn't play well enough.
blisi57 says:
Getakluwe i really don't give a crap what you think little boy
dynastyposeiden says:
where there is smoke there is fire is what I was taught as a lad !
and new england looks like spicoli's van on prom night!
the sox learned well from belichick and so they started cheating and won a world series or 3 whatever after 100 years of flailing pathetically .
Really belichick should get credit for that also .
sonhoodoo says:
Why do people even attempt this argument? It is ridiculous. He was asked a question – he had to answer it.
It clearly isn't that he had to answer it. It is how he chose to answer it. The Steelers lost a game through many miscues that showed they really didn't prepare well for it. That should have been Tomlin's answer for every question after the game.
necroshine95 says:
The Patriots caused 9/11 to gain a morale advantage over the rest of the NFL
dsigrey says:
This is a joke… and the Pats are laughing all the way to the Super Bowl.
I wonder if the Steelers lose to the 49ers next weekend how long it will be till they start whining that somehow the Pats "cheated" them into losing in Santa Clara when the Pats are 3000 miles away and not even playing in their own stadium.
realpatsfan says:
Scouting,coaches,film. Preperation not out smoking dope,chasing women in bars, coaches getting in the opponents way in the field of play or fighting with your offensive corrdinator.
Yes Ben they do know what the opponents are going to do.
canedaddy says:
When it's Rapist vs. Cheaters, no one wins.
mmack66 says:
We're already in the 21st century.
All I have to say about stealing signals via spygate is that no less than 4 super bowl winning coaches other than BB have gone on record(literally you can hear their own words) and said they have done it in one way or the other including videotaping.
JohnMadden
Jimmy Johnson
tb12bestqbevah says:
But that's the problem with having a track record of breaking the rules, as the Patriots do from the Spygate controversy.
So once is a 'track record'?
Then how would one explain the fact their record since Spygate is better than their record prior to Spygate?
What they have a track record of is excruciating attention to details (like making sure the pro-bowl TE is covered) and a tireless work ethic that starts at the top with both the coach and the QB.
I'm pretty sure the Jets aren't going to give up the only Super Bowl trophy they will ever get.
Nofoolnodrool says:
They have been good no doubt about it both on the field and in their stretching of the rules and the just down right "coincidental" occurrences at their home stadium. Explain why the problems only occurred when the a Steelers had the ball. The Pats trolls will argue the NFL cleared the Pats but what happened and when was never explained but we are left to take the word of the biggest liars in public life today…the NFL and the Pats……in that case you just gotta believe it's the truth…..get outta here with that crap.
engengland says:
Funny you SKIPPED elaborating on this. I always felt that the interception by Malcolm Butler in the Superbowl. The ONLY way he is even lined up where he was as a DB is if he KNEW the play. I was surprised Wilson didn't change the play at the line when he saw Butler, but I guess these things happen fast. I would not be surprised if the Patriots tapped the Offensive Co-ordinator relaying that play to the field and put Butler in position to intercept the pass. You could, of course, argue that Butler STILL had to make a great play to intercept the ball, but this begs the question, since if he simply knocked the ball down AND the Patriots knew EVERY play the Seahawks were gonna run, they STILL would have a huge advantage in a goal line situation.
doctorrustbelt says:
This seems like a good opportunity for ben rothlisberger to limp around with a fake injury as a way to create an excuse for the steelers loss next week against San Francisco.
whybotherifeverythinggetscensored says:
SHUT UP, YOU BIG BABY!!
41chacha says:
Pats fan here. Just so you know we don't care about asterisks. All we care about is rings. Those asterisks that haters talk about are in their minds (not ours). Haha.
Don't care what all you haters think, just keep the Lombardi's coming!!!
brucetrimble says:
Between Mike, Ben and Todd, I don't know who the biggest whiner is. Shameful. Mike talks the talk but doesn't walk the walk…especially when on the field instead of the sideline.
godelligoodelligoo says:
Tomlin hasnt done anything other than taking a SB winning team & going there again…nothing zero…just bs'ing…
John Harbaugh or even Marvin Lewis have done soo much more with a lot less…
even RexRyan has taken cra**y JETS to AFCG!
The consistency & ruggedness of AFC North is being replaced by whininess…only the Ravens are still the rugged team (even tho they whine a looooot!)
fireroger says:
Actually, no. Taping signals is 100% legal. What's illegal is doing it from the sidelines instead of the designated areas.
89 21 "
Uh, Tom Brady was caught at BALCO. That went down the Memory Hole. They were caught videotaping other team's signals. They were caught stealing playbooks. They were caught stealing scripts. Brady was caught red handed deflating footballs. I can go on and on….
streetyson says:
I used to admire Big Ben, now he's just a Big Baby – has he apologized yet for claiming the goal line shift was illegal?
As the Pats having a bad name, I'm less convinced after all the NFL's lying in Deflategate. The so-called "Spygate" depends on whether you believe BB or the NFL understood the rule change better. I used to take the NFL's word. However, BB said at the time the rule change was so that you didn't use the video during the game the video was of – which the Pats hadn't (as far as anyone now knows). We do, however, now know the NFL (in between the memo and game 1 of the new season) subsequently changed their interpretation of the rule to say you couldn't ever use the sideline video (and that the Jets also "broke" this rule but weren't investigated). However, you can still video spy (and teams do), just not from the areas where the coaches are or where the coaches access during the game, so as to stop the in-game reviewing BB described. But to do your video-taping from 6 feet further away (say in the front row of the stand), and use it for later analysis, is all completely legal today. Even if you disagree, the new rule was violated for one game only – hardly a long-term thing. All the other claims of "cheating" has been shown to be either baseless or outright lies.
me817 says:
Perhaps he should have taken this issue to the NFL since it's their equipment, it's their employees who operate, fix and maintain the equipment and it's the NFL who stated that they CAUSED the problem. Christ, how many times does this have to be said, and repeated ? Now, Ben, I understand that you were outplayed and outcoached and lost the game. Now, man up and take it like a real NFL player, or an old NFL player who wouldn't think of accusing anyone of anything unless they had some proof. Look it up in the dictionary. Use the spelling I provided. Move your lips while reading. But learn the difference between asinine conjecture and proof. It's a world apart.
