SportsCenter & OTL Bringing Back Spygate (live, 9AM)

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

Strangely enough, whenever an NFL representative proceeded to the New England sideline to shut down their headsets, the Steelers headsets cleared. Then as the representative walked away from the New England sideline, the Steelers’ headsets again started to receive the Patriots game broadcast.
 

 
 
I wonder if the NFL reps wait to do this at the official timeouts? If anyone has ever listened to a live radio feed through a scanner, they go to dead air during commercials. The commercials must get patched in elsewhere, like from a control truck or at the station.
 
I wonder if that's why the headsets kept clearing when the NFL reps walked to the Pats sideline?
 
Of course, the Steelers could just be lying and crying.

 

[jimbobim]

Couldn't they think of something better than Headsetgate?
 
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/11/at-least-five-teams-have-suspected-patriots-of-headset-tampering/

Yeah how about crygate ? 
 
I mean it's just complete and utter lack of class from Tomlin. Grow up. The offensive line bitching further undermines everything. 

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
 
So definitive. Sometimes the D-line will shift to better attack weak points of the O-line, but go on.

Even if it was, who cares? This goes back to basics BB talked about in A Football Life, where he's asking someone about the difference in penalty yardage at the 1. As an offense, you have to remain disciplined there, since a false start is so much more impactful than an offsided penalty. It's a legitimate and smart strategy to try to draw the flag

Also, maybe don't run the fucking football from the 6 on the next snap? I thought Ben was above this, actually. Guess not.

 

[Van Everyman]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  6m
6 minutes ago
NFL statement on Headsetgate: When there are issues, we do a thorough review http://bit.ly/1geYkyC 

 

[Bleedred]

Honestly, this is fucking hilarious.   

 

[riboflav]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  6m
6 minutes ago
NFL statement on Headsetgate: When there are issues, we do a thorough review http://bit.ly/1geYkyC 

 
Buckle up, folks. Many future first round picks ripe for the taking.

 

[Tokyo Sox]

Yeah how about crygate ? 

Salty Watergate?

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
The problem is that they've Barry Petchesky -- I'm lukewarm about him at best -- as the main guy on this beat.

 
Barry's overall pretty good. I'm pretty disappointed in the way he's written about the Pats over the past few weeks, but usually I like his stuff.
 
He's a Giants fan.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

 
Well that and that Drew Magary has hated everything associated with New England since he, allegedly, had a rough time making friends at Colby or something.  

 
No, he had a hard time at UMich. He transferred into Colby.

 

[jimbobim]

Salty Watergate?

Love it.

 

[Lose Remerswaal]

Quote

Strangely enough, whenever an NFL representative proceeded to the New England sideline to shut down their headsets, the Steelers headsets cleared. Then as the representative walked away from the New England sideline, the Steelers’ headsets again started to receive the Patriots game broadcast.
 

 
maybe he's the problem?
 

 

[Gash Prex]

 
Buckle up, folks. Many future first round picks ripe for the taking.

 
Thats ok, we seem to do just fine with undrafted players and players that were out of football the previous year 

 

[joe dokes]

 
Well that and that Drew Magary has hated everything associated with New England since he, allegedly, had a rough time making friends at Colby or something.  

 
Magary is pretty self-aware and transparent about this stuff. He's not quite tongue-in-cheek, but I've always found his "anti-Patriot" rants to have a Cobert-like (in his former job) quality.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  6m
6 minutes ago
NFL statement on Headsetgate: When there are issues, we do a thorough review http://bit.ly/1geYkyC 

As we speak, they have top men at 345Park trying to apply the ideal gas law to it.......
 
(GREAT pic, Lose)

 

[joe dokes]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  6m
6 minutes ago
NFL statement on Headsetgate: When there are issues, we do a thorough review http://bit.ly/1geYkyC 

 
There's something that EVERYONE can laugh at.

