Tuesday stupid: The Colts are cheaters!!!11!
posted at 12:14 pm on November 6, 2007 by Bryan
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Here’s the echoing gun, or whatev.
I remember rumors that the Vikings were pumping in noise and even doing something weird with the goalposts in their dome back in the 1980s, but nothing ever came of that.
In the Indy case, it’s possible that they’re looping sound into the dome, but there are other ways to explain that noise. It sounds like feedback to me, which might be caused by a hot mic that’s either being used by the stadium or by the broadcast network. Absent some hard evidence, I can’t vote to convict the Colts of cheating on this one.
Update: Cuffy linked this story in comments:
A day after some unusual sounds were heard during the Colts-Patriots broadcast Sunday, the NFL issued a statement saying what sounded like simulated crowd noise was actually created by the CBS production crew, not the Colts.
“CBS has informed us that the unusual audio moment heard by fans during the Patriots-Colts game was the result of tape feedback in the CBS production truck and was isolated to the CBS broadcast,” the league said. “It was in no way related to any sound within the stadium and could not be heard in the stadium.”
Maybe the Patriots were trying to frame the Colts? Bwahahahaha!
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NFL says calm down: “CBS has informed us that the unusual audio moment heard by fans during the Patriots-Colts game was the result of tape feedback in the CBS production truck and was isolated to the CBS broadcast,” the league said. “It was in no way related to any sound within the stadium and could not be heard in the stadium.”
Cuffy Meigs on November 6, 2007 at 12:21 PM
yea that sure as hell wasnt a mic. tape feedback in the truck sounds like a reasonable explanation.
ernesto on November 6, 2007 at 12:21 PM
Call the Pats, Belichick may have a tape ready for you.
dedalus on November 6, 2007 at 12:22 PM
Just a bunch of Pats fans trying to deflect attention from their getting caught cheating. If they make everyone look like cheaters, they’ll seem clean by comparison.
Zaire67 on November 6, 2007 at 12:22 PM
The CBS explanation of it being feedback is the correct one.
Krydor on November 6, 2007 at 12:22 PM
It didn’t effect the outcome of the game or performance of the players did it? The Patriots won! Take it easy and let it go already.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 12:24 PM
It is something wrong with the playback mechanism, there appears to be NO crowd noise after they turn it off.
bbz123 on November 6, 2007 at 12:24 PM
The lizardoid people did it.
BadgerHawk on November 6, 2007 at 12:25 PM
Ron Paul was in attendance
EricPWJohnson on November 6, 2007 at 12:28 PM
But then again, the NFL said fire melted steel…
Cuffy Meigs on November 6, 2007 at 12:28 PM
Dang. I didn’t know the Clintons are part of New England management.
BacaDog on November 6, 2007 at 12:29 PM
I noticed that feedback at the time. Doesn’t make sense for them to have to pump in noise in that small dome. It’s loud enough in there as it is.
Still, teams do whatever they can for an advantage. The Giants used to open and shut the end zone entrances so the wind would blow in when the oppenent had the ball. I don’t think it ever made much difference, since the wind swirls in different directions in that building, depending where you are.
JammieWearingFool on November 6, 2007 at 12:37 PM
I’ve always noticed that there seems to be more crowd noise on CBS broadcasts and figured that CBS was adding it per their fake but accurate agenda.
Brat on November 6, 2007 at 12:42 PM
If true – so what?
Ever been to a college game – piped in noise is what it’s all about…
Who cares?
jake-the-goose on November 6, 2007 at 12:43 PM
All that matters is that Tom Brady is suspiciously like a certain Lord of the Sith. Wunderkind rising out of nowhere-check! Illegitimate child with an older beauty-check! An alarming tendency to cheat-check! I’m telling you, it’s only a matter of time before he builds a moon like battle station in an attempt to dominate the galaxy. Stop him now!
trubble on November 6, 2007 at 12:51 PM
This isn’t the first time that Indy has been accused of piping in noise. I’m not a Patriots fan, but they are unstoppable. I AM a Randy Moss fan (have been since he was drafted with the Vikings) and am glad he’s finally on a team that will use his incredible talent to win.
