Thank God for this article. I was beginning to think everyone in America had lost their freaking minds. Pro football: Hall of Famer Campbell says Patriots deserve asterisk [SIZE=-1]Chad Peters Express-News Staff Writer[/SIZE] Having gradually lost interest in the pro game, the legendary Earl Campbell said he doesn't follow the NFL much these days. But that didn't stop the Hall of Fame running back from sounding off Wednesday on one of the league's season-long hot topics. Stating the New England Patriots' Spygate scandal was nothing but pure cheating, Campbell drew a stark contrast between the character of Cowboys coach Wade Phillips a longtime friend going back to their time together with the Houston Oilers and Patriots coach Bill Belichick. In fact, if Campbell had his way, he said Belichick would be out of the NFL and the Patriots would be stripped of their three Super Bowl victories following the spying incident that drew Belichick a $500,000 fine and cost the Patriots a first-round pick. I think if I was the commissioner, I would fire him, Campbell said. And I'd also fix it so he couldn't coach in the NFL anymore. And those teams that played (and won three Super Bowls), I'd consider that a tie. The other teams would get a ring, too. Campbell was one of a handful of former professional athletes in town to promote the launching of the Triton Sports Center, a health club that will provide young athletes specific sports training particularly in football from pros. The center, located southeast of the Loop 1604 and U.S. 281 intersection, is expected to open late in the spring. Campbell, who was using a walker, said his inspiration to help such a venture is to provide young athletes life lessons and the value of education through sports. Considering as much, Campbell said it's a bad example if the Patriots (13-0) go on to win the Super Bowl. We try to teach our young kids how to be honest and all that, Campbell said, and here we've got grown people. ..... (Belichick) is no better than those guys in baseball taking them steroids. ..... If they win the Super Bowl, I think there should be an asterisk by the Patriots' name. And if they don't win, I still think there should be an asterisk by their name. Because that's wrong. A lie is a lie. Campbell said his opinion wouldn't change even if other teams also were found to employ secretive videotaping tactics. Belichick got caught, he said. He did a good job of doing it, too. ... He got away with it. I often wondered because, man, when you win the Super Bowl, it's like you move on and go to other teams. But all those guys kept staying there. I knew there was something. And all of a sudden this cheating came out and I said, Ah, boy. That's it.' Asked what he would think if he discovered one of his former coaches videotaped opponents, Campbell said he wouldn't respect him as an individual. Campbell likely wouldn't expect Phillips to be accused of such. Praising his former coach for his character and what he stands for, Campbell said Phillips deserved the success he has had in leading the Cowboys to a franchise-best 12-1 mark. Smiling widely, Campbell recalled how he used to like to mess around with Phillips the Oilers' defensive coordinator in Campbell's first three NFL seasons (1978-80) during extra-point drills. Campbell would interrupt the drills by getting linemen to jump offside. Wade would get so upset, Campbell said, laughing heartily
They aren't going to put an asterick next to the Patriots superbowls. Still not sure why he was taping other teams, but teams do make adjustments, and I don't seriously think that they gained any advantage. Yes he got caught, and yes it was wrong, but they still won, plain and simple.
Bold stance by Campbell....he has a right to voice his opinion, I agree with some of the things he said and not with others. No way in hell can you strip the Pats of the 3 SB titles and no way you kick Bellirod out of the league. As far as the asterisk you could put one and I doon't think it would matter much in 20 years.:dontknow:
Man Earl is trippin, I think the PATS proved this year that they can win regardless. Bill is the best in my time (with the exception of his lame press conferences) so I don't care what assumptions are put out on him, he is the man.
Lol....I think Earl should have run around a few of those tackles instead of pounding heads with them. I'd vote for him for commish though....except he'd take away the Steelers rings too....and the Cowboys...and the Niners.....and pretty much every team that wasn't the Oilers because I am sure they never cheated right? Oh wait...the Oilers didn't get a ring. Seriously....I know the Pats got an edge by knowing the other teams signals and plays before they ran them but I also don't think the Pats were or are the only team who has done this and they still had to make the plays when it counted. Physically they still had to make the tackles and throw the passes and make the catches and break the tackles....etc..etc..etc.. There will never be an asterisk by their records and their rings won't be taken back either. Fans of other teams will just continue to dislike them because they are so good. The same way it has happened with other Dynasties. So stop with the astersik talk and just do everything within your power to amke sure they lose for the rest of eternity :icon_cheesygrin: and some day maybe coach Bill will take speech classes and learn to put some personality into his voice. I wonder if he is really hypnotising the other teams with his monotone voice and putting them to sleep so the Pats win....now that would be worthy of an asterisk*:icon_smile:
i think the pats are still cheating, they counter every play the other team does. They didn't even punt against Jax I think.
That's because they RUN UP THE SCORE like they are freaking Texas Tech or something! And before the Patsies scream at me, what happened in the Pats-Skins game? I HATE THE PATS, I HATE THEM, I HATE THEM, THEY SHOULD BURN IN HELL!
At the end of the day, the Patriots were caught cheating, got punished for it. So, by putting an asterisk with the key * - Cheated in one game, there was absolutely nothing wrong with it. The Patriots cheated, the asterisk tells you so, big deal? Screw you Patties for crying about this. As for Earl, it's good to see someone can see there was nothing wrong with it.
