RoanokeFan
05-01-2012, 02:40 PM
RAVENS' HARBAAUGH: PATRIOTS' TITLES "STAINED" (http://www.profootballweekly.com/2012/05/01/ravens-harbaugh-patriots-titles-stained)
"The Patriots have reached the Super Bowl five times under head coach Bill
Belichick, the latest being in the 2011 season, when they defeated the Ravens in
the AFC championship to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. They lost that game to the
Giants, but the team still has three championships under Belichick’s watch.<div class="m10l m10r"><div class="story_body line ">
On Tuesday morning, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said in a radio
interview he believes those championships are tainted because of the ‘Spygate’
scandal of 2007, which showed the Patriots had been illegally videotaping
opposing coaches. Harbaugh said the three New England titles under Belichick
should be given an asterisk because of the rules they broke.</p>
“In the end, everything is brought before the light of day,” Harbaugh told
97.9 FM in Baltimore. “Even the thing in New England, no matter whether those
things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got
asterisks now, it’s been stained.”</p>
The answer was actually a response to a question about the Saints bounty
scandal, which has seen harsh punishments this spring. Harbaugh said he and the
Ravens are careful not to break the rules, because it will always come back
negatively in the long run.</p>
“If you’re cheating, in the end, you’re going to get discredited,” Harbaugh
said. “It’s just not worth it.”</p>
Since taking over as Ravens head coach in 2008, the team is 44-20 in the
regular season and won at least one playoff game each year.</p>
On Tuesday afternoon, Harbaugh released the following statement to clarify
his comments:
“While on the 98 Rock show this morning to talk
about the run to honor O.J. Brigance and raise funds for ALS research, I
answered a question about playing within the rules and referred to the
perception that the Super Bowl championships won by the Patriots and Saints have
a stain. My reference was to the perception out there that came as the result of
the league’s actions.
“I could have been more clear that I was referring
to those viewpoints. I totally believe that the Patriot and Saint coaches and
players earned those championships. Bill (Belichick) and Sean (Payton) both know
that.
“There has been some distortion about what I said.
“The
original tweet indicated I pointed the finger at Bill Belichick and mentioned
Bill’s name. I did not. I have so much respect for Coach Belichick and the job
he does and has accomplished in his Hall of Fame career. I called him to remind
him of my respect for him. I also reached out to Tedy Bruschi, who rightfully
defended those Patriot players and coaches on ESPN, to tell him that I agree
with him that the Patriots earned every victory.”</p></div></div>
"The Patriots have reached the Super Bowl five times under head coach Bill
Belichick, the latest being in the 2011 season, when they defeated the Ravens in
the AFC championship to advance to Super Bowl XLVI. They lost that game to the
Giants, but the team still has three championships under Belichick’s watch.<div class="m10l m10r"><div class="story_body line ">
On Tuesday morning, Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh said in a radio
interview he believes those championships are tainted because of the ‘Spygate’
scandal of 2007, which showed the Patriots had been illegally videotaping
opposing coaches. Harbaugh said the three New England titles under Belichick
should be given an asterisk because of the rules they broke.</p>
“In the end, everything is brought before the light of day,” Harbaugh told
97.9 FM in Baltimore. “Even the thing in New England, no matter whether those
things had any impact on whether they won their championships or not, they got
asterisks now, it’s been stained.”</p>
The answer was actually a response to a question about the Saints bounty
scandal, which has seen harsh punishments this spring. Harbaugh said he and the
Ravens are careful not to break the rules, because it will always come back
negatively in the long run.</p>
“If you’re cheating, in the end, you’re going to get discredited,” Harbaugh
said. “It’s just not worth it.”</p>
Since taking over as Ravens head coach in 2008, the team is 44-20 in the
regular season and won at least one playoff game each year.</p>
On Tuesday afternoon, Harbaugh released the following statement to clarify
his comments:
“While on the 98 Rock show this morning to talk
about the run to honor O.J. Brigance and raise funds for ALS research, I
answered a question about playing within the rules and referred to the
perception that the Super Bowl championships won by the Patriots and Saints have
a stain. My reference was to the perception out there that came as the result of
the league’s actions.
“I could have been more clear that I was referring
to those viewpoints. I totally believe that the Patriot and Saint coaches and
players earned those championships. Bill (Belichick) and Sean (Payton) both know
that.
“There has been some distortion about what I said.
“The
original tweet indicated I pointed the finger at Bill Belichick and mentioned
Bill’s name. I did not. I have so much respect for Coach Belichick and the job
he does and has accomplished in his Hall of Fame career. I called him to remind
him of my respect for him. I also reached out to Tedy Bruschi, who rightfully
defended those Patriot players and coaches on ESPN, to tell him that I agree
with him that the Patriots earned every victory.”</p></div></div>