6ball says:
Ben, I remember your first playoff game against the Patriots too. The Steelers treated them as if they were the JV team's practice squad. From bloviating on ESPN to releasing your travel plans and parade route, there was nothing but disrespect.
Matt Dolloff says:
"Maybe it was better scouting or whatever."
Yes Ben, it was.
69goatboy says:
I'm pretty sure that Dan Rooney owns the Steelers.
Please check your facts before posting. Thank you.
mtb2253 says:
Don't forget losing to a mediocre backup QB. Best game EVAHHH!
patfan12 says:
I have to disagree. This is all a result of resentment because the Patriots have been a better team for 15 years and others are sick and tired of the storyline – Patriots win….again.
Other teams have a history of breaking rules (Broncos, 49ers, Atlanta, Cleveland, any team caught with steroids, etc.). The difference between them and the Patriots is the Patriots win at an incredible rate for a very long time.
letsgobuffalo4 says:
In all the years Ben has been in the league i have never heard him make any excuse ever. Its not like guys who always cry are coming out against the patriots. Its respected, veteran players who have never complained ever. Ben isnt a rookie, if he thinks something was off then it prob was. Peyton has the same feeling, and id trust anything Peyton says when it comes to football issues. I know pats fans, EVERYONE is wrong and the patriots are the only right ones in the entire NFL lol.
… Explain why the problems only occurred when the a Steelers had the ball. The Pats trolls will argue the NFL cleared the Pats but what happened and when was never explained but we are left to take the word of the biggest liars in public life today…the NFL and the Pats……in that case you just gotta believe it's the truth…..get outta here with that crap.
How does anybody know the Pats weren't having the same problem at the exact same time? Answer: We don't. We know that both teams had communication problems. One in the first half and the other int he second half. You and others want answers to why it happened when the Steelers had the ball while completely dismissing that it happened when the Patriots had the ball as well. Instead of exploring that you jump on the everybody is a liar bandwagon. Which is fine so long as you understand there isn't ever going to be an answer to your question.
paulieorkid says:
The Patriots always say there is no direct evidence Brady orchestrated any of the ball-deflation rule circumvention — but keep in mind why that is the case.
The direct evidence was on Brady's phone, which he REFUSED to produce — despite insisting on his innocence.
And when offered the opportunity to reduce his suspension through the production of ADDITIONAL evidence — Brady secretly made sure that his cell phone (i.e., evidence) was DESTROYED.
Then, Brady offered a bogus reason why he destroyed his phone — claiming that he "always" destroyed brand new smart phones after a mere 4 months of use. Yet ONLY the phone in question was destroyed in this fashion —> it was NOT what he "always" did.
Bottom line: the Patriots hid and/or destroyed evidence at every turn, and then insist upon their innocence because there's no direct evidence.
How about how the Patriots refused to allow the Deflator to testify – at the point in time he was going to be asked the telling pointed questions? Or about how the Patriots insisted his nickname the Deflator was only about weight loss?
#FILTHY
every team tapes other teams, BB is just better at using them to beat inferior teams.
I know, truth hurts.
higheriqthanyou says:
Rodney Harrison pen name.
bengalsdouche1 says:
Ben says they knew the Patriots did the shift and they still didn't have an answer for it. I'd say the conclusion we come to here is that Patriots coaching is far and away better than the Steelers coaching. Hands down.
lflib69 says:
Rapeburger is crying still?
patfanken says:
Great job by Rothlessburger and Tomlin. For the last few years they have led the Steelers from an elite category to up and down mediocrity. Now they want to taint the legacy of the Steelers being a hard nosed team and tough blue collar fan base, and turn into a team and fan base most closely associated with CRYBABY NATION.
In front of an entire nation, Rothlessburger showed that he was unprepared at a key moment for something he ADMITS is saw on film. And then showed his true colors by complaining about it on the field, after the game, and now into a second week.
He's a great passer, but as a leader he must suck, because he's teaching his team how to lose, not how to win. It a reason why the Steelers keep losing to the Pats for the last 15 years.
BTW- I just want to know, how many of you people know about the time the Pats communications went down in the 2011 season's Superbowl. No one? I didn't think because
after a very painful loss, BB never mentioned it. Never used it as an excuse or even complain that it happened. Pats fans never even knew and wouldn't know now if it wasn't for a great article by Adam Kilgore of the Washington Post.
BB didn'complain, whine or make excuses. He just made sure he was prepared the next time it happened. And THAT's why the Pats beat you team so often. Better coaching, better preparation, more disciplined and focused players, better game plans, and NO excuses…..ever.
So while Tomlin was whining to CRYBABY NATION, BB was telling the press that BB needs to coach his team better.
Yes, the Pats have a history of "cheating" all those one times 8 years ago.
yizudien says:
This isn't that hard to do, in fact any kid in an undergraduate program for electrical engineering can do this in the third or fourth year, certainly graduate level can do this easily.
You see this sort of thing happen a lot with fast food wireless head sets where a student in the parking lot will come in over the head set just using something they built at radio shack.
Depending on the receiver setup in the headsets if they are set to trigger on the strongest signal this wouldn't be hard to have a person design a device that would do this.
If it was happening, this is illegal and the pats would be committing a real crime (not just cheating in the NFL). The students that get caught overriding the fast food headsets do end up getting arrested.
As easy as it is to do it would be easy enough to detect, though the hardware would give away what you are doing.
