The New England Patriots are perennially one of, if not, the best organization in the National Football League on the field. Their checkered past off of the field may suggest that they should not be the flagship franchise of the NFL.
New England has had some major faults over their dynasty stretch that has raised some eyebrows to their conduct off the field, the first being Spygate. In 2007, the Patriots were caught taping the New York Jets coaches during a game. This caused a stir, especially considering the feat that the 2007 New England season was. After finishing the year with a 16-0 regular-season mark, this accusation naturally raises questions to the legitimacy of the feat. Did their use of cameras in the first game of the season alter the outcome of the game? Did it have a larger impact due to it being the Jets (who New England played twice that year)? Did this win alter the course of the season for either team? We cannot know for sure the answer to any of these questions as it is impossible to change history. New England broke the rules in this case and face the consequences of their actions. Although the ultimate justice was served in that New England went on to win two games in the postseason to reach 18-0 and the super bowl to only lose to the five seed, 10-6, New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII.
Moving down the line of Patriots infractions would be Deflategate. In the 2014-15 NFL Playoffs, the Indianapolis Colts travelled to Foxborough to play the Patriots in the American Football Conference Championship Game. The Colts alleged that the Patriots had deflated footballs to make them easier to catch in the colder weather. This is a substantial claim in that teams in the NFL at that point would be providing their own balls for their own team's offence to use. This deflation of the balls was discovered mid-game by the Colts defenders and launched a formal complaint. This was magnified by the fact that New England went on to win the Super Bowl that year. An NFL investigation determined that Tom Brady knew of this and did nothing to change this. Brady was later suspended four games for the infraction without pay, he appealed the suspension and the decision was upheld. This event ad outcome cemented in the minds of many NFL fans that the New England Patriots were cheaters and would do anything to win.
Moving forward, we travel to Florida and examine some questionable exploits of Patriots owner, Robert Kraft. In January of 2019, Kraft was accused of paying for services from women. The date of said actions was also questionable in that it was the day of the AFC Championship game, in which his team was playing. Kraft was charged in this matter but maintained his innocence, it was assumed by many, however, that Kraft was guilty based on footage from the event.
This last event may be the lowest that the Patriots organization has sunk. In the 2019 regular season. Members of the Patriots staff were caught recording the Cincinnati Bengals sideline (which is outlawed by the NFL) attempting to gain an advantage for their game with them the following week. The organization denied all claims, but the video has come out of the organization's members being caught in the act, and the claims are almost impossible to defend. There has been no official response from the NFL on the manner, but that is due to them wishing to gain all the knowledge they can on the issue, but many believe New England to be guilty of what they have been charged.
The Patriots are not a model organization, and the NFL shows it. They should be replaced by a team of more quality and honourable character.
La Cheeserie, Littles
Fight On, Sleepers
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