Minnesota wasted him for impossible 3rd downs when he was triple covered. Oakland just didn’t want him to succeed. Now he’s on a team that wants to win instead of coddle egos and that’s what they are doing.
The Patriots were penalized 150 yards, Brady threw 2 INT’s (as many as the whole season), they piped in crowd noise (they did cheat), and the Patriots still won. Enjoy this team people. The Patriots are the best team in the history of the sport. Forget about ‘72 Miami.
The reason they are pointing this out now is because they were penalized for ’stealing signals’ which is what they all do anyway – why do you think they cover their mouths and even shield the signals with sideline players? The League just doesn’t like Bellicheck (sp?) and so they penalized him. Pats will still go undefeated and win the Superbowl. Mainly because of Randy Moss.
ThackerAgency on November 6, 2007 at 12:51 PM
Well, we know the Patriots are cheaters.
roux on November 6, 2007 at 12:51 PM
I noticed it got rather quiet on the Patriots two TD drives in the fourth quarter. Would have made some sense to pump up the volume then if they indeed were doing it.
JammieWearingFool on November 6, 2007 at 12:56 PM
If you want to hear what it sounds like when there is no noise in a dome, you could have gone to last Sunday’s game between the 49ers and the Falcons….
radjah shelduck on November 6, 2007 at 1:03 PM
Rove, you have got to keep an eye on that magnificent bast-tard.
right2bright on November 6, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Fake crowd noise. Hmmm. Anybody see Dan Rather hanging around that CBS trailer? Just askin’.
EconomicNeocon on November 6, 2007 at 1:11 PM
Until they meet Green Bay.
right2bright on November 6, 2007 at 1:15 PM
That clip is not the actual clip. NFL Network played the segment in question today. The YouTube thing had been altered dramatically.
Krydor on November 6, 2007 at 1:20 PM
This sort of thing has been going on for a long time. There was that iced over field in Pittsburgh when they played Oakland when the field crew only removed the ice from part of the field to favor the Steelers.
There was also Parcells in his days with the Giants. He would have the doors opened on either end of the field when the opposing team was trying to kick a FG. The doors being opened would create a swirling wind that would make it tougher to kick.
Teams will always look to create more of an advantage in their home stadium and the league in the past was more like the UN than anything else. A letter of warning would be sent or a slap on the wrist would occur. With the new commissioner that appears to be changing though NE’s coach should have been suspended for at least 4 games.
Benaiah on November 6, 2007 at 1:29 PM
The Patriots this year are probably the best team in the league. we will never really know the depth of their cheating however, especially against teams that they face every year, with their signal-stealing. Signal stealing is part of the game, just not the way the Pats did it.
They have been getting the star treatment from the NFL for a long time now.
The tuck rule in the AFC title game against the Raiders? They should have lost that game. That would have negated their first bowl.
The following year, with the NFL officials refusing to call defensive holding on the Pats against the Colts, was one of the worst officiated games ever, tuck rule notwithstanding. End result: a new interpretation by the NFL for defensive holding to offsets the Pats defensive play
Last year the Pats changing turfs at mid-season, end result: a new rule prohibiting it by the NFL.
The NFL is constantly altering the rules to try to keep up with the Pats’ gamesmanship.
Let them go undefeated and win the bowl this year…so what. The NFL lost major credibility with the slap on the wrist they gave the Pats.
The 72 Dolphins weren’t caught cheating and will have no asterisk.
I am praying for a season ending cheapshot on Brady each and every week.
awake on November 6, 2007 at 1:29 PM
Manbearpig is very real.
Mike Honcho on November 6, 2007 at 1:35 PM
And the bucs would have gone to the superbowl in 1999 if the catch rule was what it is today.
Nice.
lorien1973 on November 6, 2007 at 1:39 PM
A true sportsman. The fact the Pats bring you so much pain brings a giant smile to my face a mile wide.
