Does Congress have some spare time right now? No pressing business that demands their attention? The economy, mortgage crisis, nothing? I couldn't agree with Matt Sohn more, what an abuse of congressional power. Spekter should be ashamed.

It's about time.

It's a shame that it takes our government to raise questions about this.

It's an embarrassment that the NFL itself doesn't care about the integrity of our game.

There are suspensions handed out at will in the NFL, but the Pats got a slap on the wrist.

Why didn't they have to forfeit the Jets game?
Why didn't they have to forfeit BOTH 1st round draft picks?

Specter just wants the "evidence" so he can leak it to the Eagles.
Shame on you Specter!
The NFL handled the situation properly.

COULD OLD ARLEN'S ARTERIES BE GETTING A LITTLE HARD? Arlen wanted to investigate the United States Supreme Court's private deliberations in a case last fall, even suggesting prosecution of justices who he felt had let him down. The man has become an embarassment.

Interesting that you say the Govenment has no business. You failed to mention their anti-trust exemption.

Every NFL fan got fooled this year. The Pats were ALLOWED to cheat, and ALLOWED to become a dynasty; all in the name of ratings.

Don't beleive me; look at the ratings for the Pats last 6 games.

The Pats have been shown a favoritism that I haven't seen in a long time in any sport.

Just as quickly as this appeared on the news... It disappeared and so did the evidence.

MLB attempted to seek the truth about steriods, and did so, because they had NO EVIDENCE. The NFL had video. Yet they turned a blind eye.

I couldn't agree with AT more. There are FAR more important issues for congress right now than to have one bitter Senator (and purposed football fan) abusing the power that the people of Pennsylvania have given him. Does he think he might get a few more votes from "Eagles Nation" come next election???

If I were Goodell I'd just call him up and say,"NO."

Wow, what a bunch of sore losers. As Jimmy Johnson said, this kind of taping goes on all the time. Johnson admits doing it himself in 2 previous coaching jobs and said it was common place. It happens in other sports, too. Everyone obviously tapes the games and everyone tries to guess the other teams signals and tendencies. DUH!

The all push the envelop on what's allowed -- Johnson gave the example of tricks they did to get more than 15 seconds of communication time with the QB. Even the "perfect" Miami dolphins team in the 1970s was penalized a 1st round draft choice for a rules violation.

No one would notice if this were the Arizona Cardinals.

What a bunch of jealous whiners.

MarkM... I can only assume your trying to be funny.

Every team does it... (see Jimmy Johnsons comments ) What the Pats did was wrong.. but they simply filmed from the wrong place.

Read and understand the rules before you go off on a rant.

The pats ratings are good because they are good.. That simple.

By the way.. the camera was taken from they Pats 5 plays into the 1st quarter of the first game.. how do you explain all the rest of the wins this year?

This is a disgusting abuse of power. Spygate was an internal matter handled by the NFL. The government has absolutely NO business sticking their nose in this.
The reason why there is not more of an outrage is because Americans have gotten so used to our government overstepping its bounds, we all shrug our shoulders and say, "Well, that's just the way it is."
I urge everyone who reads this to call Arlen Specter's office and tell him to stick to his job.

Don't listen to the moronic pitch of some jealous fan about Spygate. They'll just drive you nuts for no reason. We all know this Patriots team is the best of all time.

As far as Spector goes, he's a piece of crap looking for face time. Probably a Giants fan trying to shake the Patriots. But we all know that's not going to work.

So let other fans think what they want. They wish their team was like ours. Spygate included.

May be Spector should also be investigated...I want to see how and how much money he gets from the lobbyists and where/how this money is spended...

Spector, go look at the loan and mortgage crisis...and let us enjoy our sport (you can go and play squash...)

IF THEY WOULD GO AFTER THOSE THAT WON`T LET US DRILL OIL OR BUILD REFINERIES SO GAS COULD BE AFFORDABLE WE COULD SAY THEY WER ACCOMPLISHING SOMETHING. I GUESS THEY WILL WANT A RAISE WHEN THEY SEND OUT THE CHECKS THAT THESE IDIOTS BORROWED.

Arlen....get a life. We need term limits. One term and your done.

This is an abuse of power, there is way to much going on in this country for a senator to be wasting time and money against the NFL. Especially now before the Super Bowl (bad taste) he had 20 weeks to say something and all this anti trust bull. If it was the Eagles involved in this he wouldnt do a thing. I get it people are pissed off at the Patriots and Spygate, however Howie Long just said the other day that the patriots aren't the only team guilt of it, Why would Howie say something like that unless there is some truth to it. I know Specter went after the NFL when they said that the pats giants regular season game was gonna be just on the NFL network, im glad he did that. This however is a waste of tax dollars. Money that could be put to better use

Couldn't agree more with the author here: What Specter wants to do is simply wrong, an abuse of power. Moreover, his choice of analogy -- comparing "Spygate" to the destruction of the CIA torture tapes -- isn't getting enough attention. Rarely has an analogy been more tortured.
http://www.networkworld.com/community/node/24608

One word Arlen. "RETIRE"

Arlen Spector has been interested in the NFL for some time. He has previously threatened their anti-trust exemption based on the NFL's exclusive relationship with Direct TV. So, its fun to think that he's just on an anti-Patriot rampage, but its probably not true.

