Brady to Ravens: 'Study the rule book and figure it out'

[Willbacker]

Legal or not, the rules clearly state that the spirit of the rules is to prevent a team from using substitutions to confuse the opponent. That is clearly stated. So even if somewhat legal, it is clearly in violation of the stated spirit of the game. Cheats.

What Brady should have said. "Study the rulebook so you can learn how to cheat and deceive". Did anybody hear the refs announce who was eligible and who was not. I sure as heck didn't. It even took the announcers awhile to  figger what Harbaugh was yelling about when he got his unsportsmanlike.

[DWplayer]

Please read this article! It explains it well.

Sorry for the long post, but I just have to get this off my chest, because it is eating at me. I hope I am not the only one that feels this way.

http://espn.go.com/n...early-deception

More than anything that happened in this game, this is what bothers me the most:

This isn't the first time the Patriots have used these kind of trick deceptive plays, this duplicity, this type of chicanery to give them the edge to win a game. If they thought their team was so skilled and talented, why the need to scour the rule book to look for ways to turn rules into plays through deceptive tactics??? Just play ball. Just play the game!

Let the better team win, no matter which team it is, with their play on the field, rather than having to look for ways to get competitive advantage through deceitful double dealing moves. It screams desperation. Are the Patriots that desperate to win? Obviously, and have been for quite a long time.

It takes the phrases "win at all costs" and "win by any means necessary" to another level. Is it illegal, no, but it definitely is underhanded and deceptive. Deception at its minimum is a willingness to give a false impression. Imho, the bottom line is it doesn't speak to fair play and that is the problem I have with the Patriots. Brady confirmed it in his responding comment to Harbaugh....

"Maybe those guys gotta study the rulebook and figure it out. We obviously knew what we were doing and we made some pretty important plays. It was a real good weapon for us."

Yes, YOU obviously knew what you were doing, but the referees didn't and nor did we the first couple of times it was used in this game...hence the deception. And you have the nerve to call that type of duplicity a weapon? Really??? To refer to that type of a move as an important play is deplorable. It was more like by slight of hand. I am sure your fans are so proud. And to think anyone would accuse you of being arrogant, Tom. Oh the humanity, lol. Right guard Wendell even said as much: "I think it just says that it's the playoffs and we are willing to do whatever it takes to win," Wendell said. "There's no good in holding anything back right now." Well there ya go!

Belicheck even described it as a "strategy" that was no different than on a punt team or a situation like that. Nice justification, Bill. I don't think that is what most people think of when they hear the word "strategy" in relation to game planning, Bill. Clever, perhaps, but definitely it was meant to lead astray via underhandedness so therefore it was deceptive.

This isn't the first time we have seen these type of moves from the Patriots. But you tend to see it more in playoff games, and more often than not, it does make a difference in these games as their deceptive moves end in scoring plays. I for one could see that same trick play used in our last playoff game with them coming this time, and it did. That "sideline fighting" move was also seen again in this game, along with Brady's demonstrative whining for a penalty...all designed moves to change momentum in the game, to throw the opposition off kilter to gain an advantage.

I just find all this classless and damaging to the spirit of the game and the concept of sportsmanship. Patriots need to be reminded as the old adage goes "Be humble in victory and gracious in defeat". I don't see anything humble in their post victory commentary. I could be gracious if this was a one time event but it is not and don't see it changing anytime in the future. Personally, I think the Patriots are disgustingly classless as a franchise! And yeah, I said it!

Agree with just about everything here. I hate the Patriots more than the Ravens (but just by a hair)

But the fact remains after all is said and done the Ravens still gave up two 14 point leads. First time ever in NFL playoff history. Give credit where credit is due.

[jaege]

The team is required to report to the refs whether a player is eligible or ineligible.....this was clearly done. Yes, the formation was a bit odd, but protocol was followed. Im sure if the Ravens tried this, none of you would be complaining.

 

 

I am sure it wasn't technically illegal. Belicheck isn't stupid. I am sure he found a "loophole" and exploited it to his advantage. Is it his fault the Refs were a bit lost? No. But really legal or not, it was underhanded. It was contrary to the spirit of the game, which is two teams of players battling it out for dominance. Not some crafty old codger finding a way to manipulate the rules to win the game. 