2since96 says:
The Patriot**** Way
There seems to be a direct relationship in the level of beat down to the level of whininess.
ygghh says:
Orrrrr Fat Elvis just got out played and trippin mike Epps got out coached. This whining is better suited to pop warner football. The idiots in Pittsburgh laid out the game plan publicly for a week. Ask bloated elvis about the head set issues when they cheated against the Jets in 2011. Haha.
We only have Trip's word that the headsets went out at certain times. We all have seen what a stand up and trip guy he is. Why shouldn't we believe him?
Caught at Balco? "Caught stealing playbooks?" Caught stealing Scripts? Brady "caught redhanded deflating the balls?" Now can you back that up with facts or do you always just ramble on to hear yourself think?
The filthy truth about all of this, lot of lost bets due to the tuck rule. You know it's true.
brian55906 says:
The Patriots should be viewed as an organization that wins a lot of games. *
stopcryingbabies says:
So many cry babies.
varangia says:
Electronic communications shouldn't be allowed anyway. They need to get closer to the original game. Get rid of the gloves and all these other modern contrivances. Might even want to consider going back to leather helmets. Maybe then everyone will tackle instead of ramming the guy with his head.
hairymaryxx says:
All Pat rings need be vacated!
First, we know Pats are serial cheaters.
Their own OWNER ADMITTED IT by paying multiple fines and giving up multiple picks.
Cheeeettttuuuhhhhssssss
joerahme says:
Once a cheat, always a cheat, the Pats have game plans for every team they play at home, it just never fails to have their stunts set up for certain times of the game, whether on offense or defense, they get away with everything by claiming they have nothing to do with these things, it seems odd that ever since the spygate, Pats didn't win a superbowl until Pete Carol and Wilson's genius call on Pats half yard line to win it, instead of giving the ball to Lynch to score on 2nd down after getting them there by himself, they decided to pass the ball only to be intercepted, and it was the most surprising present that was never expected.
Pats win all their home games for this same reason, and they lose half of their road games due to not having their stunts accessible outside their stadium,
red26sox says:
Steelers outgained Pats by 103 yards and still lost. Make your field goals, cover Gronk, don't throw an INT and stay in bounds in the end zone, then you may beat the Pats. The Pats are special because they don't beat themselves.
Lets settle one thing right now- Pats fans can say deflategate was not cheating- every other fan will say ur wrong but whatever. As far as Spygate- that is a FACT that they cheated. Bill said he put the cameras there and that it was illlegal. There is ZERO if ands or buts about it. The patriots are forever cheaters due to spygate, deflategate is just icing on the cake. And then ofcourse having 19 teams taking special precautions against the patriots because they are known cheaters also adds to that. Regardless- no pats fan can ever say the Patriots have never cheated. Im a bills fan and dont like that we went to 4 SB's and lost em all, but i cant go around saying it never happened because it did happen. Just like Spygate happened.
Roethlisberger would do well to remember his coach that year, Bill Cowher said:
"it was something that everybody does. The only thing they got caught [was] doing it with a camera. We had people that always tried to steal signals. Stealing someone's signals was a part of the game, and everybody attempted to do that."
moosey7195 says:
Owners have no recourse to fight the league. They have no CBA. They can't sue. They can only complain and whine which can only hurt their standing with the other owners and Goodell. Kraft had no other option but to pay.
Dave Fouchey says:
So you were outcoached again Ben? Got it.
Pauli, '
Are you really serious. You still buying the "destroyed cellphone" myth. Are you THAT obtuse?. That's just another NFL lie.
Welles told Brady himself, that he didn't want his cell phone. Welles got everything he wanted from Brady. EVERYTHING. And between Brady's information and the phone information from everyone else involved he had it ALL. There is nothing missing. And you are grasping at straws.
The science proves that nothing happened at the AFCCG
All the communications info prove that Brady didn't orchestrate a conspiracy to "deflate" balls
All the iffy responses from Brady early on was due to the fact he had no idea why the balls were deflated 2lbs below the minimum. He had no clue because the NFL never gave the Pats the real numbers…..until the damage was done.
And your obtuse observations only show how successful the NFL was in their smear campaign.
hdahs143 says:
The Pats defense gave up nearly 500 yards against a team missing 2 of its offensive stars.
If that is indicative of this years Pats D, the Super Bowl ain't happening.
Pay attention to the Bills D this week. Maybe pick up a few pointers.
BILLS IN YOUR HEAD.
waxthat says:
Should be worried about the 49ers coming into town.
patsnair says:
Sorry Ben, The Pats and Bellichick are on a totally different level than you can imagine.
You can keep wondering how they already know what you are gonna do next 🙂 .
Haters, you can call them cheaters as much as you want, if that makes you happy ; because you are not going to get happiness from your team anyways.
This isn't that hard to do, in fact any kid in an undergraduate program for electrical engineering can do this in the third or fourth year, certainly graduate leve
Why are people so naive ? Of course this can be done, has been done and will be done by the cheaters until they are caught. It takes a great leap of faith to buy all of the "coincidences" Cheaties fans expect everyone to buy….I am sorry so many people have such easily closed minds about a team that has a culture of bending and when needed breaking the rules. I believe there are a few high tech companies in the area that could provide the required equipment……you lemmings and sheep keep follow the butt in front of you.
patriotinvasion says:
The more and more conspiracy theory lunacy that comes out of this, the more and more NFL Films will neatly tie these accusations in a nice little bow in all of the Patriots Super Bowl specials in the future. In short: Belichick was in the heads of his opponents just like Red Auerbach. Cute, fun story line for NFL Films to chronicle as they show beautiful slow motion clips of all the Patriots Super Bowl glory.
Angry Orange Man says:
Hmmm a rapist who uses bodyguards in be sure his victim has no hope is talking about right and wrong. Interesting…
I hate both teams, but I hate Big Ben more than anyone.
damngumbie says:
So many crybabies … for Christ's sake, have a little self respect and stop whining like a child over the success of the Patriots.
When did football fans become such girly-men?
tigerlilac says:
So, the Steelers were having communication problems only during the one thing they did right (play offense, and Roethlisberger was excellent).
