Pats' first taping occurred vs. Bucs
Spying began with Bill Belichick's debut as New England's coach, the NFL says.
By Rick Stroud, Times Staff Writer
Published February 23, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS - The birthplace of Spygate was Tampa Bay.
But Tony Dungy, then coach of the Bucs, said he did not suspect Patriots coach Bill Belichick had ordered the illegal taping of the Bucs' sideline signals during a preseason game in 2000 or that the information was used in the regular-season opener.
"Not at that time, no, not in 2000," Dungy, who has coached the Colts since 2002, said Friday. "But later on."
Commissioner Roger Goodell met with the eight-man competition committee Thursday at the scouting combine and explained all of the components to Spygate. He told members that the first illegal taping occurred in 2000, how he determined the penalties he assessed Sept. 14 and why he destroyed six tapes, from games in 2006 and 2007, and some notes that dated to 2002 that the Patriots submitted after the sanctions were announced.
Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Patriots docked $250,000 and ordered to forfeit a first-round draft pick for illegally taping the Jets' sideline signals in the 2007 season opener.
"I really don't have a reaction," said Dungy, responding to a question prompted by a report in the New York Times on Friday. "We'll see if it's true. If it is, it'll be interesting to see how they got them and all that. It'll come out."
The newspaper, citing a former Patriotwho was among several ex-players interviewed by the NFL but said he did not want to speak publicly because the investigation is continuing, reported Belichick's pattern of illegally taping opponent's signals began with his coaching debut in New England.
The Bucs won that 2000 opener 21-16, sacking Drew Bledsoe six times and knocking him down 13 other times.
Chiefs coach Herm Edwards, who coached the Bucs secondary in 2000, said: "How about that? I'm going to leave it alone."
Edwards did say he doesn't believe such taping assures victory.
"We're chasing ghosts," he said. "What I want to know ... let's say they find out whatever they're going to find out. What are you going to do? They're not giving the Super Bowl trophy back. They're not going to take their wins away. It didn't help them win. They had to go execute. They had to go play. We keep losing sight of that."
Falcons president Rich McKay, who was GM of the Bucs in 2000, said the competition committee was satisfied the matter was handled correctly.
"No. 1, there was an admission to the act, and that allowed the penalty phase to go forward," he said.
"Then there was the clear understanding - and I think it was the commissioner who made it very clear to you and all of us - that if anything else was found, if anything different was found than had been told to him and understood by him, there could be further sanctions."
The NFL has said it is interested in talking to Matt Walsh, a former videographer for the Patriots who, according to Feb. 2 reports by the Boston Herald and ESPN, taped the Rams' walkthrough two days before they lost to New England 20-17 on Feb. 3, 2002, in Super Bowl XXXVI.
Bucs general manager Bruce Allen said he couldn't fathom the taping of an opponent's walkthrough before the Super Bowl.
"If that is something that occurred, that is bad for the integrity of the game," he said. "But I'm sure that the commissioner will get down to the bottom to what has occurred."
As for the notion that cheating is commonplace in the NFL and the refrain that "everybody does it," Allen said: "That's very offensive. Nobody does it; never heard of anyone doing it.
"I don't know anyone who has ever done it."