Friday, September 21, 2007
Stealing signs: The Patriots controversy has been beat to beyond a bloody pulp. But I keep coming back to the easy solution to the problem -- allowing a defensive player to have an earpiece on the field.
Bill Belichick isn't in favor of it, according to this Boston Globe piece, because defenses tend to substitute more. If, in the Bears' case, Brian Urlacher comes off the field because of an injury or for some other reason, who is going to have the radio connection? I think if it's easy enough for the offense to have a radio connection, then the defense can have a radio connection. Give the ear piece to whoever is going to be making the play calls.
The NFL needs to make this rule change. And I suspect after this debacle the franchises will pass it this year.
As for the mention in the Globe story that the Jaguars had trouble with their headsets during a playoff game at New England last season, that is just unacceptable. That may be more of a crime than getting caught filming the Jets' defensive signals.
Bill Belichick isn't in favor of it, according to this Boston Globe piece, because defenses tend to substitute more. If, in the Bears' case, Brian Urlacher comes off the field because of an injury or for some other reason, who is going to have the radio connection? I think if it's easy enough for the offense to have a radio connection, then the defense can have a radio connection. Give the ear piece to whoever is going to be making the play calls.
The NFL needs to make this rule change. And I suspect after this debacle the franchises will pass it this year.
As for the mention in the Globe story that the Jaguars had trouble with their headsets during a playoff game at New England last season, that is just unacceptable. That may be more of a crime than getting caught filming the Jets' defensive signals.
