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Jerrad Peters: How I see it
12 September 2007

CALL me desensitized, but I just was not offended by the New England Patriots’ tricky bit of espionage at The Meadowlands on Sunday. In all honesty, with strategies, schemes, and signals playing such a prevalent role in the modern National Football League, I was baffled to realize that spying of a similar nature had not been common for years. Trust Bill Belichik to always be ahead of the curve.

In case you were glued to one of Sunday’s other early kick-offs, a member of the Patriots staff was apprehended by NFL security officials during New England’s 38-14 romp over the New York Jets. He is alleged to have been videotaping the Jets’ defensive signals. The footage on the camera was confiscated and brought to the league’s head offices for review. Commissioner Roger Goodell has yet to comment on the incident; although it is believed that he is prepared to penalize the Patriots by sequestering their top two picks in the 2008 Entry Draft.

Now, I am not about to uphold the “if you’re not willing to cheat, you’re not willing to win” mantra. But it is my understanding that the video footage was merely being recorded. It was not being beamed to someone on the Patriots bench who would immediately adjust the play-calling of Tom Brady on the field. Essentially, it was game film to be used after the fact – hardly any different than the clips that Belichik and the coaching staff would have been provided anyway.

Was it cheating? I don’t think so. NFL players are the most prepared and educated athletes in professional sports. They spend upwards of five days studying their next opponents – going over strategy, breaking-down plays, and yes, watching game-film. It would be naïve to think that a few video clips from a unique vantage-point would defeat that preparation.

On an entirely different subject, my perception of Scott Niedermayer has been significantly altered. While he has never been the sort of athlete to crave the spotlight or demand attention, the Anaheim Ducks defenseman has become the subject of widespread opinion and scrutiny over the past few months as he has dithered over his professional future. Commonly regarded as the best player at his position in the National Hockey League, Niedermayer was suspended by his team, yesterday, after failing to report to training camp.

That Niedermayer is a gifted player goes without saying. Last we saw him, he was hoisting both the Conn Smythe Trophy and Stanley Cup as captain of the Ducks. At 34-years of age, he appeared to have plenty left in the tank. A few weeks after the triumph, however, he dropped a bombshell by announcing that he was pondering retirement.

Such a decision was, and is, his prerogative. And had he settled on going out on top, nobody would have thought less of him. This back-and-forth business, however, is absolutely ridiculous and reeks of the spoiled, coddled, and overpaid professional athlete. It is something you would expect of Terrell Owens or Randy Moss – not a joe-average Alberta boy who played his junior hockey for the Kamploops Blazers.

Oh, to get inside the head of Brian Burke. The Ducks General Manager, despite is measured comments in the media, must be absolutely livid. His captain and best player is requesting that the club play half of a regular season without his services, retain enough room under the salary-cap to allow for his return, and then banish the player who had taken his place to the press-box. Hardly the kind of behavior which is endearing to either teammates for fans.