Joey P feels cheated by Patsies

[SteelerJen]

Didn't see this posted yet! Good ol' Joey!

Porter sounds off, says Patriots 'cheated'
ESPN.com

Updated: May 23, 2008, 5:38 PM ET
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An angry Joey Porter thinks the Patriots cheated their way to championships and the NFL's destruction of Spygate tapes suggested the league had something to hide after conducting its investigation.

"They [the Patriots] cheated, there should be an asterisk. They cheated and they got caught," the All-Pro linebacker, who spent eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers before joining Miami in free agency last season, said in an interview on "NFL Live."

"Why, if you have nothing to hide, would you destroy [the evidence]? That's how I've looked at it from the beginning. Why destroy something that doesn't have to be destroyed? Let everyone know what was on the tapes. Why would you destroy them so fast?"

The Spygate investigation began after the NFL confiscated tapes from a team employee who recorded the New York Jets' defensive signals in the 2007 season opener. Coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000; the team was fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit its 2008 first-round draft choice.

Porter called Belichick's fine a "slap on the wrist didn't fit the crime."

Since former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh met earlier this month with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to detail the team's illegal taping of opponents' coaching signals, Belichick has attempted to minimize Spygate's impact.



They [the Patriots] cheated, there should be an asterisk. They cheated and they got caught.
--Joey Porter

"They went from zero to 60 overnight and [Belichick] went from a good coach to a great great coach and he got caught cheating," Porter said on "NFL Live."

At a news conference on May 13, Goodell said: "I didn't accept Bill Belichick's explanation for what happened and I still don't to this day."

On May 16, Belichick told the CBS Evening News: "I made a mistake. I was wrong. I was wrong."

After meeting with Walsh, Goodell said of a further investigation: "I don't know where else I would turn, but I reserve the right to review new information if it comes up."

Walsh sent eight tapes to the league that show the Patriots recording the play-calling signals of five opponents in six games between 2000 and 2002, one of which was the 2002 AFC Championship Game that Porter's Steelers lost to New England 24-17.

"If you're to tell me that happened, there's no way I can look at it and feel like I didn't get cheated," Porter said.

Porter also said that NFL players he knows share similar sentiments about the Patriots concerning Spygate.

"Anybody I know that lost to them in big games, they're very upset about it," Porter said.

[K from Cal]

This is exactly what fixing this will take. More and more people standing up to them and talking about the indiscretions.

[pete]

Joey is and has always been the man.

The sentimental side of me wouldn't mind seeing him come back after he gets axed from the Phins in a Chad Brown backup type role.

[BuckeyeSteel]

over/under on Joey's fine???

[Hines57]

Thank you Joey for telling us how you really feel.

[Vis Major]

fine him for questioning the king?

[Spike]

They had his interview on Sportscenter - the dude from the Chargers said all the players involved on teams that lost big games to the Pats feel the same way - all around the league - it's not just Joey.

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Belichick better stay away from the blackjack tables if he knows whats good for him.

[StuartSteelerFan]

This is exactly what fixing this will take. More and more people standing up to them and talking about the indiscretions.

Yeah, it would be nice to see the NFLPA do something worthwhile for a change and register a complaint with the league. I'm sure there are more players pissed about the whole affair than there are players that would vote in defense of the Patriots' actions. If the player's union is there for something, shouldn't it be to speak up about the majority of the players being treated unfairly compared to a minority of players?

[BermudaSteel]

I wouldn't mind seeing a cheap shot at Belliboy...EVERY game!

[Doc]

Surely a former P*ts player wanting to make some coin is writing a tell all book as we speak.

[TDX27]

Joey is right on. They cheated and got caught. The commish gave them a slap on the wrist and tried to cover it up. There should be a push to have him kicked out of his position but that won't happen either.

[CornerBlitz]

Good for Porter saying what all those Steelers must feel and what Dan Rooney lacked the balls to say. Of course Rooney is doing everything to protect his hundreds of million dollar investment in the NFL.

[BuckeyeSteel]

fine him for questioning the king?

Players get fined for saying anything against the refs.....just saying

[mightyguru]

Love it, Joey. Speak your mind.

[Steelr4evr]

Thank you Joey!It's about fucking time someone got some balls and said something.

[steelwolf]

Joeys right the punishment didnt fit the crime. Some commissioner to cover that crap up...And I'd like to see Joey back someday-I know hes not the same after injury but his charismatic attitude IMO would be good to have here again. Loved his smack talk with "Ray Ray" and the bus incident, and I'll never froget the champion ship game in Denver...Man he was awesome!! Nice to think about him again.

[Aries1247]

Props to Joey.

[SteelrzGirl]

Surely a former P*ts player wanting to make some coin is writing a tell all book as we speak.

I swear its going to be Ty Law, lol.

who's surprised at Joey? lol I almost felt like "Joey! What took you so long?!":D

[USM]

I wonder how The Tuna feels about this ?

[Sean]

I figured that if ANY player was going to speak out about Spygate...it'd be Joey. And I'm elated that he did...

Maybe more people step up like Joey did and show their balls.

