tony hipchest
12-13-2006, 11:07 AM
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2696227
Updated: Dec. 13, 2006, 11:47 AM ET
NFL: Dolphins violated no rules vs. Pats
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Without convening a Congressional hearing or hiring an independent counsel to investigate the incident, the NFL has ruled that the Miami Dolphins violated no league rules in the Tapegate affair associated with the team's 21-0 victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday.
The incident spawned considerable attention on Tuesday after Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas suggested to the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post that the team "purchased" tapes of the New England offense that provided audio of Pats quarterback Tom Brady making audible and line-blocking calls.
Thomas strongly hinted that the tapes were critical in preparing for the game and provided the Dolphins inside information about the New England offensive audible system.
"I've never seen [Brady] so flustered," Thomas said. :chuckle:
The league's response? Pretty much a stifled yawn, since there is no rule prohibiting such film study. :yawn:
"Reaction around the league office was, 'That's football,'" said AFC spokesman Steve Alic.
Even with the contentions of Thomas and other Miami defenders, there remains uncertainty over just what measures the Dolphins took in their surveillance of the New England offense. While players said the team "purchased" the tape, coach Nick Saban said his club simply watched TV replays of Brady in an attempt to decipher the calls.
One Miami defender said it is common practice to take a TV tape of a game and enhance the volume to try to hear the quarterback's signals. The so-called "coaching" tapes supplied by the league to teams do not include audio. Television tapes often capture a quarterback's calls at the line of scrimmage because of the parabolic microphones used on the sideline.
Despite the attention garnered by the story, most league observers dismissed the importance of whatever the Dolphins did and chose to attribute the shutout victory to superior execution.
The Dolphins limited the Patriots to 12 first downs and 189 yards and held Brady to 78 passing yards and a passer rating of 55.1 while sacking him four times.
its also been speculated that tom bradys cadence telegraphs a run vs. pass play. saban is backtracking from zachs story, and why would the dolphins give away "trade secrets" anyways? yesterday james hasty on sportscenter suggested this is dirty and has no place in the nfl. and he was a DB? so what do you think? dirty or part of the game?
Updated: Dec. 13, 2006, 11:47 AM ET
NFL: Dolphins violated no rules vs. Pats
By Len Pasquarelli
ESPN.com
Without convening a Congressional hearing or hiring an independent counsel to investigate the incident, the NFL has ruled that the Miami Dolphins violated no league rules in the Tapegate affair associated with the team's 21-0 victory over the New England Patriots last Sunday.
The incident spawned considerable attention on Tuesday after Dolphins middle linebacker Zach Thomas suggested to the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post that the team "purchased" tapes of the New England offense that provided audio of Pats quarterback Tom Brady making audible and line-blocking calls.
Thomas strongly hinted that the tapes were critical in preparing for the game and provided the Dolphins inside information about the New England offensive audible system.
"I've never seen [Brady] so flustered," Thomas said. :chuckle:
The league's response? Pretty much a stifled yawn, since there is no rule prohibiting such film study. :yawn:
"Reaction around the league office was, 'That's football,'" said AFC spokesman Steve Alic.
Even with the contentions of Thomas and other Miami defenders, there remains uncertainty over just what measures the Dolphins took in their surveillance of the New England offense. While players said the team "purchased" the tape, coach Nick Saban said his club simply watched TV replays of Brady in an attempt to decipher the calls.
One Miami defender said it is common practice to take a TV tape of a game and enhance the volume to try to hear the quarterback's signals. The so-called "coaching" tapes supplied by the league to teams do not include audio. Television tapes often capture a quarterback's calls at the line of scrimmage because of the parabolic microphones used on the sideline.
Despite the attention garnered by the story, most league observers dismissed the importance of whatever the Dolphins did and chose to attribute the shutout victory to superior execution.
The Dolphins limited the Patriots to 12 first downs and 189 yards and held Brady to 78 passing yards and a passer rating of 55.1 while sacking him four times.
its also been speculated that tom bradys cadence telegraphs a run vs. pass play. saban is backtracking from zachs story, and why would the dolphins give away "trade secrets" anyways? yesterday james hasty on sportscenter suggested this is dirty and has no place in the nfl. and he was a DB? so what do you think? dirty or part of the game?