Kornheiser, Wilbon Think Patriots Latest Comments Are 'Aimed at Discrediting' Walsh

The fine folks at PTI weigh in on the latest episode in the Spygate saga: the response from Bill Belichick and Scott Pioli about Matt Walsh's claim that he has video evidence of the Patriots cheating.

Like FanHouse's Michael David Smith wrote yesterday, Tony Kornheiser and Mike Wilbon are of the opinion that by speaking out now, it looks like the Patriots are trying to discredit Walsh. So even if he does eventually produce video of, say, New England taping the St. Louis Rams walkthrough in the day before the Super Bowl, Belichick and Pioli can claim Walsh was working alone.

The PTI guys also find laughable Belichick's assertion that that the filming of opposing teams' defensive signals ranked about a "one" on a scale of one to 100 in terms of information gained. Which raises the obvious question: why do it. The Boston Globe's Mike Reiss asked just that and got this response: "Why do anything? Why study tendencies? Why study stances?" Um, okay.

In any event, on the latest charges leveled by Walsh, the Patriots are innocent until proven otherwise. Even though public opinion has already been shaped by previous events, perceived and real.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-19-2008 @ 3:41PM

AA said...

I thought Bill was just responding the the boston writer stating that Bill was making things worse by not talking about this issue and that he needed to address it. Irregardless of whether or not Walsh produces any evidence, I think the Patriots have been pretty much tried and convicted by the public. To the point of a lawsuit being filed based on a rumour? Yikes. Not sure what that says about this country. I think it would be an interesting story to delve into human psycology and how we can really be like sheep in this country when it comes to taking what the media says as fact and running with it. not to mention that most americans do not get this excited or passionate about things that actually matter. If only we were this passionate about our government and how messed up that system is instead of putting all our energy into the breaking of a NFL league rule.

2-22-2008 @ 6:53PM

Tom Slavin not Brady said...

There is a lot of jelousy of the Patriots accomplishments,and the way you 2 guys talk about something as stupid as videotaping an offensive coaches actions durring a game,in which by the way any body with a camera could do.tells me that you two guys are propably the most jelous. Give it up and report some real news jerks.

2-20-2008 @ 10:41AM

jsharpe0047 said...

It's simple, the NFL and Walsh are locked in legal differences that will never be resolved. Thus, it has become a dead issue.

So since Walsh has gotten away with making claims that are unproven, and will continue to be, why can't the Patriots release their own statement that basically discredits Walsh. Why does Walsh get to discredit the Patriots and not the other way around?

Since people hate the Patriots and are looking for anything to hang on them, Walsh was successfully able to discredit the Patriots with speculation! If the Patriots comments are untrue, Walsh has the same legal right to attack the Patriots as the Patriots would if Walsh is lying.

2-21-2008 @ 7:25AM

Bill Walters said...

j sharpe,

We don't hate the patriots why should we? We are NFL fans we all have our favorite teams, favorite players, some we watch from jr high through high school, college and pro. We love this sport, the talent, the skill that goes with it. We watch the draft and even attend it to see where that raw new talent is going. We read the news and watch the sports to follow our passion. We schedule life events around the games.

What we hate is the fact that your favorite coach disgraced, and has damn destroyed this sport we love. This has the potential to be as consumed as drugs in baseball. All because your coach wanted a win above and beyond what is morally accepted. When we watch a game we want the outcome decided by the individual players performance; not by some sloppy "break or bend" the rules creep.

It just so happens this fiasco started with your favorite team. The possability ( and we believe it is) that your records and your wins are not legitimate.

We do no hate The Patriots but we sure as hell don't accept dishonesty from your creepy coach-----------WE DO WANT justice. And the measly fine and coverup is unacceptable.

Like I have said, don't take it so hard, you didn't do it.

2-21-2008 @ 11:40AM

Bill if you take the "speculation" of the taping of the Rams walk through out of the equation, which btw, I would agree is a bad thing. Then you're left with the taping of the Jets signals.

Now, I'm defending my coach here but not completely, because the rules DONT state that you are not allowed to tape the opposing teams signals, I can understand why Bellicheck did it. Signal stealing in the NFL is not new. However, the rules DO state that the location of coaching purposed cameras CANNOT be anywhere but in a roofed, with three sides coaching camera structure, that is where Bellicheck goofed. The rules are clear on that.

So since having a camera in the wrong location is what Bellicheck did, I can't crucify the guy for that. Which goes back to what most Pats fans here where saying, IT'S NO BIG DEAL!!!!

OK, now include the taping of the Rams. That IS a big deal. I once told you that bending of the rules happens all the time in everyones professional careers, but taping of the walk through goes beyond bending rules. I would equate it with corporate espionage.

But until I get some proof and since I never will, IT'S A DEAD ISSUE!!!!

The Pats didn't ruin football. They've made it more popular than ever.

2-22-2008 @ 4:30AM

This cheating and bending the rules you refer to.....Only a select few try that in business and they are pinpointed immediately. They certainly aren't successful. The real world isn't like Hollywood drama. EGO's yes quite a few have large EGOs like Billycreep and some will even try his tactics...but they seldom make it or climb the corporate ladder by doing so.

Actually quite the opposite is happening as far as the popularity of the NFL. Just like voter apathy in this country fans are showing apathy towards the NFL. No one wants to be cheated or involved.

Its not just about a simple filming escapade...its everything else and the suspicion of other cheating. The I told you so...its all fixed.

Isn't it funny how more and more just keeps coming out? If you think this was an isolated incident and its all wrapped up; well, you need to open your sleepy little eyes.