When they were stinking up the joint, on defense or special teams, they had great communication.
Am I missing something or is this another tempest in a teapot?
bostontdparty says:
In 2001 there is no doubt the patriots knew at least one play, the blocked field goal returned for a touch down by Troy brown.
Go back to what Sherman says, you need to execute
Ask Reggie WAyne what it takes to play for the Pats, it was too hard for him to study.
And to all the accusations made by some of you, absolutely ridiculous the teaching you guys are making, you should write fiction.
bushwoodcc says:
If you had paid attention you'd know that Wells told Brady he did not need his phone. You see interesting things happen when you call someone or send them a message, it shows up on the other phone as well. The league had those other phones.
Deflategate was a bs investigation of footballs that deflated in a manner expected with the atmospheric conditions. You had a league official with an axe to grind against Bill Belichick and he was so excited at the prospect of it that he forgot that temperature drops reduce the air pressure in footballs. Then it turned into a smear campaign with the NFL Offices producing lies about how much the balls deflated.
The NFL has been caught lying repeatedly through this process. Their investigation and appeal process was a complete sham and the judge handed them their butts over it.
When you have to manipulate information and run a sham process to issue a penalty and the best you come up with is generally aware it's pretty conclusive that you had nothing all along.
Okay. We can all just take the word of a guy who tried to trip an opposing player. On live tv. In front of millions. Truly sick man. And the word of a serial accused rapist. Once a predator always a predator. Tomlin only has a job right now because of the NFL sensitivity to race. If any other coach attempted to injure another player he would have been banned for life. He and woody Hayes should be cozy in that niche of history. Because we will never see that level of cheating again.
I subscribe to the Bill Belichick "don't complain, don't explain" style.
You have 21 other head coaches, 31 other GMs, 31 other owners, and a nation filled with Patriots haters in the media and in the stands and (with the exception of Tom Coughlin) no one can beat Belichick even half the time.
pestcow says:
Who, exactly, "caught" Brady "red handed deflating footballs"?
The NFL stated in Federal Court, that they had no direct evidence that Brady did such a thing.
You have a solemn obligation to provide the evidence you
have, to the Federal Government, and to the NFL.
Right after you provide the evidence to us.
I didn't think so.
ijahru says:
I have lost all respect for Tomlin and Big Ben crying like little mitches because they got beat
originalbosfan1 says:
By the time the playoffs come around, teams have put 16 entire games' worth of film out there for opponents to look at. Games average about 65 plays per game, so that's 1,040 plays in total. There are going to be some repeats, and a team with a good scouting core is going to identify some of them. And to be honest, teams probably recycle the same basic 30 or 40 plays a number of times, so it's not that hard to figure out.
lizzzy321 says:
That was…the Steelers 'beat' themselves.
I always felt that they knew some of our offensive plays," Roethlisberger said
They know all your plays except ones drawn up the week you play them.
That's coaching, not cheating.
colin9890 says:
I guess every team should start pushing the envelope and cheat since its now going to be the norm. Otherwise that team up in the northeast will always have (accomplished by cheating) besides their record. Shame the game has gone this way.
"The patriots are forever cheaters due to spygate"
Then by your logic ever single team are "forever cheaters" because every single team has been repeatedly caught violating the rules in the last 15-20 years.
Buffalo is no different than any other team. So I hope you enjoy the fact that the Bills are "forever cheaters" because they certainly are by your own definition.
lp0320 says:
Ben, Ben, Ben – I expect more from you. We lost. Period. End of Sentence. We didn't lose because of a headset issue . We lost because:
1) the defense was not prepared: they looked like a quad A high school team;
2) the offensive coordinator called the same place five freaking times on 1st and goal at the 5 yard line;
3) the head coach was out coached by the best in the business
4) we didn't cover the one player we talked about all week
5) and did I mention the lousy play calling by the offensive coordinator?
Don't get me wrong, don't like the Patriots or their fans; arrogant and condescending; but right now, they have every right to be.
PS: to Patriots and their fans everywhere – you're good enough without all of the BS, just play the game.
srg608 says:
The Patriots really do foster an atmosphere and culture of cheating. Doing whatever it takes to win. "It's everyone's job"
Do you mean taken off of fingers?
That seems strange.
albion223 says:
More whining from Steel City…shouldn't you be focused on your next game?
pastabelly says:
Horrible clock management, terrible play calling, failing to cover Gronkowski when things got close, and a stupid penalty on the goal line explains why Pittsburgh lost. If they want to blame the Patriots pulling a fast one, let them.
That's the problem when you lose your credibility because you get caught cheating. Even when your just plain good, no one trusts you!
futuresbmvpleveon says:
Ben wasn't drafted yet in 2001. Wrong afccg.
patsruleyou says:
The steelers are unvieling a Week 1 Participation banner this Sunday.
dudeicle says:
So…. the headsets were fully functional on defence, right? When Gronk was left all alone on multiple occasions?
connfyoozed says:
I'm still trying to find the part in this article, or any other article about this topic, where Ben or Coach Tomlin, or any Steeler, said anything remotely resembling, "We lost because our headsets weren't working properly."
Still trying to find it, because it isn't there.
Since when does pointing something out that falls under the category of unusual amount to crying and whining? The same questions would have been asked if the Steelers had won, since we all knew about this during the first quarter of the game thanks to NBC coverage.
Of course New England won. They were the better team on the field, and definitely the better coached team. But if something shady was going on (and I have no idea if it was or not), that isn't OK.
Shinnbone says:
If you ain't cheatin…you ain't tryin.
Next up….ONE for da Thumb!!!!! Tom Brady
Message to all the net trolls and the cryin players in the league whining about the Patriots…..
SCORE MORE POINTS!!!
allseeingone says:
Simple solution. No headsets for either team when they play at NE.
nflexecutivesconstantlylie says:
In the 2004 playoffs the Jets held the mighty Steelers to just 17 points in regulation at home in the Divisional PO game the week before the Patriots beat them.
