Cameragate and “Belichick the Cheater”

As an ardent Pats fan, it’s a little tough to be thoroughly unbiased about an issue that has drawn out even the most hidden resentment towards the Patriots. Anything I say to defend my team will be seen as it comes through the fan’s window pane. Of course you can expect LaDainian Tomlinson to put his two cents in. The upcoming game has a lot to say about the outcome of his statements. If the sans-camera Patriots defeat the Chargers at home on Sunday, they will appear to be partially vindicated, however, if they lose, I fear it will bring on more criticism of past victories and even taint the super bowl victories? Criticism has also come from the Steelers camp, another enclave of Patriots’ bitterness. It comes in from Carson Palmer, who’s Bengals are dealing with their own run-ins with commissioner Goodell and the player suspensions that plague their criminal players. Palmer wants the NFL to throw the book at Belichick as hard as it has befallen his Bengals. And finally, it pours in from those people who have had to listen to 5+ years of media fed propaganda about how classy Kraft’s organization is.

I have written about the Pats here and indirectly about their class as an organization and I have to admit, there is no way I can defend Belichick’s class here. His job has always been to win games and not to be some sort of messiah for moral fortitude on and off the football field. Somehow being a proponent of team play has made media and fan alike identify Belichick with the qualities of being a team player, which he is not. Belichick’s goal for team first, individual second derives from simple math. It takes eleven men on both sides of the ball for a team to be most successful. While the Patriots are comprised of many classy team players, our coach may not be one. Nonetheless, he is a supreme head football coach, and the methods by which signal calls by opposing teams are deciphered are just another gun in his tremendous arsenal. While videotaping the defensive play signals from the sideline may seem excessive (and illegal), there is a reason that the opposing team gives signals…so the other team won’t understand. Every team has their people whose job is to steal signals. That is why offensive coordinators cover their mouths when speaking. Any edge, any advantage where the endgame is victory. But illegal is illegal and victory by cheating is so cheap and it tears Belichick down from the “team first” high horse back to the pit with the rest of us…all too willing to sacrifice values for a cheap win.

The puzzling part is why he did it in the first place? What advantage did filming an opposing team’s signals give in that game. I have heard logic that by the second half, after analysis in the film room during half-time, the signals for the defense could be cracked and the offense could plan on the go but previous games don’t support that argument. The Patriots were clueless in the second half of the Pats-Colts AFC championship game last year. (By the way, nothing has come from the Colts about this incident) While Belichick is hailed as a king of the second-half adjustment, I can’t imagine how videotaping signals can be more advantageous during a game, then just having a guy watch the signals and mark them to each play. A set of binoculars and a pen is the old-fashioned way and works as well as videotape. Probably faster too. I can’t wait until this is all forgotten, the Pats get their (light) punishment and we can move on and try to win another super bowl, tainted or otherwise.