Growing anger at Patriots over "Deflate-gate"

[Viligant_Warrior]

In the wake of the revelation that the New England Patriots have been caught cheating -- again -- this time by removing two pounds of air from approved footballs for their offensive unit's use during the NFC Championship last Sunday, there are growing calls for severe penalties, including disqualifying the team from the upcoming Super Bowl.

Bloggers on HotAir.com are one thing, but even the Pats' hometown Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy has dissed the team.

Win or lose, Patriots have sacrificed their legacy

We haven’t even gotten to Arizona yet and the mission is already lost. Mike Wilbon of ESPN is calling for the Patriots to vacate the Super Bowl, Calipari-style. Others are saying that Bill Belichick should be suspended. We are waiting to learn whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell — a Robert Kraft frat brother — will punish Belichick and/or the Patriots before the Super Bowl.

The Patriots can win another championship Feb. 1 in Glendale, Ariz. Belichick can join Chuck Noll as the only coaches with four Lombardi Trophies, and Tom Brady can join Joe Montana and Terry Bradshaw as the only quarterbacks with four rings.

But the most important thing — the Patriot legacy — is lost. The Patriots and their fans will never win the “best ever” argument. Everything is tainted. Footballs (reportedly) have been doctored, headlines have been written, and opinions have been formed.

Well, it's impossible to disqualify the Patriots. Even after the deflated balls were removed from the game, New England still scored 28 unanswered points, so not only did they cheat, but it didn't really help them. But the aftermath certainly has.

Seattle, in my opinion, has a few good guys on it, our Christian brother Russell Wilson being the best. But the rest of the team and the head coach tend to be thugs, so it's hard to root for the 'Hawks either, from my viewpoint.

Maybe on February 1, we could show our displeasure with this nonsense by just turning off our TVs. Advertisers paying nearly $5 million for a lousy 30-second spot in the game might notice that.

 

[Elizabeth619]

Considering none of us know exactly what really happened and all we know Is what the media wants to blow out of proportion we probably should not come to our own conclusions. From what I understand it is still under investigation.
Also, balls will lose air pressure in cool weather. Just like a helium balloon outside in the winter.

 

[Anonimous]

It's so comforting that the nation has it's priorities...

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

It's so comforting that the nation has it's priorities...

What kind of lesson does letting the Patriots "get away with it" send to the kids who look up to Brady et al as role models, heroes?

Is it OK to cheat?

Liz ...

Footballs may loose a bit of air in cold weather, but not two pounds.

 

[Grandpa]

There's a reason Coach Shula called him Coach Beli-cheat.

 

[notuptome]

Coach Vince Lombardi once said that winning isn't everything it's the only thing.

Money makes otherwise normal people do crazy things.

Imagine if folks had that much zeal for the Lord. That level of urgency in winning the lost to Christ. Imagine.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[Nautilus]

If you aren't a Patriot then you're a terrorist. Remember that.

 

[jennymae]

If you aren't a Patriot then you're a terrorist. Remember that.

You know this one made me ROFL over and over again LOL.

 

[oldthennew]

the way this world encourages the young to be either a 'sports-star or entertainer',
is ludicrous.

for a 'game' to take over the head-lines world-wide and be the center of attention
and controversy is obviously a huge manipulation ploy for power/control/money.$$$$$$

 

[Nautilus]

Worldwide? I highly doubt china cares or most of the rest of the world. Surprisingly the NFL is pretty much us and england, maybe canada.

 

[dcontroversal]

Well this one does not even make the bottom of the last page of my list of concerns......

 

[Sirk]

Just another in a long line of justification for me not to give a rip about Pro Sports or its employees.

 

[AgeofKnowledge]

I never confuse football with Christianity lolol. Sports franchises are for profit corporations and for profit corporations exist primarily to maximize the wealth of their shareholders like any other for profit corporation. In the course of seeking to maximize their shareholder's wealth, for profit corporations don't always follow the rules (or the law). Obviously, for profit corporations should be prosecuted and the appropriate sanctions, fines, and penalties imposed when they are caught breaking the rules (and/or the law). EOM.

 

[Desdichado]

It's fun to read articles about the deflated balls while not considering the context.

 

[Utah]

Considering none of us know exactly what really happened and all we know Is what the media wants to blow out of proportion we probably should not come to our own conclusions. From what I understand it is still under investigation.
Also, balls will lose air pressure in cool weather. Just like a helium balloon outside in the winter.

The problem is the cold weather seems to have only caused a loss of pressure for the Patriots footballs and not the Colts.

 

[p_rehbein]

It's fun to read articles about the deflated balls while not considering the context.

...........and it's encouraging to realize that so very many have abstained from 8th Grade locker room humor.........

 

[Nautilus]

I wonder if the deflated balls had anything to do with Blount running through the Colts defense like a hot knife through butter? Or that the deflated balls were only used in the first half, yet the Patriots scored more points with the normally inflated balls during the second half?

 

[gb9]

correct. the game was decided by 35 or so points. the deflated ball was probably a factor, but not a Deciding factor.

 

[Viligant_Warrior]

I note that those who remind us of how lopsided the game was -- something I made clear in my OP -- have nothing to say about what this and other cheating incidents the Patriots have been caught in over the years says about their character?

Soft footballs are irrelevant. The franchise is infected with a culture of cheating, and the NFL has another black eye because of the seeming inability to overcome the egos of owners, players, and coaches and instill values that are worthy of transmission to the fans. I don't like Seattle either -- mostly thugs amidst a few bright spots. But I hope the Pats get their heads handed to them Sunday.

 

[Grandpa]

I don't like the Seahawks either but I hope they blow out the Patriots.

But I hope that for every team that plays the Patriots because I have known that the Patriots cheat for a really long time.

I told a friend about this awhile ago and he said if you're not cheating you're not trying hard enough. I still don't like it...