In the Pats game the Steelers only punted 3 times all game and the Steelers put up 27 points (5 highest team total all year) despite turning the ball over 4 times.
Yet the Patriots knew the offense's plays.
cloud1515 says:
It is like a spoiled kid gets beat at the playground fair and square and he cries you cheated to make himself feel better.
Rothlesberger and Tomlin are no different.
STILLlolatpatshaters says:
They're still talking about this? LOL. That's a dead giveaway of a mentally soft team. 🙂 A mentally tough team would have put this in the rear view mirror days ago.
It's a shame the Steelers won't make the playoffs this year cause I can't wait for the next opportunity the Patriots will have to pummel this soft team.
I actually kinda feel sorry for the Pats fans (kinda, sorta – even if they are some of the most obnoxious people in the country). They just want to believe in their team. That's want every fan wants. It's a shame that they have to deal with these mental asterisk's on the Pats accomplishments. Whether they want to admit it or not, the majority of fans (outside of NE) feel that the Patriots are cheaters. It doesn't matter how widespread or how often they've actually cheated. All you need to do is get caught once and your branded, right or wrong.
mrmcdougle says:
No other team has had more cheating allegations leveled at them, it's not just all of the video taping scandals. It's also not "because it's the Patriots". If that were the case, then the Giants and Pittsburgh would be on everyone's radar.
Probably around the time that those whining pansies, the Harbaugh brothers, came into the league. Their whining turned their fans into whining pansies, and it soon spread throughout most of the league. Prior to them, most coaches took responsibility for their teams losing.
All it took were a few tweets and emails from a couple of whining coaches and owners, and the NFL embarked on the biggest fiasco of a witch-hunt in the entirety of sports history.
daytontriangles says:
Perhaps next time the teams play, instead of messing with the headsets, the Patriots should try bashing Big Ben's head in with his own helmet.
Apparently in Goodell's NFL, that's not suspension-worthy.
pats4rings says:
Bottom line: this is a why the Patriots have been so successful for a decade plus….. They don't whine, they don't make excuses, and they don't let issues linger. Mental weakness is not allowed.
If I am a Steelers fan the way the team is handling this issue scares me. I am sorry but it really does.
For the last nine months the biggest whiners on this site have been the Cheaties fans. I dare you to back and look at any thread with 200 posts were about the Cheaties. So your ignorant post reflects a very immature grasp of reality outside of New England. Just do everyone a favor …..stay there!
I don't imagine that Patriots fans care much about the delusional rantings of a few mentally ill people "outside of New England".
The bottom line is that every team breaks rules. As to why the Patriots are the only team that takes the heat when a rule gets broken, well that will always be a mystery.
I imagine it is because they are successful, unlike the Jets, who break rules all of the time, yet have nothing to show for their efforts, except for a Super Bowl trophy from before Man walked on the moon.
Give it up, haters. Nothing you say is going to bother the Patriots fans. Just like fans of all the other cheating teams couldn't care less about how they achieved their success.
Everyone knows that Denver won two superbowls due to salary cap violations. Bronco fans couldn't care less.
Everyone knows the Steelers were roided to the max when they had their Superbowl streak. Steelers fans couldn't care less.
Everyone knows Jerry Rice was using stickum when the 49ers established their dynasty. 49er fans could care less.
coltcountrysteelerfan says:
I don't see Ben making excuses or even whining. He was asked a question and gave the facts he knew.
Get real. The Patriots aren't even in the top half of the list of rule breakers in the NFL.
Come up with some real cheating allegations, other than the played-out "Even though we never change our plays, it's like they knew what we were going to call" nonsense.
nepatriotsforlife says:
I just looked and guess what, there are no astericks next to any of the Patriots Super Bowl victories. Ben needs to stop whining……
docsmith54 says:
Nothing in all of sports frosts more than losing to 'aw, shucks' TB and 'on to nnnn' BB. A backdrop:
BB brought his own craft to the NYG and assimilated a few things to say the least from BP. Blame the Giants organization for adding to BB's formation.
I think someone named 'Bill' should always get first crack at the NE head coaching job – extending the familial 'Bill' continuity. Does McDaniels have 'Bill' for a middle or Confirmation name? Step forward, if you do! This can last longer than the Windsor lock on the GB crown.
kev86 says:
How's the deflators diet going?
publikwerks says:
Can I be the first to point out that there will be alot less communication between the Big Ben and his coaches up in the box when HE ISN'T ON THE FIELD…
nikobelic2014 says:
I just love the fact that they knew about the line shift, didn't prepare for it and still had the nerve to complain about it..
Bill Bellicheck knows that a rare African monkey handles communications between the headsets. Bill also knows that sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. Given that Bill is playing chess, he has circumvented the even playing field, and just hard-wired the communications so that the Patriots never have this problem. Bill figures..hmmmph…if the visiting team has a problem, that is there problem. He is such an great example of Sportsmanship.
Tom Landry and Chuck Noll must be rolling over in their grave.
The Patriots mistakenly hooked up the radio broadcast to the Steelers offensive headsets, when they meant to hook them up to the Patriots defensive staff.
skunkb3ar says:
Still hilarious seeing ignorant haters say things like "kraft admitted it by not fighting it"
1. Even if he CHOSE not to fight it, that is not the same as admitting it.
2. He didn't really HAVE a choice to fight it. Owners don't get to appeal, like players do.
6superbowls says:
They ABSOLUTELY would/will. That's what they do. It's like heroine to them. They just can't stop…
bigbenschancre says:
This just out. Ben announced the headset blew out both eardrums, and he played the entire game in deafness without telling anyone. Miraculously they grew back on the flight home though.
styro1 says:
I find it odd that every time Pitt had the ball it rained much harder and it also got much windier. I wonder if the Patriots bought Dick Chaney's "Halliburton Hurricane Machine" that GWB used in New Orleans that caused Katrina. I also wonder if Kraft bought off Pitt's new Defensive Coordinator so they wouldn't cover Gronk.