 

 

And, yes, had the Ravens done the same,  I would have still felt the tactic was unseemly. I would have been disappointed that Harbaugh would have to stoop to something like that in order to win. It is no different than what the Browns tried to pull with that Manziel sidelines stunt. I guess I am one of the few that actually understand and believe in the adage "it isn't whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game".

[JoeyFlex5]

i feel like bellichick and bradys legacys really should be viewed as tarnished because of how dependant they are on gimmicky offense and essentially cheating. they do things that are technically legal but overall should be regarded as unsportsmanlike. to declare a RB and a TE as ineligible and declare 2 lineman as eligibles, and line up and snap the ball before the refs even announce who is and isnt eligible.. thats just wrong, along with kicking a defender in the groin and running back to the line and snapping the ball during an injury that you purposely caused, rushing the snap during substitutions for the sole purpose of drawing a 12 man flag, this has been a great rivalry and all, but the ravens dont win on gimmicks everytime theyre in a big game, thats why they cant win the super bowl, they use up all their gimmick plays because they are desperate, then they have nothing new to pull out of their sleeves come super bowl time. 

 

great game and either team really deserved to win, but you have to admit the patriots total lack of class and sportsmanship, they are disgusting and the fact that they get preferential treatment while pulling these stunts is just ridiculous

[K-Dog]

The team is required to report to the refs whether a player is eligible or ineligible.....this was clearly done. Yes, the formation was a bit odd, but protocol was followed. I

Im sure if the Ravens tried this, none of you would be complaining.

Not even a little bit true.

I KNOW my team can beat just about any team with out that sort of trickery. I would be VERY disappointed if they did.

This is a classy organisation with integrity. When they stray from that I as a fan am let down.

[jimjim5]

The Colts complained to the NFL after we kept beating them.Now u cant breath on recievers. U remember the Colts. Pats didn't break any rules.If they change the rules next year it doesn't mean they cheated this year.It was a great game played by two great teams someone had to lose.

 

I'd like to remember all of those times that we "kept beating them"???????????? The Colts that is....

[Alexir]

Webb said it best, not cheating, just smart.

[Tank 92]

Webb said it best, not cheating, just smart.

 

 

kinda tells you a lot about webb, huh.

[Gtown Purple]

Wouldn't dislike it so much if he wasn't so smug about it. Congrats on winning with tricks, only way you can beat us.

[cursona pirate]

Whatever. Take it as a good thing. They needed tricks to beat us.

[4everraven]

Agree with just about everything here. I hate the Patriots more than the Ravens (but just by a hair)

But the fact remains after all is said and done the Ravens still gave up two 14 point leads. First time ever in NFL playoff history. Give credit where credit is due.

If you hate the Ravens then why are you on this site? To rub losses into the nose of the fan base? Stop please. Be decent. It's not that hard to do.

[ratedr]

Can't wait for Seattle to give them their 3rd straight Super Bowl loss.

[ravensdfan]

Can't wait for Seattle to give them their 3rd straight Super Bowl loss.

I'm still hoping they never make it that far.

[ratedr]

I'm still hoping they never make it that far.

Can we trust Peyton or Luck to go in there and win? Not sure we can.

It would make my YEAR if Peyton did it though. They would never get over it.

[allblackraven]

Wow, I was kinda OK after the game but it hit me hard this morning

 

Seeing that smirk on the face of a zero of a man (is he a man?) makes me want to puke.

[frank cambra]

Same guys who put the Billy Cundiff missed fg ball in their hall of fame. Should we expect anything else?

[Bltravens]

What a greaseball Belichick is.

[ratedr]

Same guys who put the Billy Cundiff missed fg ball in their hall of fame. Should we expect anything else?

Lol I remember that. I was great watching them lose than Super Bowl, would love to see it again.

 

But it Peyton comes into Foxboro and wins that would be the ultimate insult to them.

[wayne]

kinda tells you a lot about webb, huh.

No, it doesn't. He said it right.

[frank cambra]

Lol I remember that. I was great watching them lose than Super Bowl, would love to see it again.

 

But it Peyton comes into Foxboro and wins that would be the ultimate insult to them.

