FoxboroNation

Spy Vs. Spy—Please Make It Over!

Will someone please step forward from somewhere and put an end to this idiotic charade that has come to be known as "SpyGate"?

Honestly, I thought Commissioner Goodell's talk would have nailed the coffin shut on this silliness, but he (or actually his lawyers) kept the Pandora's Box open with cryptic comments about Matt Walsh "being there" (make your own Peter Sellers references at your own risk) during the Rams walk-through prior to Super Bowl Win I. Moreover, Walsh supposedly communicated what he saw to the Pats coaching staff. What????

"No tape, but his mouth agape", as the late Johnnie Cochran might say.

Then, Walsh traipses down to D.C. to meet up with Arlen "Pristine Magic Bullet" Specter to further muddy the water on "BeingThereGate". Add to all of this the atrocious reporting gaffe by the Herald's John Tomase, who perpetuated the myth that a tape existed. Shame on him. We await his explanation on Friday.

This is all coming down to a stand-off between those in the media who adore Belichick and those who have a hatred of the coach that borders on the liberal political media's "Bush Derangement Syndrome". Once again, the "mainstream media" thinks it is the real story. How sad.

From where this non-mainstream commentator sits the Patriots were guilty of taping opposition coach's signals for years—in violation of the NFL's explicit policy. They were wrong for that. Belichick's explanation that he "misinterpreted" the rule (he claims he thought the ban was only for use on that week's game) is plausible but not wholly convincing. It depends which side of the "Bill Derangement Syndrome" fence you're sitting on.

The Pats and the coach were fined heavily for their misdeeds. They don't do it anymore. And, it appears that they never taped the Super Bowl walk-through. Speculation about whether any intelligence was passed on orally assumes Walsh has any intelligence—which this whole incident calls into serious question. So, basically, it's a non-story now. Can we please get on with our lives?

Please, someone, END IT!

Pats Take TN LB With 10th Pick

After trading away the 7th pick, the Pats picked Tennessee linebacker Jerod Mayo with the 10th overall pic.

2008 Pats Schedule

New England Patriots

1 Sept. 7 Kansas City Chiefs 1 p.m.
2 Sep. 14 at New York Jets 4:15 p.m.
3 Sep. 21 Miami Dolphins 1 p.m.
4 Sep. 28 Bye
5 Oct. 5 at San Francisco 49ers 4:15 p.m.
6 Oct. 12 at San Diego Chargers 8:15 p.m.
7 Oct. 20 (Mon.) Denver Broncos 8:30 p.m.
8 Oct. 26 St. Louis Rams 1 p.m.
9 Nov. 2 at Indianapolis Colts 8:15 p.m.
10 Nov. 9 Buffalo Bills 1 p.m.
11 Nov. 13 (Thurs.)New York Jets 8:15 p.m.
12 Nov. 23 at Miami Dolphins 1 p.m.
13 Nov. 30 Pittsburgh Steelers 4:15 p.m.
14 Dec. 7 at Seattle Seahawks* 8:15 p.m.
15 Dec. 14 at Oakland Raiders 4:15 p.m.
16 Dec. 21 Arizona Cardinals 1 p.m.
17 Dec. 28 at Buffalo Bills 1 p.m.

Please Re-Wind And Put In The Right DVD

OK, it's been a little over a month now. It should be fading—this feeling of utter doom whenever Manning The Lesser makes another speech or gets another endorsement or just opens his trap.

I can't honestly say I hate the guy, or the Giants for that matter. I'm old enough to remember rooting for Jim Katcavich and Andy Robustelli and Frank Gifford—before the Pats were a glimmer in Billy Sullivan's eye. But it still irks the hell out of me to think that the "perfect season" was lost so unimaginably on the world stage. It didn't really happen, right?

So, cut me a break, why don't you? Wake me up from this nightmare. Re-wind the tape, sack the little twerp on 3rd down like you should have, and hoist that 4th trophy aloft.

Damn!