[thesteelcity]

that is why Cowher and Ronney's comments that it wasn't a big deal is a big deal. They are playing the "Yes Men" card while the players that gave sweat and blood in those big games feel cheated. I give mad props to Spector and anyone else that speaks their mind and shows their disappointment. I hope we hear so much bitching about it, we get sick of hearing about it. Run those assbags out of the NFL.

[TWEEK1106]

THANK DEAR GOD!!! at least someone is still saying in the national spotlight what no one else is.


where is the outrage from the media? i keep hearing sen. spector is a "senile" old man that needs to let this go. WHY??? if any other sport had a team dominate for the last 8yrs and then be found to be cheating they would have been dealt with in a harsher manner than 500K fine and a lame 1st round draft pick.

and goodell must have been a mason in another life with the stone wall he's been perpetually building around this incident.

[Achie D]

over/under on Joey's fine???

If they do fine him we auta take up for him and deliver.

[thesteelcity]

fine him for having passion, disappointment and an opinion. Sure, why not. Shut him up like they have swept everything else under the rug. Maybe JP didn't get the Mums the Word memo.

[Super Dave]

If they do fine him, the NFLPA should be incensed.

We would also be given the opportunity to figure the % of the fine vs value of Joeys salary and compare that to the % of the spygate fine, the biggest fine in the history of the NFL, vs the Patriots value.

I bet the % for talking about spygate is higher than % of the fine for actually cheating.

[SteelerScott]

They had his interview on Sportscenter - the dude from the Chargers said all the players involved on teams that lost big games to the Pats feel the same way - all around the league - it's not just Joey.

The day The Commish declared the issue dead, the NFL Live crew spoke the same way JP did.
I think everyone who's NOT afraid of "hurting the league" has no prob speaking their minds.

Gentleman Rooney, on the otherhand, took the high road and chose not to say something that might damage the NFL's rep (although, I'm sure he truly feels differently).

There's a special place in HELL for Bellicheat.

PS- WAY TO Fn' GO TO, JOEY!!

[Super Dave]

Rooney was only looking out for his own selfish interests.

At least Joey shows some gratitude for the Fans of Steeler of Nation.

[SteelerJen]

I wonder how The Tuna feels about this ?

He's probably afraid they'll start looking into his roll in this since we now know this went on with the Giants according to Phil Simms' spilling the beans about knowing what was happening in games, but not executing it properly.

[OhioSteel]

Always did, and still love Joey!!!!!!

[Super Heathen]

Yes, let's fine Peezy for telling the absolute truth. In fact, Goodell should fine NFL fans as well because millions agree with Joey.

All who speak ill of the *Pats* will forever be declared enemies of Ralphies "state" and fined.

[crimsonsteel]

You gotta love Joey Porter! Way to go Joey. I admire anyone who speaks the truth, especially when it's not fashionable. Keep it up.

[USM]

He's probably afraid they'll start looking into his roll in this since we now know this went on with the Giants according to Phil Simms' spilling the beans about knowing what was happening in games, but not executing it properly.

Kinda funny how they stopped one of the greatest passers in the game , in Montana, with consecutive years as the highest rated passer in the league on the way to the big dance in 86. They whooped the 49ers in the playoffs 49-3 and went on to beat the Broncos handily breakin all kinds of SB records.

I bet he wished the Pats had started the practice of taping before 96 when they got beat by the Packers in the big dance. Now that he is VP of football operations at Miami, WTF is that position any way ?, he is probably squirmin in his chair. Bye, Bye Joey ?

[Steelers.exe]

Peezy for Prez!

[thesteelcity]

Peezy for Prez!

if he would or could lower gas prices, I'd vote for him. ;)

atleast he is honest.

[LetMePlay]

A fine would be very curious. Did he say anything that was not true?

[crimsonsteel]

They're not gonna fine him. Preach on Peezy!

[Lunar7]

Good for you Joey.

[Steelr4evr]

The NFL is NOT on the up an up.

[Jer]

If only more players and coaches had the balls to say what they feel. Good on you Joey...and you know what...you're right...We still love you.

[steelwolf]

Wish you were here Joey...You could give this team a "real" shot in the a$$...LOL

[markymarc]

Great job Joey. I would love to see more players come forward like Porter. Goodell, the NFL and the Cheatriots should be called out like the little bitches they are.

[t-bone]

Joey is just tryin' to gently tell us what he suspects he knows and half of us agree.



the NFL is really.....ummmm.....scripted.

[Wig]

N'wwf"l.........

[Max Power]

The fact of the matter is this - the integrity of the game hinges on how this really plays out. If Goodell does nothing in light of his "wrist slap", then there you have it, the New NFL - the game that is NO LONGER GODLY, which it certainly was recently. The league could write it's own TV contracts and get almost any concession out of states and local muni's relating to the building of new stadiums.

There was almost no other business so close to a Monopoly and the NFL does operate as such, in existance. The self-police attitude will have to go down the toilet, as there seems to be a clog in the works.

Flush Roger - Flush. Else plunge it and extract the shit that Belicheat is.

[Hollywood Bags]

The NFL will lose fans little by little if this matter is not properly addressed. If the league loses its integrity and fans don't believe the games are on the up and up, whats the sense in watching them ?