 

[MillarTime]

ProFootballTalk ‏@ProFootballTalk  6m
6 minutes ago
NFL statement on Headsetgate: When there are issues, we do a thorough review http://bit.ly/1geYkyC 

I have no words. So at this point, basically any coach can simply cry about the anything out of the ordinary when they play the Pats and (1) the NFL will indulge them with an "investigation" and (2) it will be taken as gospel nationally that the Pats cheated.
 
The "illegal" defensive shift whining from Fat Ben is both hilarious and pathetic. 

 

[OnWisc]

I only wish that instead of the Patriots radio broadcast, the Steeler headsets were picking up a feed of George Wendt and John Ratzenberger reading poetry.

 

[Bleedred]

I have no words. So at this point, basically any coach can simply cry about the anything out of the ordinary when they play the Pats and (1) the NFL will indulge them with an "investigation" and (2) it will be taken as gospel nationally that the Pats cheated.
 
The "illegal" defensive shift whining from Fat Ben is both hilarious and pathetic. 

I don't take it as that.  If you read the statement by the NFL in the article (see below) then they are acknowledging, it seems to me, that this is a consistent problem all across the NFL.  They look into it (more administratively than conspiratorially) and deal with it.  At least that's how I read it.
 
“The coaches’ communications equipment, including the headsets, is provided by the NFL for both clubs use on game day,” the league said in a statement this morning. “The home team is responsible for the installation and maintenance of that equipment. Every team’s game day communications personnel are required to work with the NFL communications consultants to ensure wireless equipment is free and clear of interference and address any problems. Technological and stadium infrastructure issues of this type happen at many stadiums around the league and whenever there are issues of this nature, we do a thorough review.”

 

[Joe D Reid]

No, he had a hard time at UMich. He transferred into Colby.

He had a hard time at Phillips--the existential dread of townies seems to stem from that.

 

[loshjott]

The same thing will happen in Atlanta or Oakland or Jax or wherever on Sunday and nobody will hear about it.

 

[Harry Hooper]

Even if it was, who cares? This goes back to basics BB talked about in A Football Life, where he's asking someone about the difference in penalty yardage at the 1. As an offense, you have to remain disciplined there, since a false start is so much more impactful than an offsided penalty. It's a legitimate and smart strategy to try to draw the flag

Also, maybe don't run the fucking football from the 6 on the next snap? I thought Ben was above this, actually. Guess not.

 
No doubt. It's just these definitive pronouncements from someone thousands of miles away are beyond the pale.

 

[riboflav]

I don't take it as that.  If you read the statement by the NFL in the article (see below) then they are acknowledging, it seems to me, that this is a consistent problem all across the NFL.  They look into it (more administratively than conspiratorially) and deal with it.  At least that's how I read it.
 
“The coaches’ communications equipment, including the headsets, is provided by the NFL for both clubs use on game day,” the league said in a statement this morning. “The home team is responsible for the installation and maintenance of that equipment. Every team’s game day communications personnel are required to work with the NFL communications consultants to ensure wireless equipment is free and clear of interference and address any problems. Technological and stadium infrastructure issues of this type happen at many stadiums around the league and whenever there are issues of this nature, we do a thorough review.”

 
You're being naive if you think this doesn't turn into a very big deal.
 
On another point, why again does the NFL allow home or any teams so much control over vital equipment issues? It's almost like they want to set the stage for controversy.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

Steelers are filing a complaint with the NFL.  This will lead the nightly news.  

 

[riboflav]

Steelers are filing a complaint with the NFL.  This will lead the nightly news.  

 
If a Boston-based coaching staff did the same, wouldn't there be a very vocal contingent of fans (probably SoSHers) asking if that staff should remain in their positions? I want my coaches focused only on competing and trying to win.

 

[luckiestman]

Bens a 2X rapist (allegedly) and Vick is a dog murderer, but the Pats are classless organization for trying to make the Squealers false start.

 

[Average Reds]

Steelers are filing a complaint with the NFL.  This will lead the nightly news.  

 
My instinctual reaction is that this is a huge mistake by the Steelers. 
 
This is nothing more than piling on, and the NFL has to be smart enough to see how they will be hurting themselves if they play this game much longer.