Devious bastards!
fearthehoody says:
Non story everywhere but Pittsburgh. Notice how the "New" Steelers are dwelling on this and playing the victim? Steelers I remember would never let this live past 24 hours. They are soft serve! Same thing happened to the Pats yet they got through it and moved on. Champions and chumps I guess
patstipoftheiceberg says:
Pats cheat in thousands of ways
Sounds like a new script for bowl 50
Hard hats for seven
Funny no one talking about the mysterious play clock reset in the 4th qtr.
That's another angle which got press from the Harbaugh megaphone
Surely you are joking? If you aren't you are a bigger loser than your posts repeatedly reveal. There is no mystery…….where there is smoke there is fire…..over..and over…and over again. Pull your head out of the sand and try to join those attempting to deal with reality. Cheating has become so common and acceptable to you it's now comfortable in your DNA. Would love to hear you explain why cheating is bad to your kids……you'll be up for an academy award.
Are Roethsliberger and Tomlin wearing Cindy Crosby's panties? Sure sounds like they're bunching up on them.
istateyourname says:
He also said "She could have left the bathroom any time she wanted to…"
ampatsisahypocrite says:
"the problems would stop when league officials would arrive to inspect the situation and start when they would exit — if, of course, the league officials were arriving when the Steelers didn't have the ball and were leaving when the Steelers did have the ball. Either way, it's at best a strange coincidence that the NFL's statements on the matter never addressed."
Exactly. That's what makes the league's excuse for how this happened so lame.
It's not just that it happens in New England, it's HOW it happens in New England. I'm still waiting for one of you Pats fans electronics experts to explain how the Steelers headsets would miraculously start working again when the league official got close enough to the Pats sideline to tell them they had to take off their sets.
Keep on laughing it off. Your mouths must be getting pretty tired. Or make another "they shoulda covered Gronk" joke… to cover up your own inner guilt.
cross300 says:
This story doesn't make the patriots look bad it makes the Steelers looked unorganized and dumb. The steelers were never known for having a great game plan and well thought group. They tried to bully by hitting you hard running the ball. They just looked bad every time a smarter team that watched film and found ways to defeat them on a regular basis. It sad that people don't understand that studying hard is the key to success not whining after you fail it.
zigthepatsfan says:
the signal stealing would have helped the Pats offense. There were some offensive signals "stolen"but you only use hand signals on O very rarely. And back then the Steelers used the wristband method where all the plays would be on Bens wrist and the OC would just send in a number corresponding to the play. Maybe they left a wristband hanging around lol….But newsflash people: they still "know your plays" most of the time because they study. Really no signals to steal anymore since the D uses the radio now too. THink about how the last SB ended,,,Pats knew what they were going to do…because…wait for it….they'd seen it before!
The Steelers, like virtually all teams, have a school girl crush on the Patriots they can't get over. "We're done talking about headsetgate" says a butt-hurt Tomlin, and then she has one her friends (Benny) dis the guy she can't stop talking about.
The NFL has turned into junior high school.
they later scored an easy TD because the Pats line shifted! Still whining about it
enoughofthatalready says:
Big Ben was the only one to complain about this and only because he thought that you could not shift the line during cadence. He was not aware that it would only be a penalty in that situation if the defense crossed the line. He acknowledged that he was wrong after the game. Nobody is whining about it.
liquidchaoss says:
This is how bad the Patriot haters are. They lose their mind over Brady and some air in a football and all they need to show his guilt is a broken phone.
Yet Big Ben is accused of rape, but pays the woman off out of court to keep her quiet and that is enough for fans to think he is innocent.
So either fans think raping someone is not as bad as taking air out of footballs or they hate the Pats so much, they will use any excuse they can come up with to explain the Pats success.
Oh and lets also look past the fact that Brady had a better game in the second half with "properly" inflated footballs versus the "deflated" footballs he supposedly used in the first half of the Colts AFC championship game. Haters gonna hate no matter what facts you have.
fanofthegame1 says:
Once a cheater, always a cheater.
bradygirl12 says:
Almost a week later and still whining about a game they could have won… You don't need a headset to know that you need to cover Gronk,or manage the clock correctly,or figure out the defensive shift,etc. You lost,Steelers. You're on to San Francisco.
breadmeatcheese says:
Rothelisberger has been such a beacon of truth, and honesty. Then again he just wanted to talk to the headset, not rape it.
phinjunky1985 says:
Sad to see a fan base that waited so long to be relevant get there,only to realize every time they talk about their accomplishments they will have to defend the team they love. The Patriot fan base did nothing to deserve a cheating coach and a quarterback willing to throw two employees under the bus to save his legacy. They deflated balls for him at his request and he stood there and watched as his boss suspended them. Tom Brady is a great quarter back one of the best ever if not the best but ask his equipment people if he's got their back. Tom is a grown man and a leader, he is expected to set an example. I know Patriot fans love Tom but I also know that deep down they know he did it,he just got away with it. Equipment men don't screw up the one thing the the Quaterback back handles every play, they get it the way he likes it.
I'm curious how many Patriot fans really believe that Tom Brady let his equipment managers do what they want with his footballs without his knowledge and then when the ball was in his hand didn't realize something wasn't rite? You work with your tools every day and somebody screws with them but you don't notice,that's a big stretch.
poweri26 says:
John McClain of the Houston Chronicle told a story on a radio show where he was talking to a Patriots linebacker – think it was Ted Johnson – who was talking about how amazing Belichick was as a coach. This conversation happened prior to Spygate. Johnson said during an important game against the Steelers on a crucial 3rd down play late in the game, Belichick called the LB over to the sideline and told him to watch out for a specific trick play. The Pats hadn't practiced against that play in scout and the Steelers hadn't run the play in 2 years. Sure enough, the Steelers ran the trick play and the Pats stopped it and went on to win the game. The LB was so impressed that Belichick was that prepared that he remembered that play call. After the spying and other Pats cheating it seems clear the level of cheating clearly helped the Pats achieve success that men who operate with honesty and integrity may never realize.
kingfish13 says:
C'mon whiners and babies, kiss the rings and get on with your life. You will feel better.
