I just did a google check in an attempt to find a citation that outlines how the Patriots were found responsible for this. Google was unable to deliver any such citation. Thoughts on why this might be?
Google "Patriots Cheating Scandals" and you'll find hundreds of articles with citations, player quotes, and the plenty of times they were caught and punished for it.
Here is an article from the first page of results.
"Deflategate" isn't the first time the New England Patriots have been ensnared in controversy. The Patriots have been known to push the boundaries of the NFL's rules. The following are the major controversies involving the Patriots in the Bill Belichick era.
www.oregonlive.com
1) "Deflategate
An NFL investigation found that 11 of the 12 footballs used by New England were underinflated during the Patriots 45-7 win against Indianapolis in the 2015 AFC Championship game."
(This is undeniably against league rules...aka cheating.)
From Fox Sports... "Noted in that release is that the New England Patriots will forfeit a fourth-round pick, No. 132 overall — their final punishment for the Deflategate scandal. The Pats already had been stripped of their 2016 first-round pick, fined $1 million and hit with the four-game suspension of Tom Brady."
(Proof of being caught and punished for cheating. The team and Brady were both hit with punishments.)
2) "Spygate
Another NFL investigation found the Patriots illegally videotaped the New York Jets defensive signals during a game in 2007. The Patriots were penalized a first-round draft pick, fined $250,000 and New England head coach Bill Belichick was personally fined $500,000."
(Now the public doesn't know what was on those tapes because the NFL "destroyed" them without releasing them, most likely to save the integrity of the league. But it's undeniable whatever was on the tapes was against league rules as the Pats were punished by losing a 1st round pick and both the team and Belichick himself were fined 6 figures.)
3) "False injury reports
Patriots coach Bill Belichick is well known for "finessing" the NFL's injury list. Two ex-Patriots (Brandon Spikes, Aqib Talib) said the team regularly falsified injury reports. "The Patriots have their way of reporting stuff," Talib said."
(A citation from an actual former Patriot who corroborates this accusation. There are also quotes from Brandon Spikes he was put on IR just so the Pats could gain a roster spot heading into the playoffs despite wanting to and being able to continue to play...again against league rules...aka cheating.)
4) Illegal Taping of Bengals practices
It only took seven months. The NFL finally punished the New England Patriots on Sunday night for an incident that happened back in December when a team staffer illegally videotaped the Cincinnati Bengals' sideline during a Week 14 game.
www.nbcsports.com
This is the most recent example of cheating and proof that the Pats have been serial cheaters under Belichick.
Patriot staffers were caught illegally taping a Bengals practice. They were fined $1.1m and docked a 3rd round pick as punishment. The team even admitted to it. (Are you able to admit this to yourself?)
So there you have 4 corroborated instances of cheating ("citations", if you will), 3 of which resulted in discipline from the league. And this is only what they were caught doing...any logical person would conclude there are likely many instances where they did things against the rules and were never caught. Especially considering all the former players who have had suspicions of other instances of cheating but just couldn't prove it. And even when they were caught cheating with Spygate, they were caught doing the same thing they were already punished for with the Bengals taping...all under Belichick and Brady.
I am very much looking forward to your alternate reality response to the undeniable proof your team and beloved coach/QB tandem are serial cheaters. But most likely we will hear crickets...
What a maroon.
