2008 Woodie Awards
sports column
Matt Linden
Issue date: 9/26/07 Section: Sports
With three games in the books, the New England Patriots have been unstoppable and look like the team to beat this season.
This is the perfect team: Tom Brady picks the opposition apart with new targets Randy Moss and Wes Welker, their defense is consistently dependable and makes big plays, and the Pats' coaches know exactly what the other teams are calling.
Now I don't know how long this has been going on, but does the great Bill Belichick really need to stoop so low as to steal signals using a hidden camera? No wonder why they call him a "master strategist."
It makes no sense to me why he looked for an "extra edge" and took a big risk that he could have done without. If I had the personnel, quarterback and defense Belichick works with, I would let the season play out as it should and not try to pull unnecessary strings.
I have no problem with teams simply picking off signals from opposing defenses because every team does it. It's just like steroids in baseball; the majority of players take or have taken steroids, but nothing is proven and the public builds their own opinions.
However, Belicheat and the Pats crossed the line by videotaping the opposing team's signals and got caught red-handed. And who better to catch him than his former apprentice, Eric Mangenious (Yes I know, I'm a Jet fan).
I lost a lot of respect for the New England Patriots organization and Bill Belichick, who should have been suspended at least two games instead of the fine.
Moving onto America's favorite pastime, both the Red Sox and Mets picked a great time to get in a funk with only seven games left for them to hold off the Yanks and Phillies, respectively. The Red Sox have already clinched a playoff spot in the AL, while the Mets continue to make fans nervous because their bullpen can not get the job done.
This year seems like the perfect opportunity for the better New York team (the Mets, of course) to make a run in the postseason.
This is the perfect team: Tom Brady picks the opposition apart with new targets Randy Moss and Wes Welker, their defense is consistently dependable and makes big plays, and the Pats' coaches know exactly what the other teams are calling.
Now I don't know how long this has been going on, but does the great Bill Belichick really need to stoop so low as to steal signals using a hidden camera? No wonder why they call him a "master strategist."
It makes no sense to me why he looked for an "extra edge" and took a big risk that he could have done without. If I had the personnel, quarterback and defense Belichick works with, I would let the season play out as it should and not try to pull unnecessary strings.
I have no problem with teams simply picking off signals from opposing defenses because every team does it. It's just like steroids in baseball; the majority of players take or have taken steroids, but nothing is proven and the public builds their own opinions.
However, Belicheat and the Pats crossed the line by videotaping the opposing team's signals and got caught red-handed. And who better to catch him than his former apprentice, Eric Mangenious (Yes I know, I'm a Jet fan).
I lost a lot of respect for the New England Patriots organization and Bill Belichick, who should have been suspended at least two games instead of the fine.
Moving onto America's favorite pastime, both the Red Sox and Mets picked a great time to get in a funk with only seven games left for them to hold off the Yanks and Phillies, respectively. The Red Sox have already clinched a playoff spot in the AL, while the Mets continue to make fans nervous because their bullpen can not get the job done.
This year seems like the perfect opportunity for the better New York team (the Mets, of course) to make a run in the postseason.
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