Arlen Spector

[TEDYBR]

Hi, everyone,

I have not been on here for quite a while - working two jobs and finding time to spend with my boyfriend has me finding not enough hours in the day. I did get to the Superbowl Send off at the stadium, though, which was great - wish we were going back to Gillette to welcome them home with the trophy...

Before I fire off an angry email to Senator Arlen Spector and encourage others to do the same telling him to mind his own business and pay attention to the more important issues (unemployment, homelessness, crime, etc.) facing his constituents, can anyone explain to me what the "anti-trust exemption" that the NFL has means in layperson's terms? Common sense dictates to me that he is completely outside of his authority in trying to order Roger Goodell or Tom Brady or anyone else in the NFL to appear in his office or poke his nose into the NFL's business but I don't want to look like an idiot if he does in fact have this authority.

I downloaded and printed his letters to Roger Goodell and he says that the NFL has a "special duty to the public in light of the antitrust exemption which the NFL enjoys." One thing that has not been commonly reported in the media is that his letter specifically mentions him accusing the Patriots of "spying on the Philadelphia Eagles on their 2005 Super Bowl game". He is a well-known Eagles fan who frequently calls in to talk radio in that area.

Thanks to anyone who can explain this!

[1TruPatriot]

I think we are about to experience some awful things, out here in PatriotNation. I am still recovering from the loss yesterday. I am sad for some of the guys who have never been before and didnt bring home the trophy. I am almost...resigned?...to the fact that we will spend the next year or so recovering from the allegations of cheating. I wonder what it will do to the players, and to BB himself. I don't believe the "spying" happened. I think it was open to the media, and is being made into a big deal. But I am also really really concerned at the prospects of having to defend this incredible team when everyone and their brother is chanting "Cheaters" and pointing fingers. I will, but right now, I am so burned out that I dont know where I will find the energy.

And also, if I am honest, there is a little tiny piece of me that is a little angry at having to defend these guys...IF there was any questionable behavior...then I think as a longtime loyal fan, I am owed the truth. One thing Im sure of, the guys I believe in did NOT know about this, they simply wouldnt have been a part of it. I guess I just dont have the energy right now, coming off this heartbreaking loss, to do much more than send up a prayer that it doesnt get too bad.

Oh...and we NEVER went on national tv after beating an opponent and said the kinds of poor-sport, ridiculous BS that is being said by some Giants players today. Losing is losing, they outplayed us. BUT no way can I respect them after hearing some of the crap I heard today.

[mp313]

I am definitely bummed that we lost the SB ( can I ask where was Brady's protection?? I think I could have done a better job!) but as far as all this other nonsense I am not going to worry about it. I am sure there will be plenty of Patriots bashing and how sad is that : that the Giants won the SB but all everyone can talk about is Bill Belechick leaving the game early and all the other bs.
what.
ever.
even if these allegations of cheating are true I can not believe that the players had any knowledge of any of this.
I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens.
but when the bashing starts just consider the source.
most people doing the bashing don't know that much about football to begin with!! they are just jumping on the band wagon as far as I am concerned.

[RingLeader]

Exactly. I have a three-page message board post on a different board where I am defending the Pats & Bill Belichick...it is sad, really, that things are coming to this...and frankly, I believe much of this is Roger Goodell's fault.

I can copy/paste the post here if anyone wants.

[TEDYBR]

I agree that people are jumping on the bandwagon to "hate " the Patriots - people who are fans of other teams and envious of the incredible success that the Patriots have had. How come nobody is talking about the fact that WE caught the JETS taping us in 2006??? Did anyone see/hear Jimmy Johnson's comments about this whole Rams videotaping business? He said that if he had been given a videotape of every single one of his team's opponents final walk-throughs before every game, it would not have affected the outcome of a single game. He said a walk through is just that - "it's nothing". Howie Long said Saturday night on Patriots All-Access that this (videotaping your opponents) is something that is widespread and it happens everywhere and nobody is comfortable talking about it. I don't think that the Patriots did anything that the other teams aren't doing and I don't think that they should be labelled as cheaters or have any of their successes tarnished as a result of these accusations. And regarding Senator Specter - I heard on the radio this morning that Comcast (one of his biggest financial contributors) is at war with the NFL over the NFL Network channel. How is that not a conflict of interest in addition to being outside the scope of his authority??? I bet when he talks to Roger Goodell he'll offer him some kind of deal that favors Comcast in return for Specter dropping the whole thing. Politicians make me sick. I stand by my Patriots - players and coaches - 100%. They didn't and don't need to cheat to win.

[NotInOurHouse54]

I'm not liking this Roger Goodell at all. Maybe he gave the Giants steroids so he wouldn't have to hand the trophy to Belichick ;D.

How the else do you expect Eli Manning to win the Super Bowl?

[gopats54]

i cried for an hour after the game and took off work yesterday b/c i was in depression. i'm so sick of hearing new yorkers talk about the giants. i think i might just move to new england.


I NEED TO GET OUT OF NEW YORK!

[1TruPatriot]

yep...weird depression. It isnt really even about losing the SB...its weird. Although I always have a funk after the seasons done. This just feels...gloomy. GOPATS, you can come to Maine, but its snowing and cold and yucky out. Florida would be much nicer.

[1TruPatriot]

you know, we went ALL season without an arrest? Now this:

Patriots defensive back Willie Andrews was arrested today, two days after playing for New England in the Super Bowl, multiple media outlets are reporting.

According to the Associated Press, Andrews was arrested during a traffic stop on charges of possession of marijuana and driving an unregistered motor vehicle.

The arrest took place in Lowell, Massachusetts at 9:30 a.m. today, a day after the team returned from Arizona. Andrews is scheduled to be arraigned today in Lowell District Court.

[gopats54]

Just read that on ESPN.com. As if Patriot Nation wasn't hurting enough...


They just keep giving people around here (in NY) more reasons to talk crap. Unbelievable.


PS- Maine sounds pretty great right about now!!

[NotInOurHouse54]

You could try New Hampshire--weather is equally crappy, but it's closer! lol.

[gopats54]

YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST!!! ;D


New Hampshire is closer than Maine..but both invites are equally enticing!!

[1TruPatriot]

hey, I have a cute new puppy!!



pick me! pick me!!

[gopats54]

Awwwww!! That might have just won me over!!


What's your puppy's name?

[1TruPatriot]

um...no laughing...k? she has THRRE names...because the littlest one, to whom she was given at Christmas, cannot seem to stay with a name. She is technically Bruschi (vet papers) but she went from that to Bella (which I still call her, as does the 12 yr old) but she is probably going to be Maggie, which is what DAD demanded, what littlest agreed to and calls her now, and to which we all aquiesce because we simply dont want to confuse the poor thing. For the record, she comes best to BRUSCHI!