Get used to losing my friend. There is a lot more of it in your future. This dynasty shows no signs of ending eny time soon.
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 1:39 PM
Didnt the 72 dolphins have the weakest schedule of any nfl team, ever, that year? Pats have a tough schedule year in year out.
lorien1973 on November 6, 2007 at 1:40 PM
Somebody better inform the Pats that they won, SO WHO CARES!!?
locomotivebreath1901 on November 6, 2007 at 1:42 PM
First Awake,
1)Tuck Rule adopted 99 not 01. Bad rule right call; get over it.
2)NFL commish made Pats change turf for the post season set aside their own rule because the competition committee received too many complaints about the shape of Gillette stadium.
3)Love it when people wish harm on another human being since they can’t compete, like Tanya Harding.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 1:42 PM
Haha, part Jets fan, part troofer it sounds like.
Only a total loser would make a comment like that.
reaganaut on November 6, 2007 at 1:45 PM
Attention! Attention! The issue was first raised by Mike Florio, not the Patriots. The issue was also discussed here on HA on Sunday just after the game. We all heard it. You can go to NFL.com and watch the recap and hear it. Mike Florio runs profootballtalk.com and he is NO patriots fan. So climb down off your high horses before you hit your head on a low bridge.
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 1:46 PM
It is hard to tell for me. It could have been CBS’ equipment malfunctioning, but at the same time, it did sound like a skipping CD. Well, if it wasn’t CBS, then someone that was at the game could say for sure if it was isolated to the broadcast or not.
MaelstromX on November 6, 2007 at 1:53 PM
Uh, yeah. Agreed.
I’m fan of the New England Cheat-a-Lots. And I’m not much of a Brady fan, mainly because I’m insanely jealous of all the supermodels he, uh, dates.
But I’d like to see him beaten, not hurt. The Colts did well against him, doubling his season interceptions in a single game.
We don’t hope for injuries. To anyone. Well, unless Rosie O’Donnell takes that job playing right tackle for the Steelers.
Then you can hope for an injury. But something minor, like gingivitis.
Professor Blather on November 6, 2007 at 1:57 PM
Second Awake,
1)It’s not the first time they have been accused of doing it.
2)Dennis Green did it while head coach of Minn Vikings..and three of the current coaching staff for the Colts worked for Green at the time; Dungy, Moore and Terlick.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 1:57 PM
I’m fan …. that’s pidgin English (or just plain Pidgin) for “I’m NO fan …”
Professor Blather on November 6, 2007 at 1:57 PM
*Teerlink
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 1:58 PM
Its the VRWC!!
Pats All The Way Baby!!!
Viper1 on November 6, 2007 at 2:11 PM
Classy!
The fact that the Patriots’ success enrages you past the point of rationality just warms the cockles of my heart.
Centerfire on November 6, 2007 at 2:15 PM
WHOA WHOA WHOA! When you get 50,000 crazy “under the influence” types in an enclosed area what do you think is going to happen?
Now for a boat trip……..
VikingGoneWild on November 6, 2007 at 2:29 PM
Good to hear! I would be shocked if they’d cheated. Coach Dungy is one of the most respectable men I know, he doesn’t play that way.
tikvah on November 6, 2007 at 2:34 PM
I’m guessing that even if they go undefeated all year and win the Superbowl, the Patriots will still be whining about something. They’re not exactly in it for the fun (in fact, in the two Patriots games I’ve seen so far, I don’t recall Tom Brady smiling once). They’re more than a bit like the NFL’s own little Hillary campaign, come to think of it.
Blacklake on November 6, 2007 at 2:41 PM
The Pats played well on Sunday and Moss was awesome, but the Colts fielded a team sans four starters and still played a hell-of-a-game. You Pats fans can feel smug and self-assured if you want, but there is still half a season to go and another meeting with Manning and company to look forward to.