Usually people with stolen rings don't hold them out to be kissed because they're afraid of getting caught.
The Patriot Way! What else is new?
rollsieboys says:
hey ben why don't you and those garbage steelers give back your tainted super bowl win vs the seahawks…if you want to be fair and talk about cheating
sagoucher says:
If your not smart enough to figure out the Patriots just say they cheated. The NFL doesn't understand how the Patriots win all the time. Owners, coaches and a ton of idiot players.
figure8v8racer says:
If Belacheck and Brady didn't cheat they would never of gone to even 1 superbowl
I mistakenly thought he brought it up again today, which it appears he didnt so my bad on that. Only still whining about the headsets so we're making progress. I am actually shocked and a little saddened to see this stuff coming from the Steelers. Always had the utmost respect for that org. Not so much anymore but I'm sure the feeling is mutal lol
earlwert says:
Cheating is gross. Over and over. All the little spoiled brats in Boston are gonnna grow up to think its ok to cheat!!
mmmpierogi says:
It's a radio interview where he was asked about the situation. Nothing he said in response was incendiary, whiny, or excusing — he bluntly admitted to the possibility of being outcoached, outscouted, and/or outplayed. He was also frank in stating that they did a lot of things wrong during the game that caused them to lose. What else do you expect him to say in that situation.
patsrthegreatest says:
Or maybe you could try covering Gronk. just because "big" Ben isn't bright enough to change the play at the line of scrimmage doesn't mean the other team cheated. Looked to me like the Steelers stole the trick play from the pats, but couldn't execute it right
#swisscheesecurtain
I'm curious how many Patriot fans really believe that Tom Brady let his equipment managers do what they want with his footballs without his knowledge and then when the ball was in his hand didn't realize something wasn't rite? You work with your tools every day and somebody screws with them but you don't notice,that's a big stretch
a perfectionist like Tom I believe once he picks the balls he wants to use he doesnt want anyone messing with them. I think if anything McNally would make sure the refs didnt overinflate them like we know they did at least once. But there is absolutely nothing that shows anything evr happened after inspection. Nothing. There is also absolutely nothing that shows Brady wanted the balls under the "legal" limit. He pointed out the PSI rule to the officials…if you planned on breaking a rule would you point out said rule to the "authorities"? only PSI mentioned in all the texts were 13 and 16,,,,one legal, one illegal but the refs did that…Nobody accepts any of this though…Well the Judge did thank jebus lol
Of course he didn't. The whole football prepping process is detailed in his appeal hearing testimony.
What evidence do you have that the footballs were screwed with, and why did you wait so long to come out with it? The NFL could have really used that information a few months ago.
cawsert says:
So now that shifting defensive linemen is known throughout the league as legal play, Ben changed his mind and bitch about the headset even though the league had said it was common issue during the 1st wk of league play and NE didn't cause that. The more you complain, especially 5 days after the defeat, the worse it sound like a complete sore loser. I knew he was a rapist but never thought he was a sore loser. Now he sound just like another QB blaming his team defeat on other people's fault. That, my friend, is the characteristics of a SORE LOSER!!!!
SurfBandits says:
It been said many times since the ESPN/Sports Illustrated articles came out…Commenters call the Patriots cheaters, Brady's a cheater, Belichick's a cheater…I am certain now, that the whole Patriot organization is in every teams/owners heads…!
Blindsquirrelsfindnuts says:
Interesting side note for ya, since spygate the patriots have won more games than any other team with three trips to the super bowl. They also have the best record on the road too.
goskinsgo says:
Deflate gate:
Linebacker catches interception and gives ball for safe keeping to equiptment manager, who illegally (much later) checks the inflation. The linebacker says he had no knowledge the ball was underinflated, and was not sure it would help or hinder anyone
After the manager notified league officials, most reports conflict each other, with only 1 ball being found to be underinflated.
Major Tampering here folks!
As for spygate, Rumors of teams filming their opponents go back to the late eighties. Get over it as I'm sure they were not the only ones to do it. They were just the only ones caught doing it…
Thursday night:
After complaints from the Steelers, neither team had the use of the headsets for their offense.
So who had any advantage?
I'd say the media is now giving the advantage to the Pat's because now everyone is thinking of things that have been done to allow them an advantage (when in reality the overthinking is messing them up!)
tombradyelectricchair says:
Talk to me when you have ^ legit Superbowls, Not 4****
And a crybaby quarterback. Can't wait until the refs stop treating Tammy Brady like Tom Brady.
jld62 says:
…They deflated balls for him at his request and he stood there and watched as his boss suspended them.
How would Brady confirming the belief that they deflated footballs, even if it were at his request, have helped them? The "But Brady made us do it" excuse might have played well with the public, but not with the team (and certainly not with the league).
excusemewhileiwhipthisoutagain says:
"Other instances of superior knowledge that could be explained away by factors like scouting or coaching or updated injury reports morph into cheating when the same minds that failed to properly scout, coach, and/or read the updated injury reports are trying to figure out why and how they were hoodwinked."
Or its cheating.
Its cheating when you establish a database of a teams defensive signals from tape, then pick up their cuts to pump them for confirmation then use that.