 

[rodderick]

What I love about the Pats is that even with all the bullshit thrown at them by all these losers, they've never resorted to payback, never complained about some inane shit, they just trucked along as usual.

 

[loshjott]

The NFL said "Technological and stadium infrastructure issues of this type happen at many stadiums around the league and whenever there are issues of this nature, we do a thorough review.”
 
They could do everyone a favor by releasing the data on number and location of those reviews over the past 10+ years.  
 
 
But they won't.

 

[MuppetAsteriskTalk]

So yeah, it took 1 game for this shit to start all over.
 
Mr. Kraft, it's time for blood in the street. Fuck your golfing buddies.

 

[Leather]

 
Honestly, I like Magary. He was hilarious when Patriots fans were ready to tear down Brady after the Chiefs game last season.
 
Anyways, he's not on the "reporter" side of things.

 
I like Magary, too, but he does hate the Patriots and New Englanders in general.

 

[jimbobim]

Per Mark Daniels projo. from BB

 

[CaptainLaddie]

Steelers are filing a complaint with the NFL.  This will lead the nightly news.  

Is this true or speculation?

 

[Leather]

He had a hard time at Phillips--the existential dread of townies seems to stem from that.

 
He didn't go to Phillips.  I would have known him.  It must have been some other place.

 

[edmunddantes]

 
Defense, State, what's the difference? [/von clausewitz]

This is kind of like the Sarah Palin "I can see Russia from my house" remark. It was never actually uttered by her personally (it was Tina Fey), but Sarah Palin was dumb enough in other things that everyone just associated it with her.
 
Volin didn't do that tweet. It was satire.

 

[CantKeepmedown]

Is this true or speculation?

True, unfortunately.
 
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13629657/pittsburgh-steelers-reportedly-file-complaint-nfl-headset-failure-new-england-patriots-game

 

[BornToRun]

Bens a 2X rapist (allegedly) and Vick is a dog murderer, but the Pats are classless organization for trying to make the Squealers false start.

This just about sums it up. The Steelers and their fans saying anything about integrity/honor/class is fucking rich.

 

[Leather]

So after Roethlisberger says "It wasn't a big deal", they are complaining?

 

[Leather]

True, unfortunately.
 
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13629657/pittsburgh-steelers-reportedly-file-complaint-nfl-headset-failure-new-england-patriots-game

 
Well, the NFL is going to reap what it has sown.  Good work.  

 

[rodderick]

So after Roethlisberger says "It wasn't a big deal", they are complaining?

They have nothing to lose. They needle the Pats and they have public opinion on their side. At worst the NFL says they looked into it already and there was no funny business and the Steelers can say they did their due dilligence. This is the equivalent of a temper tantrum.

 

[Salem's Lot]

They have nothing to lose. They needle the Pats and they have public opinion on their side. At worst the NFL says they looked into it already and there was no funny business and the Steelers can say they did their due dilligence. This is the equivalent of a temper tantrum.

Have you guys been paying attention the last 7 months? There's no way this doesn't spiral out of control into another epic clusterfuck. This is the NFL we're talking about.

 

[bankshot1]

This is almost unbelievable .
 
Next time the Pats jam the Steeler's headsets, instead of the game play-by-play, they should put a playlist together, of "You Can't Always Get What you Want, Communications Breakdown, and Tears of A Clown.

 

[Carmine Hose]

The first quarter jamming of the headsets really paid off with that 0-0 score.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Per Mark Daniels projo. from BB

More of that statement from BB:
 
https://twitter.com/MarkDanielsPJ/status/642353196313219072

 

[dcmissle]

You have to get a grip. People were saying here a few days ago that the stolen play sheet allegations would get legs and they haven't. And they won't.

Yes, the Steelers filed a complaint. The complaint relates to how the League handled this last night -- the breakdown, and then how it was handled. Tomlin admitted it was eventually corrected.

The League has said it provided the equipment, worked with Pats personnel, and that the issue was probably weather related.

 

[Morning Woodhead]

 
Well, the NFL is going to reap what it has sown.  Good work.  