Go Colts!
drewas on November 6, 2007 at 2:43 PM
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 2:47 PM
And for you holier-than-thou Colts fans, let me emphasis this in case you missed it:
As to the Colts, three members of the current coaching staff worked for Green in Minnesota, including head coach Tony Dungy, offensive coordinator Tom Moore, and defensive line coach John Teerlinck.
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 2:50 PM
Talk about sug and arrogant. You’ve already got your team in the AFC Championship game…
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 2:51 PM
Are you serious? He wasn’t smiling? Not in it for the fun, you say? Sacre blue!
So, just how many NFL players are in it for the fun? Not the ones wearing those gaudy rings. Of all the dopey critisisms of the Patriots, the one about Brady not smiling is at the top of the list. This isn’t the first time I’ve heard it, and it cracks me up.
I remember hearing people lament the fact that the Patriots are the new Yankees after the 3rd Super Bowl win. I don’t think it’s lamentable thought, I think it’s great. All the poor sports are coming out of the woodwork, including former players.
I also love, LOVE, LOVE the fact that Raider fans are still tortured by “the tuck”.
Brady wasn’t smiling… priceless.
reaganaut on November 6, 2007 at 3:00 PM
Patriots vs. Colts in the championship isn’t exactly a high-risk bet.
Blacklake on November 6, 2007 at 3:02 PM
Someone skip naptime? Snack time?
tikvah on November 6, 2007 at 3:04 PM
Back, and to the left… back, and to the left… back, and to the left…
The Ugly American on November 6, 2007 at 3:05 PM
I just hope Tom Brady doesn’t get carried away and impregnate another current (or ex) girlfriend.
Good lord man, learn to use a condom.
Mike Honcho on November 6, 2007 at 3:15 PM
And neither was taking the Rams in SB 36. Neither was taking the Steelers against the Broncos a few weeks ago. In football, anything can happen.
And what exactly have the Patriots whined about? Be specific.
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 3:17 PM
I heard that thought that was some kind of satellite feed problem. Just think if they had the old 8 tracks and it switched tracks in the middle of the crowd noise. Dang media!
Drtuddle on November 6, 2007 at 3:38 PM
Facts:
-Jeremy Green of ESPN said yesterday that the Vikings used to pipe in extra crowd noise when his dad was coach of the vikings.
-Tony Dungy was a member of Dennis Green’s coaching staff on the Vikings.
Where there is smoke…
At this point I believe that the glitch was CBS, but the Patriots and some of their beat writers did notice the high level of noise in the dome. I think the Colts are guilty of something. This is not the first accusation about this topic.
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 3:43 PM
“Talk about sug and arrogant. You’ve already got your team in the AFC Championship game…” –TheBigOldDog
“Sug [sic] and arrogant?” Who mentioned AFC championships, Old Dog? Address the facts of my comment if you have anything useful to say, which is doubtful, being that you’re obviously an eastern liberal..
Fact: Colts were minus four starters
Fact: Colts gave the Pats quite a game
Fact: Pats are proven, self-admitted cheaters
Fact: CBS has explained the Pat’s allegation of piping in crowd noise. No other evidence has been brought to light.
Fact: There is half a season to play
Fact: Colts and Pats will meet again
Fact: Belichick is a cheating slob and has no class
Fact: Brady is a whiny primadonna and self-absorbed womanizer
The comments above are beyond refute, being attested to by Christian and honest heathen alike.
drewas on November 6, 2007 at 3:59 PM
Manning likes to turn on a TV and see himself every fifteen minutes and sexually harasses a woman yet Brady is self-absorbed and a womanizer; that’s rich.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 4:09 PM
This is bogus. The sound system in the Dome is not that good, nor are the acoustics. IF there were piped in noise, and IF it did skip, it would not be that obvious.
