MattM

I don't think so--they said it was someone who was there that first season they used this (2000) and Dillon didn't come on board until 2003 or so, I believe. I'm sticking with my guess it was Antowain. I'm actually surprised this part of the story hasn't gotten more play--nothing in this morning's NYT on it, for ex.

...on a number of points in his story, saying it was all true, including that (a) it worked 75% of the time and (b) that it gave the Pats O a great advantage. They didn't name who it was other than an "offensive star" with the team, who played at that time. My guess may be our very own former "star" Antowain Smith, but that's just me. What you talkin' bout, Willis (990)? This ain't going away any time soon.....

This may also explain Drew coming out and pooh-poohing the whole investigation--anyone else find that a bit weird earlier this week?

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/sports/f...amp;oref=slogin "After filming opponents’ signals, Walsh would edit the tape or deliver the original to Adams. Walsh said a quarterback — he declined to say whom — would learn the signals, and the next time the Patriots played that team, the quarterback would relay that information to Weis, who would use the coach-to-quarterback communication system to send the information to the field. That process, Walsh said, took seconds...... ....The Patriots then opened the regular season against the Buccaneers. Walsh said this was the first time he had seen quarterback Drew Bledsoe operate a no-huddle offense when not in a two-minute or hurry-up situation. In the week after the game, Walsh said he asked a quarterback — again, he declined to name whom — how helpful the signals were. Walsh said the quarterback told him “probably about 75 percent of the time, Tampa Bay ran the defense we thought they were going to run — if not more.” (Bledsoe was the Patriots’ starting quarterback in 2000. The other quarterbacks on the roster were Tom Brady, Michael Bishop and John Friesz.) Anyone else wonder if it's possibly the Golden Boy himself? Boy, would that ignite the Spygate flames once again......

Not a good way to start your pro career.....

Go over to any Pats board and you'll see that this all just the "haters", don't you know, there's no grain of truth at all to this, no matter how many folks report it repeatedly from different sources connected to the League (Peter King said basically the same thing at the end of Feb. from the combine--many coaches and players he spoke with there believed the allegations against NE since there was so much "smoke" around that team there had to be some "fire). BB and Kraft both just have a near psychotic need to win at all costs is my guess as to the root causes here.....

I'm trying to get out to the KC game with my dad, since I, too have always wanted to see a game at Arrowhead--the one crimp is the timing--it's right before Thanksgiving. The good news is on StubHub looks like you can get good seats at a reasonable price.

Only problem with all this is that, while reprehensible, Goodell did know the cheating went back to 2000 when he made his punishment decision, so I doubt anything new will come of this unless Walsh has additional new evidence here. If you'll recall, he only admitted this after Walsh spoke in early February. I suspect that what happened is Goodell's statement caught Walsh by surprise and thus here we are. Will be interesting to see if Walsh has anything else next week (or if he's been bought off after all, but we'll never know that).

Many thanks for the research. I really liked the way the Bills recruited this kid--telling him they wanted him even though they may not be drafting him and telling him they weren't planning on bringing in any other rookie FBs. I also really hope he makes the team.

It's a bit like Bizarro World over there--the Colts and Tony Dungy are evil incarnate, the media hates the Pats* and the refs, why the refs are always making calls that go against the Pats*. I don't know about the rest of you, but I want some of what they're smoking....

They've got some real winners on that site. Anyone who watched the draft his weekend saw that they've now overtaken the Cowboys as the most hated team in America, no small feat considering how long it took the 'Boys to get there. New England managed to do that in about 1/3rd the time, thanks in large part to an arrogant, know nothing, front-running, ever growing (as long as they're winning, of course) fanbase. Boy, I'd love to beat those guys this season--once would do, but twice would put me over the moon.....

If you think that's funny, check out their pages on Spygate--talk about in denial.....

He's a first rounder--we can sign him for 6 and franchise him for at least one more, which gives us 7 years or so. 29's a bit old for a corner by then anyways....

And they wonder why they're the most hated team in the League--their fans are the most arrogant SOBs you'll ever see. Some day, hopefully soon, someone will take them down, and I hope it's us. That team's one "Vince Wilfork" special on Brady's knees away from being slightly above average, not that I'm advocating that. Now a cheap shot to Big Vince himself, that's a different story.....

As long as it's with the number 32 pick, I won't mind....

Now I've heard everything--Ralph is "cheap" in the draft? How do you go cheap in the draft? Each player is basically slotted in terms of salary--don't matter who you pick, that guy's going to get a little less than the guy infront of him and a little more than the guy behind him. This is not an area that one can cheap out on--you pick the best player available at a position of need with your picks and they get paid according to the scale. Some folks like to use the "Ralph is cheap" thing even in cases where it's not appropriate. If that's not what you meant, I apologize in advance, but that's what your post looks like to me.....

Isn't there the little matter of the 4 year extension this administration just gave Roscoe? Based on that alone, he ain't going anywhere, nor should he.

good comeback! need to be positive on draft day!

Except that cable has twice as many HD channels (at least in my area) and their customer service folks actually show up when you make an appointment for them and take the day off of work to let them in. I had that happen to me not once, but twice, with DirecTV--making appointments and then just not showing up. Incredible, but true. The absolute worst customer service I've ever seen. They know they have a monopoly on the Sunday ticket, so they have no need for customer service--responding economically rationally like any good monopoly would. Congress needs to get the NFL to offer the ticket on cable, full, end stop.

He looked pretty good on the Youtube video--in particular, he seems to have excellent vision and ability to know which hole to hit and then great acceleration and cut back once he does. while I wish they'd found a reserve guard or tackle instead, I don't think this was too bad a pick, IMHO....

If you look at his profile Q&A above, says he's also a chess player, so Melvin Fowler will have some company....

If they can get Rucker in the 4th I'll love this pick....

Isn't he off the board late in the 2nd?

That's okay--as a first rounder, we can sign him for 6 and franchise him after that if he's worth it. Nothing to worry about there. Anyone else check out his individual game stats last year--on a mid-level team, he typically held his man to between 0 and 3 catches for minimal yards all year long against good competition (like Auburn and Florida). How is this not a great pick considering we got Hardy at 41?

I thought I heard ESPN mention that he ran a 4.41 at his pro day--anyone else hear that or can confirm it? If so, just wow for a guy his size....