 
I'd like to think that at some point this season, when the NFL is wasting resources and money investigating the 10th stupid claim against the Patriots, they realize they created this monster. 

 

[loshjott]

True, unfortunately.
 
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/13629657/pittsburgh-steelers-reportedly-file-complaint-nfl-headset-failure-new-england-patriots-game

 
"Yahoo! Sports, citing an unnamed source, reported that the Steelers will file a complaint with the league about both the equipment failure and officials not turning off headsets on both teams' sidelines."
 
My guess (hope?) is cooler heads will prevail among the Steelers brass and they won't file this complaint.  It won't help them win games this season, that's for sure.

 

[RedOctober3829]

BB on the headset issues.
 
https://twitter.com/MarkDanielsPJ/status/642353637063307264

 

[Padaiyappa]

http://www.steelers.com/news/article-1/Steelers-come-up-short-vs-Pats-28-21/ad8bc9f4-cbe1-4730-ac8d-e9e9aee21c5f

 
 
This is the kind of stuff that happens to the visiting team in Gillette Stadium all the time. From the start of the game through the opening 14 minutes of the first quarter, the Steelers’ coaches’ headsets were receiving the Patriots Radio Network broadcast of the game. The broadcast was so loud that the Steelers coaches were unable to communicate, and the NFL rule is that if one team’s headsets are not working the other team is supposed to be forced to take their headsets off. It’s what the NFL calls the Equity Rule. Strangely enough, whenever an NFL representative proceeded to the New England sideline to shut down their headsets, the Steelers headsets cleared. Then as the representative walked away from the New England sideline, the Steelers’ headsets again started to receive the Patriots game broadcast.

This is what is being reported in Pittsburgh. Do you really think the Pats would be this stupid to execute a scheme like this after coming off cheating allegations from ESPN and try to evade league officials? NO. 
 
Tinfoil hat me says that the ESPN AV team screwed around with the headset system to give more legs to there  spygate  story to execute a scheme like this.

 

[jimbobim]

You have to get a grip. People were saying here a few days ago that the stolen play sheet allegations would get legs and they haven't. And they won't.

Yes, the Steelers filed a complaint. The complaint relates to how the League handled this last night -- the breakdown, and then how it was handled. Tomlin admitted it was eventually corrected.

The League has said it provided the equipment, worked with Pats personnel, and that the issue was probably weather related.

This is a parody. Interesting Florio wouldn't put this on his byline 
 
While the Spygate investigation was ongoing during the second week of the 2007 season, Chris Mortensen of ESPN reported that “The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday’s game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.”
Shortly after Mortensen’s report, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that he was penalizing the Patriots for taping opposing teams’ signals. But Goodell said nothing about the Patriots violating any rules with respect to headset communications.
However, Mortensen then reported that taping opposing teams’ signals “could be the tip of the iceberg, and that the Patriots’ practices could include jamming the radio frequency in opponents’ head-sets, and miking the Pats’ defensive linemen to hear the offense’s audibles and the cadence between the center and the quarterback.”
No NFL discipline came from those allegations. And the fact that Mortensen was the reporter who broke the news of those allegations will lead many in New England to dismiss it. After all, Mortensen was also the reporter who incorrectly reported that 11 of 12 footballs the Patriots used in the AFC Championship Game were two PSI below the NFL’s 12.5 PSI minimum. If a false Mortensen report hurt the Patriots during Deflategate, then a Mortensen report about the Patriots in Spygate and Headsetgate won’t be received well in New England.
But the mere fact that the allegations existed — and that multiple teams have suspected the Patriots of headset tampering — means the NFL has a problem on its hands. There’s a perception that the Patriots cheat, and a perception that the NFL either isn’t willing or isn’t able to stop it.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2015/09/11/2007-spygate-investigation-included-signal-jamming-accusation/

 

[dcdrew10]

 
I'd like to think that at some point this season, when the NFL is wasting resources and money investigating the 10th stupid claim against the Patriots, they realize they created this monster. 

Or the constant accusations will serve as a sort of confirmation bias and they'll go harder at the Patriots because Goodell needs to be right and really nail them.