Hopefully everyone can witness the golden one and hoody be 500 all time in super bowls, and cement their legacy as decade long paper tigers. Not much consolation though, something special should have happened last night:/

[Firstdown]

WOW, this thread is amazing, talk about grasping!!! You are upset because an NFL coach came up with a creative way to use a formation that was clearly within the rules. I would be willing to bet my house and my golf clubs that if Harbaugh did the same thing, you all would be calling him a great coach and praising him for doing it. But since it was the Pats, and the game was lost and there were no other "excuses" to use other than what has already been written here many times about DC coaching decisions, its easy to grasp at the "ineligible" rule. 

 

And to be TOTALLY FAIR, if the Ravens did the same thing, i would be here myself complaining about it and calling it unfair and looking to throw it against the wall and hope it stuck......even though i know its legal, but that is what HOME FANS DO!!!!

[Firstdown]

What the Patriots did was legal but so is diving Helmet first into the opponents knees instead of trying to tackle.

 

 

But thank god some teams respect the game of football. 

yep, kinda like how Pollard respects the game.........i have noticed several people here wish he was playing against gronk, and not for his cover skills....

[TSizzle00]

Cocky and an ego-maniac"

That whiner was making fits to the refs all game. There is always an exception to the rule. Him cussing the hell out of the refs and not getting a single nod of penalty was a joke.

 

And getting in the refs face yelling is a penalty, Its not allowed by players or coaches.

[Firstdown]

I'm real happy with how the Ravens went about their business yesterday. I'm not happy with the result but win or lose we have a class organization and we can thank Steve Biscotti for that.

 

If you read Spygate: the untold story  you'd understand they may not be taping but they're still doing something up there skirting the rules, to put it mildly.  If Ernie Adams is still employed bet they are still cheating, bugging locker rooms as Peyton Manning felt (in the book) audio recording quarterback audibles and others and yes the NFL was complicit in the cover up..  

 

 The tackle eligible scam yesterday only solidified the notion that that organization deserves zero credit for anything they've ever accomplished.  They have no scruples when it comes to sportsmanship and fair play.  It's a shame that our coach had to get an unsportsmanlike to get his point across. 

 

Win with class and lose with the same.

So what you are saying is........the 3 times the Pats ran that formation, they made up both 14 point deficits?? Thats what won the game for them, those 3 plays??? 

[TwinRivers]

We know the rule you Horses rear. Harbaugh wanted the refs to start doing their jobs and after informing the defense who was eligible and who wasn't they have to give them time to adjust. With Brady running the no huddle, wow you used the refs again to steal a game, the defense should have been given time to adjust. That comment by Brady just shows how self centered he is that he can do anything to win and the end justifies his means. I don't dislike him because he won it is his personality I don't like.

[ravensdfan]

WOW, this thread is amazing, talk about grasping!!! You are upset because an NFL coach came up with a creative way to use a formation that was clearly within the rules. I would be willing to bet my house and my golf clubs that if Harbaugh did the same thing, you all would be calling him a great coach and praising him for doing it. But since it was the Pats, and the game was lost and there were no other "excuses" to use other than what has already been written here many times about DC coaching decisions, its easy to grasp at the "ineligible" rule. 

 

And to be TOTALLY FAIR, if the Ravens did the same thing, i would be here myself complaining about it and calling it unfair and looking to throw it against the wall and hope it stuck......even though i know its legal, but that is what HOME FANS DO!!!!

The rule book says this about substitution rules: "The rules are in place so that a team cannot use substitutions to deceive their opponent". So perhaps legal, but still unethical.

[ratedr]

We know the rule you dope. Harbaugh wanted the refs to start doing their jobs and after informing the defense who was eligible and who wasn't they have to give them time to adjust. With Brady running the no huddle, wow you used the refs again to steal a game, the defense should have been given time to adjust. That comment by Brady just shows how self centered he is that he can do anything to win and the end justifies his means. I don't dislike him because he won it is his personality I don't like.

The Pats are the most arrogant ***** in the league (self-censoring). That's why it's always so great to see them get their comeuppance. 

[Tank 92]

No, it doesn't. He said it right.

 

 

fitting you would think so.  lol

[Guest]

I hope the Colts/Broncos humiliate him. I don't even want him to sniff the SB this year now. Cheaters they were, cheaters they will always be. It's the only way they can win. Now proven.

 

absolutely.....a leopard can't change its spots

 

they did what they had to win per usual

 

its why I don't even acknowledge their "fans"

 

our secondary was pitiful but their antics are always from the same mold

[stealerhater]

harbaugh should have pulled his players off the field and told the refs that his guys are not playing until it gets fixed...