Jezla on November 6, 2007 at 4:12 PM
PS did Brady whine about depleted starters like Manning did Sunday…oh no thats right cuz he still WON without his starters…HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 4:13 PM
“did Brady whine about depleted starters like Manning did Sunday…oh no thats right cuz he still WON without his starters…HAHAHAHAHA!!!!” –kiakjones
Kia, Brady had all his starters just like when they ran the score up on the Redskins. How do you Pats fans hold your heads up, huh?
drewas on November 6, 2007 at 4:35 PM
I’m talking about all the years past when they didn’t have all their starters; almost every championship team won with their second string because “all” their players prepare to play and win every weak. I didn’t see Brady whining last year when the Colts beat them without, Seymore, Harrison, Seau and on and on and on.
How can you guys think your Harrison was going to make that much of a difference? Huh?
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 4:46 PM
And I can hold my head up high because the Pats are under a microscope this year and kicking tail and leaving no prisoners; btw, don’t go make me look up the Colts point spreads for 04&05. I remember that Titans game when Manning was in til the two minute warning and you still went for three with 35+ points on the board.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 4:49 PM
Smoking gun:
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 4:57 PM
Lets try that again
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 4:58 PM
Haha. You guys don’t really watch football, I can tell.
I thought it was pretty much common knowledge that teams enhance the crowd noise. I think the Seahawks in the old Kingdome were the originators. That’s why home field is so important.
Good thing The Patriots don’t have a dome, 90% of the country would be up in arms if it was too loud in Gillette. The Colts insane GM would whine himself into a hernia trying to get all domes banned from the NFL.
Oh and thanks to Don Shula for guaranteeing that the Patrs go for the undefeated record this year, even when they have home field locked up.
reaganaut on November 6, 2007 at 5:11 PM
This sounds like WinAmp when it crashes. If I was to chance a theory (which I am) I’d say their digital feed locked up. Even if their mics are analog, broadcasting it from the truch is digi.
- The Cat
MirCat on November 6, 2007 at 5:22 PM
smoke, meet fire.
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 5:29 PM
They just keep coming in. Nice to see the Colts treat every opponent equally. Tony Dungy worked for Denny Green :D
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 5:41 PM
If the source of the noise complaint isn’t them, then nothing I know of. I’m still stricken by the fact that Brady never smiles. And that at the end of the Colts game, when for all intents and purposes the game was already won and he had only to kneel out the clock, he seemed to be yelling angrily at a ref (or somebody in the vicinity) anyway. He seems genuinely unpleasant in a way I consider especially unjustifiable for somebody enjoying his station in life (and in all honesty, who would you rather have over to your home for a barbeque: Brady or Romo?).
The cheating thing wasn’t very becoming of the team, either. Nor is the fact that many of this year’s “superstar” players apparently took salary cuts to jump on board, in what certainly looks like a cynical (if smart) gambit to grab superbowl rings and inflate their asking prices next time around. (Think of it as a kind of salary cap end-around.)
In general, the team is obviously highly proficient, but exudes a general air of dubious sportsmanship. They’re quite good, but they aren’t a lot of fun.
Blacklake on November 6, 2007 at 6:04 PM
He was yelling because they Dline was simulating the snap count (cheating) and the refs didn’t call them on it.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 6:09 PM
Admittedly, my fellow Pats fans are a little loopy from the delirium of the promise of This Best of Seasons but there are reports of the sound being heard in the stadium.
It was damned loud there.
thegreatbeast on November 6, 2007 at 6:32 PM
Like I said above, very clearly, even providing a link, they aren’t the source of the controversy. It was NFL writer/commentator Mike Florio.
He yelled at the Ref because the Colts were…CHEATING! They were illegally simulating the snap count right in fron fo the Ref and the ref neither penalized them nor warned them. At that point in the game, the only way the Pats could lose is a bad hand-off which could happen if the center snaps the ball.
He may seems unpleasent to you, but it’s the furthest thing from accurate I can possibly imagine. Making a judgment of a person you don’t know and don’t follow strikes me as very shallow.
Why do you think people like Brady and Moss take less than market value to play here while players like Manning take the team for evry nickle they can get leaving very little for their teammates. Ask yourself that question. And, ask yourself why you never see Tom Brady do a commercial w/o either his O line, Receivers or backs….