Or one can not do any basic research on the Patriots moves of picking up teams DBs, and say its not cheating. Its all in the transaction list. All the pieces are out there, but when they dont fit ones agenda it doesnt get mentioned.
fjw2 says:
… As far as Spygate- that is a FACT that they cheated. Bill said he put the cameras there and that it was illlegal. There is ZERO if ands or buts about it. The patriots are forever cheaters due to spygate, deflategate is just icing on the cake…
And you are WRONG AGAIN. You don't even know the sequence of events that built up to "SpyGate" (which would more accurately be called WrongLocationGate)
In September of 2006, the league sent out a memo which was suppose to clarify a rule (which never existed) about video taping games. It reads:
"Video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."
This was only a memo "reminding" teams about a rule that did not exist. There is no rule that says it is illegal to videotape from the sidelines.
2 months later the Jets were found to have been video taping from their sidelines. No punishment was handed down to the Jets. This gave the impression that the memo was not supported by any actual rule, so video taping from the sidelines was not illegal.
The actual rule reads:
Article 9.1 (C) (14) of the Constitution and Bylaws of the NFL : No member shall: "Use at any time, from the start to the finish of any game in which a club is a participant, any communications or information gathering equipment, other than Polaroid-type cameras or field telephones, including without limitation videotape machines, telephone tapping or bugging devices, or any other form of electronic devices that might aid a team during the playing of a game."
"On the field" is NOT THE SAME as "on the sidelines", but that was what they decided to bust the Patiots for during Spygate, a year after the faulty memo and 10 months after the Jets did the same thing with no penalty.
youknowyourteamisgreatwhenthetrollscantstop says:
I'm sorry, I do not see where his statement is not accepting any losses or even complaining about a loss. Seems to me he's only describing a feeling he had about the game, and now based on the Patriot's track record, there could possibly be something to it, that's all. I know Pat fans love to shout down every person who claims the Patriot organization cheats, but I'm also sorry to try and explain to you all one more time: Your team DID get caught cheating. They have accepted punishment TWICE for cheating. It's really too bad, but the reputation your team has is the one they earned and deserve. And there is NO disputing that fact. Going forward, any advantage the Patriot's may be able to gain, on or off the field, will be scrutinized and whispers of cheating will always be close behind. Accept it, you earned it, plain & simple.
Roethlisberger's comments may not be complaining, but if he were really moving on (as his coach advocates), then a better answer would have been something along the lines of "I'm done talking about that, my focus is on the 49ers." As long as Roethlisberger is willing to answer these kinds of questions, they will continue to be asked.
kcbgreen38 says:
Ben was asked about "headsetgate" and then responded…the article fails to mention that he did not bring it up.
I agree…when a team wins a lot, a lot of muck gets thrown at them. As a Steelers fan, I am always reminded of how we cheated and/or were given our Superbowl wins. It gets old.
I respect Tom Brady and the Patriots…no doubt they are good. Cheating alone is not enough to get you to that many AFC championships and Superbowls. It may give you an edge but you need talent as well.
With all that can happen to a team during the season that is out of their control, sometimes it takes more than talent to get there as well…
It's what makes it so exciting!
positivelybirth says:
The Bills, Jets and Fish have been SO bad for SO long. That's why NE wins the AFCE and gets shut down against real competition in the playoffs.
From SpyGate (2007) thru 2014 the Pats were eliminated from the post-season 6x. How'd that happen? They didn't score, that's how it happened. In fact, in those games where they were eliminated, they averaged just over 16ppg. Look it up. That's why they had to resort to that bush-league, "We're not going to say who's eligible", nonsense against Baltimore. A bush organization.
"John McClain of the Houston Chronicle told a story on a radio show where he was talking to a Patriots linebacker – think it was Ted Johnson … Johnson said during an important game against the Steelers on a crucial 3rd down play late in the game, Belichick called the LB over to the sideline and told him to watch out for a specific trick play. The Pats hadn't practiced against that play in scout and the Steelers hadn't run the play in 2 years. Sure enough, the Steelers ran the trick play and the Pats stopped it and went on to win the game."
Pure BS. The game in question had to be either the 2001 or 2004 AFCCG (the only other Patriots win over the Steelers in the relevant time-frame was their 30-14 win in the 2002 season opener). I checked the play-by-play logs provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com. In the 2nd halves of these two games, the Steelers had five 3rd down plays that they failed to convert on; they are listed below.
Thanks to YouTube, I was able to watch all five plays. There was nothing unusual about the pass plays (no flea flickers or anything like that). The single running play was a straight handoff to Bettis up the middle.
Qtr/Time/Down&Distance/Field Position/Description
2001 AFCCG:
3/9:11/3rd&5/NWE 16/Kordell Stewart pass incomplete intended for Plaxico Burress (defended by Willie McGinest)
4/8:34/3rd&6/NWE 48/Kordell Stewart pass incomplete intended for Troy Edwards (defended by Terrance Shaw)
4/2:54/3&8/PIT 35/Kordell Stewart pass incomplete intended for Hines Ward is intercepted by Tebucky Jones at NWE-47 and returned for 19 yards (tackle by Bobby Shaw)
3/2:57/3rd&5/NWE 30/Ben Roethlisberger pass incomplete intended for Hines Ward (defended by Asante Samuel) [NB: Steelers went for it and scored a TD on the 4th down play]
4/14:17/3rd&3/NWE 3/Jerome Bettis up the middle for 1 yard (tackle by Ted Johnson and Ty Warren)
Since 2007 ("against real competition"):
– AFCE teams are 13-8(0.619) in the postseason, AFCN 15-14(0.517), AFCW 7-10(0.412), AFCS 8-12(0.400)
– The only AFC team with a winning playoff record against the Patriots are the Jets (1-0).
– The Steelers have lost 3 AFC playoff games, all 3 were to teams that lost their next game to the Patriots. The Steelers returned the favor in 2010 (the Jets).
The Patriot Apologist network is on high alert today. Flor figures if you can crank up all the white noise, you can hide the real theft. Bill does the same thing. When he explained ball deflation….did he once mention the only thing that it could be? The ball boys tampered with the balls AFTER they were certified. Or did Bill talk about laces, the change in pressure when preparing the balls, etc?