Lawsuit seeks compensation for Super Bowl loss Associated Press NEW ORLEANS -- A former St. Louis Rams player and three fans sued the New England Patriots today over allegations that the Patriots cheated in the 2002 Super Bowl by taping a Rams practice before the game. Former Rams player Willie Gary and other plaintiffs are seeking millions in damages in their federal lawsuit, filed in New Orleans. The Patriots beat the Rams, 20-17, on a last-second field goal in the 2002 Super Bowl at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans. Before the game, former Patriots employee Matt Walsh allegedly taped a walkthrough practice by the Rams. Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't comment on the allegations. The lawsuit accuses the Patriots of fraud, unfair trade practices and engaging in a "pattern of racketeering." The plaintiffs' attorneys are asking a judge to certify the case as a class action on behalf of anyone who purchased a Super Bowl ticket or attended the game, all Rams employees on the 2002 team and any owner of a Rams seat license for the 2001-2002 season. Hugh Campbell, a Cincinnati-based lawyer who filed the suit, says the loss cost Rams players much more than Super Bowl rings and bonuses. He says, quoting here, "More importantly, their careers would have been advanced if they were winners instead of losers." Spokesmen for the Patriots and Rams both declined to comment on the suit. Gary, a defensive back who played at Kentucky, was signed by the Rams as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2001. He was released in September 2002 and he played in NFL Europe that season. In 2003, he joined the Arena League Georgia Force in 2003. http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d806b4b59&template=without-video&confirm=true
It's okay though, according to Patriots fans, this will just go away. Just like they said before Belichick got a first rounder and half a million deducted.
Doesn't sound like a suit that could be won... I mean, it seems the rams would have to prove they would have won if the pats didn't cheat. Which is impossible to prove... Not to mention the fact that they would need proof that the pats even cheated. Thanks to Goodell, that proof doesn't exist. Maybe it'll get more of this cover-up out in the open though.
Here's the thing... once you have enough people shooting at the target, someone is going to make a bull's eye.
This isn't about money. They probably won't collect a cent. This is to get these people under oath and get the truth out since Goodall is more interested in bending over for Kraft that letting it be known what really happened. On another note, if Walsh really does have the tape of the ST Louis walk through as was reported yesterday then you can kiss bellicheat goodbye for at least a year and probably forever in New England.
dont need the tape. this is a civil case with the rules of evidence much lower than for criminal cases. just need: 1- walsh saying under oath that he did indeed tape the rams and gave the tape to ne 2- anyone on the ne staff willing to testify (mangini?) that ne's game plan was altered based on what was seen on the tape 3- case goes to the jury, which can award 'real' and 'punative' damages. 'real' damages may be hard to estimate, but 'punative' damages are unbounded and meant soley to punish the wrong doer. anyhoo....very funny to watch the whole debacle keep reappearing time after time.
Article In The Times In today's Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/16/sports/football/16nfl.html?ref=sports
N.E.* (and the NFL) is suffering a death of 1000 cuts. How much longer will it be before players (and /or fans) from EVERY team that N.E.* beat over the past 8 years files a lawsuit not only against N.E.* but against the NFL itself because they knew that the Pats were cheating but did nothing to stop it. How many BILLIONS of dollars in refunded tickets will be demanded. How much in ad revenue will the big TV networks be looking to recoup if it starts to look like these lawsuits will be successful. If this continues, it will only be a matter of time before either the NFL or N.E.* will be forced to do something drastic to try to stop the bleeding and repair the damage. Can you say LIFETIME BAN for Bellicheat???
His chicken is cooked. Now I would say his goose is cooked but that just would be doing Word Play a disservice.
Does nobody here realize that the Patriots never even broke an actual law through all this? Suppose Walsh did tape the practice, assume it did alter the Pats game plan, and assume that if the Pats hadn't done this then they couldn't have possibly beaten the Rams any other way. I don't think any of those things are true, but even if they could prove all of this to be true (they can't) there still was no law being broken. The NFL is a private enterprise, you can't sue in the court of the law for something that only broke the company's rule. I really love some of the statements in this thread, some of these "end is near for the nfl" speeches sound like they come from 7 year olds.
You are terrible at not being vague and terrible at engaging in actual discussion rather than just attacking people you disagree with.
Ok, then, let me try that again. Whether or not certain conduct is actionable is something your broad and divers experience as a sports fan doesn't give you any particular insight into. Yet you value your opinion on the issue highly enough to issue a sweeping declaration that disposes of the entire matter for good. Stating something is clearly without merit without discussing why is shorthand for saying you can't be bothered.
not true. the NFL sold tickets and advertising under the guise of a fair and honest competition. so, if the NFL permitted one team to cheat, thus eliminating the fair and honest competition, than the event was rigged and the NFL falsely advertising itself as something it was not. there are far more dynamics involved in this despite your attempt to try and simplify it. this is just my basic understanding of some of the concepts that can be argued. anyone with more knowledge on these matters is free to chime in, and if I am mistaken I will gladly apologize and admit I was mistaken. will you do the same?
