I’ve got more questions about the Patriots spy scandal than I do answers.
- Will the Pats do measurably worse now that the league is going to be watching for them videotaping their opponents defensive calls?
- Are the great halftime coaches really just users of illegal spy techniques, as is the logical progression of Brian Dawkins’ thoughts? Or is it just the Pats?
- Unlike some commentators, I consider $750,000 in fines and a first round draft pick a light penalty. With Belichick’s ability to pick talent, losing the draft pick is much less to pay than losing his coaching for, say, the first quarter of the season. Is the light penalty just an attempt to scare everyone else spying as well to cut it out? Because it sure seems designed to bracket further inquiry, rather than make the Pats pay.
- What’s up with Eric Magini’s silence on the issue? Magini’s not the only former Pats Defensive Coordinator who has to compete against Belichick now–though he is the one with the crappiest relationship, as far as I know. But Mangini’s silence sure suggests Mangini learned of the spying practice when he was in New England.
So those are my questions. As to great commentary about the spy scandal, for once Governor Richardson is right on the money:
Democratic Presidential candidate Governor Bill Richardson,campaigning today in Iowa, issued the following statement regarding therecent "spying" incident involving the National Football League’s NewEngland Patriots:
"The President has been allowed to spy onAmericans without a warrant, and our U.S. Senate is letting itcontinue. You know something is wrong when the New England Patriotsface stiffer penalties for spying on innocent Americans than DickCheney and George Bush."
Other than that, I’m just wondering if, for the second weekend in a row, Michigan will be treated to the spectacle of the Lions outperforming the Wolverines…