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 6:33 PM
It never occurs to some people OldDog that being a champion is more important to some people than being rich, especially when their already multimillionaires.
I wasn’t going to touch that really dumb salary cap conspiracy theory but had to throw in my two cents in the end.
kiakjones on November 6, 2007 at 6:43 PM
You must be a bit angry at your own team’s lack of salary cap savy. The Pats never overpay for players. They will spend to the cap but spread the money around to make sure they have depth and guys that can play different roles. They will stockpile draft picks to save for later (see Moss).
Only Green Bay wanted Moss and no one wanted Stallworth. These two came in knowing that they had to perform.
Rich on November 6, 2007 at 6:57 PM
Colts fans trying to salvage a moral victory out of a loss — “We didn’t have four of our starters!” — make me laugh.
Hey, fellas? The Pats played last year’s AFC championship with eight starters inactive and half the team suffering from the flu. There was no honor merely in being competitive; what mattered was the W or the L.
Meanwhile, for all this “the Colts gave the Pats a great game!” nonsense, the simple fact of the matter is that the Pats played possibly their most horrible game in recent memory (abysmal tackling, suspect playcalling, mental mistakes all over the field), on the road in a hostile dome stadium, against one of the two best opponents they’re likely to see all season, where the officiating was comically horrendous… and they still won. This game was their perfect storm… and they still won.
Think about that.
Centerfire on November 6, 2007 at 7:26 PM
Don’t look now but the story isn’t going away just yet:
Hear This: Guard Claims Colts Enhance Crowd Noise
TheBigOldDog on November 6, 2007 at 10:19 PM
That’s lame. What does some rent-a-cop know about what they so with the sound system? He was probably just trying to impress the reporter by repeating what he read in the paper last year.
Talk to us when you find some real evidence.
Jezla on November 6, 2007 at 10:32 PM
Nobody has an answer for Randy Moss. I don’t care what anybody says, that guy is a freak of nature. He is finally with a team that can utilize his talent.
Nobody is as fast,
Nobody is as tall,
Nobody can jump as high,
Nobody can time the ball as well,
Nobody catches the ball EVERY TIME like he does,
Nobody changes the game plan more than Randy Moss.
Again, I am NOT a Pats fan (Panthers baby – we have 4 QB’s and none are worth a dang right now). I AM a Randy Moss fan.
Randy Moss has gotten a raw deal since he has been in the league. He doesn’t talk to reporters anymore because reporters only write that he’s a ‘bad seed’. Moss is the most amazing player ever and it is a joy to watch him play on a team that wants to use him to win.
The other teams were jealous of Moss and would keep him from being the ’star’ (Minnesota especially – Carter was the star so he got all the passes until it was 3rd and 15)
Then all the talk about the marijuana, then the deal with the traffic cop (which I still laugh about thinking about today. . . I wish that scene was on video – a traffic cop told him to stop and he just kind of ‘nudged’ her out of the way. . . he probably inched forward and she ran in front of his car and sat on the hood).
It’s OVER. Randy Moss will win the next 4 Superbowls with the Patriots – and I couldn’t be happier (not happy for the Patriots, but for Moss).
ThackerAgency on November 6, 2007 at 11:21 PM
The refs were doing enough to help the Colts! Geez…what a bunch of cheesey pass interference calls!
SouthernGent on November 7, 2007 at 12:02 AM
One point: the Patriots (or any other team) can have six people in the stands with cameras with special lenses trained on the opposing team’s sidelines recording everything. For that matter, any fan of any team can do the same thing and submit it to his team. The Patriots got busted because the cameraman was on the field quite openly recording the defensive coaches signalling in the plays. In stadiums of 70,000+ observers, you think that defensive signals are private communications? …Really?
thegreatbeast on November 7, 2007 at 1:39 AM
Video recording equipment is permitted in football stadiums by the patrons?
awake on November 7, 2007 at 8:31 AM
Who did Dan Rather and work for, was it CBS? hhmmmmmm
Wade on November 7, 2007 at 9:15 AM
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