The NFL is perfectly capable of getting rid of Congressional oversight - just give up the anti-trust exemption and then tell Spector to stick it. Until then, they have to play by Congress's rules.

(By the way, it's stupid that a Senator is spending any time on this - I just think its the NFL's own fault for being unnecessarily sneaky about the whole thing.)

"We all know this Patriots team is the best of all time."...heh heh heh, hilarious.

Rather, the 1960s Green Bay Packers are best ever - and it's not even close.

Specter? New England? The NFL circa 2007? Who cares, x3...

What an embarrassment for our country. We are at a time of war, we are in the midst of an economic crisis, people are losing their homes and the senior Senator from PA feels it is more important to postulate because the Eagles id not make the play-offs. Have you heard him when he calls into sports radio in Philadelphia? I am surprised he did not start an Senate investigation when NYC had an over age player in the Little League World Series a few years back. This is a perfect example of why people are jaded regarding government and politics....Shame on the people of PA for keeping this moron in office...

"Even the "perfect" Miami dolphins team in the 1970s was penalized a 1st round draft choice for a rules violation."

Then how on earth could this season's penalty against the Patriots be a "first ever in the NFL"?

------

"By the way.. the camera was taken from they Pats 5 plays into the 1st quarter of the first game.. how do you explain all the rest of the wins this year?"

Tapes confirmed by the NFL ranged back to pre-season 2006. A former Patriots video assistant has indicated that he was doing it as far back as 2003. If you have a 5 year video library of every opposing team (and coach's) signals and sideline operations - it seems like that MIGHT just be an advantage (like the ability to know just the right offense/defense to call).

It's called cheating!!! So what if Jimmy Johnson's an admitted cheater - that doesn't make it good for football!

I'd love to see the NFL take someone who cheated more seriously than someone who's off-field behavior wasn't up to their standards.

In 2007 The NFL franchise teams combined had a net worth of (hold on to your helmets) a staggering 28,736,000,000 dollars. That is almost 30 billion and it does not include the Leagues umbrella valuation. All of this including the 3.25 billion in yearly player salaries is derived from fans aka "consumers". And it is an absolute Monopoly. The exempt status they are given to continue in this Monopoly should allow for some "consumer fraud oversight" Anyone who thinks that this poor little Mega Billion dollar corporation is suffering from a little consumer protection oversight at the hands of "Big Mean Government" is poorly informed at best.

"Tapes confirmed by the NFL ranged back to pre-season 2006. A former Patriots video assistant has indicated that he was doing it as far back as 2003. If you have a 5 year video library of every opposing team (and coach's) signals and sideline operations - it seems like that MIGHT just be an advantage (like the ability to know just the right offense/defense to call)."

Here's the problem with this arguement:

Even if they had every coach and teams signals video taped and memorized for the past 5 years... There have been so many coaching changes, scheme changes, defensive coordinator changes in the past years that there is no way they could call the exact right offense for every play against every team.

Nevermind the second part of that since they didn't videotape "offensive" signals since there are none... thats all done via the helmet communication system.

So video taping defensive signals only helps on 1 of the 3 main components of football. They still need to get their own defensive schemes right and their special teams playing well.

So lets say that the video tape helped them call the exact right play for the defense that the coordinator signals in to the play... this still doesn't account for when the defense audibles into another formation or play at the line of scrimmage. When they do so, any advantage from knowing defensive signals from the sidelines is effectively annulled.

And for the final point: Lets say the signals helped them call the exact right play for EVERY defense placed on the field before them. Does this guarantee a win? Does knowing signals guarantee that your Quarterback will throw the ball to the correct receiver? Does it guarantee the receiver will catch the ball? Does it guarantee that a smart cornerback or a smart safety won't read the play and intercept? Does knowing defensive signals guarantee your Offensive line will block perfectly?

Of course not. Players making plays is the basis of football.

There are so many variables involved that while videotaping signals is cheating, and should never be condoned, it should also not tarnish the accomplishment of the Pats this year. The season should be contributed to the players, who had nothing to do with the videotaping, playing at an amazing level each and every game.

Finally, What else could the league have done to penalize the patriots? They fined the head coach a rather large amount and took away a first round draft pick. The league couldn't take away the patriots other draft pick because it was part of a trade deal, if they did they would be essentially nullifying the trade and revoking San Francisco's first round pick, not the Patriots. Yes they could have suspended Belichick for a few games and I think they should have, but what other measure can you take to punish those involved without unduly punishing those who weren't? Should all the players suffer because a coach's mistake?

So anyone who knows anything about the game of football and not blinded by jealousy of the Patriots can see that yes it was cheating, yes it was wrong, but no it was not the catalyst for a perfect season. They made a mistake, got caught, paid for it and still persevered.

And this statement is just rediculous:

"I'd love to see the NFL take someone who cheated more seriously than someone who's off-field behavior wasn't up to their standards."

