New Report Says Spygate was Larger than Thought, Deflategate was Makeup Call

Just when you were ready to talk about football, a classic controversy is back.

In a report released by ESPN and Outside the Lines, about 90s sources tell the worldwide leader that the Patriots videotaped the hand signals of opposing teams at least 40 times between 2000 and 2007. Initially, it was believed that the videotaping was limited to a handfull of games.

Among evidence found during a visit to Gillette Stadium by NFL investigators during the Spygate controversy included a library of scouting material containing video tapes of opponents’ signal; detailed notes matching signals to plays for many teams going back seven seasons; and handwritten diagrams of the defensive signals of the Pittsburgh Steelers, including the notes used in the January 2002 AFC Championship Game. After they were found, the tapes and notes were destroyed in a Gillette Stadium conference room.

The Patriots were fined $250,000 for Spygate and lost a first-round draft pick and head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, too lenient for some owners. For many owners, Deflategate gave NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a chance to come down hard on the Patriots. One owner referred to the investigation for Deflategate, “a makeup call”

The Patriots were fined $1 million and lost two draft picks. Quarterback Tom Brady received a four-game suspension, which was vacated last week.

In a statement, the Patriots said:

“The New England Patriots have never filmed or recorded another team’s practice or walkthrough. The first time we ever heard of such an accusation came in 2008, the day before Super Bowl XLII, when the Boston Herald reported an allegation from a disgruntled former employee.

That report created a media firestorm that extended globally and was discussed incessantly for months. It took four months before that newspaper retracted its story and offered the team a front and back page apology for the damage done. Clearly, the damage has been irreparable.

As recently as last month, over seven years after the retraction and apology was issued, ESPN issued the following apology to the Patriots for continuing to perpetuate the myth: ‘On two occasions in recent weeks, SportsCenter incorrectly cited a 2002 report regarding the New England Patriots and Super Bowl XXXVI. That story was found to be false, and should not have been part of our reporting. We apologize to the Patriots organization.’

“This type of reporting over the past seven years has led to additional unfounded, unwarranted and, quite frankly, unbelievable allegations by former players, coaches and executives.

None of which have ever been substantiated, but many of which continue to be propagated. The New England Patriots are led by an owner whose well-documented efforts on league wide initiatives – from TV contracts to preventing a work stoppage – have earned him the reputation as one of the best in the NFL.

For the past 16 years, the Patriots have been led by one of the league’s all-time greatest coaches and one of its all-time greatest quarterbacks. It is disappointing that some choose to believe in myths, conjecture and rumors rather than giving credit for the team’s successes to Coach Belichick, his staff and the players for their hard work, attention to detail, methodical weekly preparation, diligence and overall performance.”