Storyline: I implore you, Bill Belichick and Patriots organization, to change your ways: No more cheating, no more unfair play. Play with integrity and you will be respected. Written by Daniel Bobka, Scott AFB, Illinois.
Bill Belichick,
My name is Daniel Bobka. I am twenty two years old and sports have always been a huge part of my life. Football and the National Football League stand out among the rest of any other sport.
I am no analyzer. I am not a sports anchor. I do not work for ESPN. I’m just a humble fan. In a way that keeps me more honest when it comes to voicing my opinion and feelings towards the National Football League.
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needs honest and genuine teams. The fans want teams that will go out on the field every Sunday and play with all their hearts and, more importantly, with integrity.
I’m writing to you today simply to point out your unjust play and I hope that you can see your faults. I want you to see what the real fans deserve. Maybe hearing it from a true fan you will change your ways.
Bill Belichick, you and your team, the New England Patriots, do not meet the requirements that fans and the NFL want or need.
It was the 88th season of the National Football League. The season started like every other. It was September 9th of 2007-2008 season and the New York Jets were hosting the New England Patriots. The history between the two teams is well known and calling their matchup a rivalry was a monstrous understatement. There was nothing but animosity between the teams and the foul play that happened that brisk sunny day in the Meadowlands would only add to the fire of hate that the two organizations had towards each other.
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While the game was in progress the Patriots were caught filming the Jets’ signals and plays from an illegal location. They filmed a defensive coach’s signals and plays so the Patriots knew how to slice through the Jets defense like a piece of soft fruit. The Patriots went on to secure a crushing victory. but they were caught for their violation.
The commissioner of NFL, Roger Goodell, did punish them with the maximum amount of fines. Coach Belichick was fined $500,000 dollars and the Patriots team was also fined an additional $250,000 dollars. The team also lost draft picks the following season.
But this punishment was not entirely just. “Spy-gate” was the notorious title given to this shady crime and the league and fans will never forget it. The Patriots still got to keep the win, which helped keep their “perfect” season alive. They went on with the rest of their games, win after win; and it seemed like no team could defeat them. Justice was delivered when the New York Giants defeated them in the Super Bowl, handing the Pats their only loss that season.
Deep into the 2015 post-season the Patriots once again were suspected for mischievous activity. They battled the Colts in the AFC Championship game. After routing the Colts, speculations arose. I remember starring at the television screen, mouth opened wide, and hands tingling. I could not believe the Colts were defeated by almost 40 points.
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This time it included their “Golden Boy” quarterback, Tom Brady. After many reports and questions the Patriots were caught having and using deflated balls. Certain text messages were brought to light between the ball boys and Brady, adding to the proof of unfair play. The balls were under inflated 2 psi. Having underinflated balls makes it easier to throw and much less of a challenge to catch. Tom Brady even admitted to liking a football with less air. This acting of cheating was dubbed, “Deflate-gate.”
The Patriots went on that year to win the Super Bowl, but the fans of NFL still begged for a fair punishment. After several months the League punished Brady with a four-game suspension for the next season. The punishment did not stick, though, and Tom Brady was pardoned because the league didn’t have sufficient legal proof of his actions with underinflated balls. Brady and the Patriots once again walked away unscathed from fair punishment.
The Patriots have other allegations involving unfair play. Football fans around the country will never forget the “Tuck Rule,” a rule made during the post-season, which helped the Patriots move on past the Oakland Raiders and win the 2001 Super Bowl. Tom Brady fumbled the ball after defensive back Charles Woodson sacked him. Originally called a loose-ball fumble, the referees changed the call to an incomplete pass.
The Patriots have also been accused of using performance enhancement drugs, tampering with visiting team’s headsets, and illegally using their injury list. All these accusations have been proven and the Patriot organization has been punished. But this excessive cheating must be stopped. All football fans roar for the League to be stricter and all the teams to play fair.
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I love the NFL more than most people. Since I was a little lad I can remember watching the Sunday night games with my father. It was such an exciting time being able to stay up late on a school night to watch the teams fight for a win. There are thousands of young fans, just like me, who deserve to have a fair and honest league. The Patriots and you, Coach Belichick, do not deserve to be in this league.
You have heap of Super Bowl wins and rings, but how many of those are tainted with your dishonest play. It’s time you step down from your spot as head coach, Bill. It’s time the League punishes you and your organization for how much unrest you have brought the League.
I just beg of you to hear what I have to say. I’m a loyal fan, part of a generation of fans that will be there to watch the National Football League. I implore you and Patriots organization to change your ways: No more cheating, no more unfair play. Play with integrity and you will be respected. As the great philosopher Sophocles said: “I would prefer even to fail with honor than win by cheating.”
Sincerely,
Daniel Bobka