So you seriously believe that Pac-Man Jones Shooting up every place he visits is LESS of a problem than videotaping signals?

As for Arlen Specter.. its not just him. Our entire Govt has become narrow-minded and short-sighted. They have become masters of misdirection... ignore what's going wrong, focus on what they are doing right. And what they are doing right is solely limited to what will get them re-elected so they can keep their high paying tax payer supported jobs. Perhaps they should wonder less about what signals were on the tapes destroyed by goodell, and wonder more about why our economy is going into a recession...

And for the record I hate the Pats, am not a fan at all and hope the Giants crush them... But I respect what they have accomplished as a team this year.

Specter is all about getting the limelight.
He is not doing the job we pay him to do.
Write to him - tell him what you think...

http://specter.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction=Contact.ContactForm

Doesn't a US government official have better things to focus on in our country, like terrorists spying? I think he has "George Mitchell Envy." Give me a break, Goodell handled this great. Spector is an embarrassment to his party and his country..This from a fellow Republican!

How dare Senator Spector bring this up 2 days before the Superbowl. If he was so concerned, why did it take him 4 months to voice his concerns? Isn't this beating a dead horse? The timing itself is suspect. Congress should stick to their own issues and clean up their own messes. Congress is already sticking their noses where they don't belong. Spector is just mad because his favorite team, the Eagles ,isn't in the Superbowl. Senator Spector is just making a spectacle of himself,as usual. He needs to just go away and stop trying to spoil the Superbowl.

Not to throw a bucket of cold water on the conversation here, but Arlen Specter doesn't have subpeona powers. He is the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and any hearings or subpeonas would have to go thru the Chairman, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont, a Democrat, and I'd be willing to bet that the gentleman from Vermont is a New England Patriots fan. Other members on the Judiciary Committee, who would also have to vote on any such hearings or subpeonas include Rhode Island Democrat, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, another likely Patriots fan.

All Arlen Specter has managed to do here is getting a lot of sports writers and sports fans to take the bait and get people talking about Spygate again right before the Super Bowl.

Why? Because he's still twirled up over his beloved Eagles losing the Super Bowl to New England three years ago!

Dear Senator,
I guess you still are a headline grabbing douche....why this week you tool?

During interview with Mr. Arlen Specter on Mike & Mike, he states that he received correspondence from New York Times reporter which ignited this inquiry.

First, New York Times reporter have anything to gain by causing undue distractions to Patriots? YES

Second, Specter have anything to gain by his actions from PA. and NY. voters or all other teams that lost to Patriots in Super Bowls? YES

Need to look at future contributions to Specter from owners of Giants or Eagles....

During current state of our economy and wars, I would like to see our elected officers use time wisly....

Comcast Cable is the second largest contributor to "Senator Spectre". Comcast cable is based in Pennsylvania and has contributed a few bucks to Spectre's Senate race. In fact, during the last election cycle, Comcast ponied up $101,750 to his campaign, the Senator's second largest contributor after Blank Rome LLP.
FOLLOW THE MONEY!! Comcast Cable is in a huge war with the NFL network for broadcasting rights. Why bring up some voodoo senate investigation 3 days before the superbowl?
Let us also remember that in 2005 he was yammering about how the Eagles' handled the T.O. non-playing and his leaving. Then he backed off. Showboat.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10250504/
Senator backs off threat of probe of T.O. issues
Senate Judiciary Committee doesn't have time, Specter saysHaraz N. Ghanbari
Nov. 29, 2005
PHILADELPHIA - Sen. Arlen Specter backed off a threat to have a Senate subcommittee investigate whether the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles violated antitrust laws in their handling of Terrell Owens.
Specter, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Tuesday that he talked to lawyers in the Department of Justice about the issue.
Follow The Money! SPECTRE (SPecial Executive for Counter-intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion) is a fictional terrorist organization featured in the British James Bond novels by Ian Fleming, the films based on those novels, and James Bond video games. Led by evil genius and supervillain Ernst Stavro Blofeld, the organization first formally appeared in the novel Thunderball and in the movie Dr. No.

Deep Throat: No, heh, but it's touching. Forget the myths the media's created about the White House. The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
Bob Woodward: Hunt's come in from the cold. Supposedly he's got a lawyer with $25,000 in a brown paper bag.
Deep Throat: Follow the money.
Bob Woodward: What do you mean? Where?
Deep Throat: Oh, I can't tell you that.
Bob Woodward: But you could tell me that.
Deep Throat: No, I have to do this my way. You tell me what you know, and I'll confirm. I'll keep you in the right direction if I can, but that's all. Just... follow the money.

Next thing you know, Congress will start investigating baseball teams trying to figure out catcher's hand signals. Let's investigate using maple syrup on baseballs for grip. Let's investigate basketball to make sure those new pair of jordans don't have too much air pumped into them. Gimme a fricken break. I heard we had a war in Iraq, credit crisis, real estate crash, stock market crash, rising gas prices, global warming...It's no wonder our government gets nothing done. Thanks alot Specter. Putting our taxpayer dollars to use.

NFL 101! first they teach you the rules! then show you how to break them fairly!.ode!!!