The New England Patriots‘ era of dominance in the NFL may be past, but the notion that they colluded with the opposition during their initial dynasty run is far from dead.
The Patriots were discovered unlawfully taping New York team signals during their 2007 Week 1 opener versus the Jets. Bill Belichick, the head coach, was fined $500,000, and the company was fined $250,000. The first-round pick from 2008 was also taken away from the Pats.
Following Spygate, many allegations of the Patriots’ alleged unlawful behavior’ in the early Belichick-Tom Brady era—including illegally wiretapping locker rooms, illegally recording other teams’ signals and practices—became public.
During a recent appearance on Ben Roethlisberger’s podcast “Football with Ben Roethlisberger,” former Pittsburgh Steelers players Jerome Bettis and Ben Roethlisberger discussed claims that New England used illegal methods to win the 2004 AFC Championship Game (New England defeated Pittsburgh 41-27) (h/t Matt Ehalt of the New York Post). You can see the video above.
After Roethlisberger claimed that their old AFC rivals had cheated, Bettis responded, “Definitely, they did.” “I don’t even consider it a question.”
Update:
The Patriots did not cheat.
Old head era has begun 🤡 buddy got just everything wrong on the play he FUMBLED btw. Nobody named Washington on the field, D-line crashed left no “looping” and the edge is the one who got him (Colvin). Also 3-0 before going down 31-10 so not exactly “critical to the game.” pic.twitter.com/7dWYBQLC9j
— Trevor (@trevor_poor13) September 26, 2023
