conspiracy thread dedicated to ridiculousness

I have to admit this one I looked at with more of an appreciation for what NE was doing vs thinking it was cheating. I think its kind of ridiculous the officials involvement is needed in these kinds of things and it slows the game down too. Sometimes its a fine line between innovation, bending the rules or exploiting a loophole in the rules. I'm more of the opinion that this falls under the innovation category to be honest. But others think it is unfair. BC of the debate I thought it was worth mentioning.

 

The no huddle was innovation too. Are we going to start making the offense go slow so the defense doesn't get caught with their pants down?

Still though there was a rule that the refs failed to enforce adequately when the Pats played the Ravens and Colts but that's not cheating on NEs part....unless its somehow NEs responsibility to officiate the game too. I jest.

 

Honestly, it's brilliant and yet so simple. An eligible receiver can't be "covered up" on the LOS. If he's on the LOS and there's another player on the LOS outside of him he's ineligible. In the heat of the moment I get that it caught the Ravens by surprise but that's kind of the goal of teams isn't it? Do something that is unexpected?

I was at a Ravens / Steelers game several years ago and the Steelers were in no-huddle driving for a score. During the course of the drive the Steelers got to a crucial 3rd and 1 and shifted out of 4 wide to a power formation. Can't remember all the exact details but Harbaugh wanted to get his base defense on the field for short yardage so he threw a challenge flag on a play he knew he wasn't allowed to challenge. It stopped play, Harbaugh was able to substitute and to be honest I don't remember if the Steelers converted or not. But it was clear Harbaugh knew he couldn't challenge and he took advantage of a loophole to stop play and make a substitution without burning a timeout.

A year later they put the rule in that challenging plays that weren't "challengeable" was a penalty. Was Harbaugh cheating? No of course not. But he found a loophole. It was innovative. If you asked a football guy who has spent years in the league he could give you dozens of examples.

 

One big diversion the past two weeks from NFL Ray Rice coverup, criminally bad officiating, etc:



Deflategate and franchise relocation dominate Goodell press conference
Posted by Michael David Smith on January 30, 2015, 2:43 PM EST
goodell
AP
If you had told NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell a few months ago that when he gave his Annual ?State of the League? press conference before the Super Bowl he wouldn?t have been peppered with questions about Ray Rice and domestic violence, he surely would have been shocked ? and surely would have breathed a sigh of relief.

But at Goodell?s press conference today, domestic violence was not the primary focus ? or even a focus of the questions at all, as questions regarding Deflategate and franchise relocation dominated the discussion.

We?ll have plenty to say here at PFT about Goodell?s answers to various questions, but right now let?s take a look at the questions themselves. Here are the 26 questions Goodell took, grouped into their topics:

Deflategate

Bob Kravitz, WTHR in Indianapolis: Robert Kraft said you owe his team an apology if nothing comes of Deflategate. What are your thoughts?

Howard Eskin, Fox 29 TV: Will you hold Bill Belichick to the same standards in Deflategate as you held Sean Payton to in Bountygate? And why aren?t you available to the media every week, as Richard Sherman suggested?

Mike Reiss, ESPN: Has the NFL ever tested the air pressure of footballs in the middle of a game, and how important is that as a frame of reference in this investigation?

Heather Yako, NBC News 11 in Arizona: Why was Arizona chosen to host the Super Bowl and has Deflategate detracted from the game?

Bart Hubbuch, New York Post: Richard Sherman suggested that you may show favoritism to some owners, including Robert Kraft. How do you react to that?

Jason Cole, Bleacher Report: How is throwing a deflated ball drastically different from throwing a spitball in baseball?

Mark Maske, Washington Post: Will the standards you laid out after Spygate for teams complying with rules continue to apply in Deflategate?

Franchise relocation and ownership issues

Jim Thomas, St. Louis Post-Dispatch: What is the league?s level of commitment to keeping a team in St. Louis and have the Rams? owners followed the league?s relocation guidelines?

Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times: 2015 marks the 20th year without a franchise in the nation?s largest market. Rams owner Stan Kroenke has the resources to move a team to Los Angeles. What criteria will the league use to determine whether a team moves to Los Angeles and what if an owner goes rogue and moves without the NFL?s blessing?

Amber Dixon, NBC Las Vegas: Las Vegas has long expressed interest in having a pro sports team. Could Las Vegas sustain a professional team?

Vic Carucci, Buffalo News: In light of the new ownership in Buffalo, what?s your perspective on the need for a new stadium?

Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune: Can you speak to the fans in San Diego about whether they need a new stadium and has Dean Spanos done enough to demonstrate that he?s tried to work things out locally?

Jeff Duncan, New Orleans Times-Picayune: A lawsuit has been filed in New Orleans questioning Saints owner Tom Benson?s ability to run the team. In your opinion, is Benson mentally and physically capable of running the team?

International expansion

John Sutcliffe, ESPN: It?s been since 2005 since the league has had a regular-season game in Mexico City and the fans don?t understand why. Can you explain why?

Neil Reynolds, Sky Sports: Why have earlier kickoff times been used for London games?

Ian Walker, London Evening Standard: What more does London need to do to grow the game and have a franchise there?

Goodell?s job performance

Barry Wilner, Associated Press: What do you plan to do, specifically, to restore face in the league and in the quote-unquote, Shield?

Darren McKee KKFN, Denver: A lot of people who had a job like yours would probably resign. Can you imagine any circumstances that would lead you to resign?

Rachel Nichols, CNN: A lot of issues have had a conflict of interest. When you hire an outside investigator like Ted Wells, you?re still paying him and Robert Kraft is still paying you. What steps can you take to mitigate some of those conflict of interest issues?

Ron Mott, NBC News: How would you describe your relationship with the players and how will you improve that relationship going forward?

Ken Belson, New York Times: Do you believe you deserve a pay cut for your performance?

Dan Kaplan, Sports Business Journal: Do you think you?ll reach your goal of growing to the point where the NFL will have $25 billion in revenue?

NFL?s youth football and Play 60 initiatives

Jason Winik, Dallas Sports Source: What can you do to get more participation in youth football?

Bobby Sena, NFL Play 60 Super Kid: ?Play 60 is an important part of my life, but how do you play 60? I told you it was a tough question.?

Ticket prices

Dave Briggs, CNBC: The average ticket is more than $10,000. Is that a concern that the league has looked into?

Media

Mike Garafolo, FOX Sports 1: Marshawn Lynch?s cooperation or lack thereof with the media has become a big story. What?s your take on how he handled the media this week and will he be fined?

 

tech, those were some good questions. i especially like the "pay cut" question myself... and the "resign" one too.

 

A fitting champion for a corrupt league.

Who says cheaters never prosper.

Congrats to shady Brady and Bill Belicheat.

A champion at least half the country realizes is an emporer with no clothes.

 

Ok I don't believe in conspiracies but a good motive here could convince me. 1 yard line, 2nd down, a time out, 20 some odd seconds, and Marshawn freaking Lynch and you pass?? And then Wilson threw ahead of the receiver at that. Worst superbowl play call I can think of at the moment. Horrible

 

does the win mean pats are going to be cleared of all wrong doings?

 

Bring on Concussiongate!

h--p://thebiglead.com/2015/02/01/julian-edelman-took-helmet-hit-was-wobbling-not-checked-for-concussion-before-patriots-eventually-scored-touchdown/

 

Kudos to the refs for actually not sucking in the super bowl and for letting them play. At least the refs didn't decide who won.

My original theory was this would be the year we all smile and agree spygate is behind us as Pats win super bowl. I didn't see Deflate-Gate coming but that just seemed (as I said from the start) like a diversion from bigger NFL issues.

The upside for me is the "god-man" Russell Wilson gets to handle diversity and was exposed somewhat the past two games as the product he is of that system (he is no star. Also Pete Carroll genius talk can end.

And yes it was an impressive win for NE last night. I just wonder what other advantages they have that we don't know about. Tom Brady probably has the best radio Intel of any qb.

 

Yeah pretty much. The NFL is now officially bent over and screwed after last night. It's kind of sickening actually.

 

This Super Bowl Win does not wipe away anything (Just Ask Don Shula): "Beli-cheat?" - said Miami Dolphins and Hall of Fame coach Don Shula when asked about Bill Belichick last week.

The Patriots will always have marred Lombardi Trophies.

A cheater per Don Shula with 374 wins, most ever. Mr. 17-0. Two Super Bowl rings and a record six Super Bowl appearances as a head coach.

Belichick, a cheater. Period.

 

did i order the brady interceptions??? YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I DID!!!!!!! SO PEOPLE LIKE YOU CAN SLEEP AT NIGHT!!!!

and i'd do it again.

 

Whatever you say Stanley.

 

stanley? *SCRATCH*

 

Stanley Roper from Three's Company.

 

ohhhhh lol sorry. i'm actually Mr. McCleery from the graduate

 

Mr. Roper was in the Graduate?

 

[video]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUgVCmRXvEo[/video]