Bill Belichick accused of tampering

[simeon]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=AlOnWodHBVLzobPfCIFiL0xDubYF?slug=ap-patriots-tampering&prov=ap&type=lgns



Belichick denies tampering accusation by Davis
 
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP)—Patriots coach Bill Belichick denied Wednesday the claim by Raiders owner Al Davis that New England had a workout with Randy Moss before obtaining him in a trade with Oakland.

Davis said Tuesday that the Patriots had tampered with Moss before the deal in April 2007 that brought the wide receiver to the Patriots for a fourth-round choice that year on the weekend of the NFL draft.

“I’ve told the story about Randy many, many times,” Belichick said in a conference call with members of the media covering the 49ers, “and the first time I ever talked to Randy was the Sunday morning of the second day of the draft last year.

“So that’s the first time I met him. That’s the first time I talked to him. There was no workout. There was no other contact with him.”

Davis made the tampering accusation after ending a news conference in which he announced the firing of coach Lane Kiffin.

Asked Wednesday if he had a response to Davis, Moss said, “No, not at all.”

Belichick sidestepped the question when asked by New England reporters, saying he was concentrating on Sunday’s game at San Francisco.

In an e-mail to The Associated Press, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday, “No tampering charges have ever been filed with our office with respect to Randy Moss.”

Moss, disgruntled for most of his two seasons with the Raiders, set an NFL single-season record with 23 touchdown receptions in his first season with New England.

Davis said other teams didn’t want Moss before the Patriots obtained him.

“You know how many teams turned him down?” Davis said. “That guy in Green Bay thought he couldn’t run any more. Even Denver, where they’ll take anybody, turned him down.”

He did not identify the person in Green Bay.

Davis said former Raiders senior personnel executive Michael Lombardi, who was fired 10 days after the Moss trade, spoke to Belichick about Moss.

“What’s his name knew he could run, he’s a friend of Belichick’s. Mike Lombardi,” Davis said Tuesday. “Mike sold what’s his name, Belichick, on the idea that he could run. They tampered with him. I remember (Patriots owner) Bob Kraft saying that he had to look him in the eye and all that. They went down and worked him out, he could run. He’s their team, of course, with the quarterback.”

Moss had 98 catches during the regular season last year, 22 in the first three games. With Brady out for the season after hurting his knee in the opener, Moss has 12 catches in three games.



My question, is Davis going senile ?

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

http://www.bangcartoon.com/

these guys think so

[Pats2006]

Didn't happen this guys a douche.

[ethurst2]

Time for Goodell to step in and stop this circus if he can.

Everyone knows that Randy Moss was dogging it with the Raiders because they sucked. He did that so that he could get out of there.

I'm with Belichick on this one.

The Raiders as as organization STINK! That's bad because they have a great group of young players that if they had the right management and direction, could be a powerhouse in a couple of years.

Al Davis is senile.

[SportsChick]

Al Davis is just a crazy old man. He doesn't remember when/how he sent a letter that was just supposed to be a couple weeks ago let alone something that happened before the draft over a year ago

[Philly Fin Fan]

Al Davis is insane. Read his quotes. He kept referring to people as "that guy, whats his name" , even when talking about his own former employees (Mike Lomabardi). He does that with Shanahan as well.

[DZA]

I will have to be on Bellycheat side on this.  Al is a old loon who cant recall when he last took a piss.  Moss tanked himself so he can get out of oakland.  Tampering my ass.   

[Jim Gray]

Only Davis could get everyone to rally to Belichick's defense.  Al Davis (aka - the Crypt Keeper) is as crazy as a shithouse rat.  As hard as the past 8 years have been for Dolphins fans, you can wake up every morning thankful that Al Davis doesn't own this team.

[fyo]

I have to join the "defense" of Belichick here. As much as I wouldn't mind seeing the Patriots hit over the head with something, Al Davis is a crazed, senile old fart. While there is some entertainment value in it (unless you're a Raiders fan), the NFL would be a better place without the idiot.

That interview he gave on the firing of Kiffin was 24 minutes of pure comedy gold. It's not that he doesn't have some valid points about the way Kiffin behaved, even if it's completely one-sided, it's the way in which he rambles crazy shit.

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80b43727

The part others have mentioned about the letter being mailed... no, actually he "handed it to him"... Fed Ex'ed to Kiffin... all in the span of like 15 seconds. Wow.

[YoFuggedaboutit]

Everyone knows that Randy Moss was dogging it with the Raiders because they sucked. He did that so that he could get out of there.

And now that the Patriots are sliding down into suckitude, I'll bet Moss dogs it there too.  He clearly was dogging it in the Dolphins game. 

[run_to_win]

 

People are saying "Al Davis is senile" like that's a bad thing. 

[CF DolFan]

This is one case that I wouldn't know who to believe.  Honestly ... do you think Belichick is above it?

[Phishfan]

It wouldn't surprise me if the Raiders set up a workout in order to trade Moss.

That aside, can Davis be Baker Acted based on his craziness he has shown the past week? If I was a Raiser fan I would be pushing for it.

[Brian Fein]

As much as I want it to be true, the story has little to no credibility thanks to the source.  I don't think anything will come of this.

[MaineDolFan]

Davis is the same guy that has sued the NFL something like 1, 345, 344 times.  And the single reason why I grew up in the literal shadows of the "Black Hole" and hate all things Raider.