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Belichick Moves On, But Dungy Calls It 'A Sad Day For NFL'

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A Tribune wire report

Published: September 15, 2007

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick tried again Friday to move on from the sideline spying scandal in which he was fined $500,000 and ordered to forfeit a top draft choice.

Others weren't ready to put it in the past.

'Really, a sad day for the NFL,' Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy said. 'It's another case of the 99 percent good things that are happening being overshadowed by 1 percent bad. Again, people aren't talking about our product, they're talking about a negative incident.'
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell found the Patriots guilty of using videotape to try to steal the New York Jets' defensive signals during Sunday's game after the Jets caught a New England employee in the act. Goodell announced Thursday that he would fine Belichick the maximum amount and dock the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick next year (or a lesser pick if the Patriots miss the playoffs).

It was the biggest fine ever for a coach and would be the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty.

'What I can say is that I respect the commissioner's decision, and anything related to the decision, anything associated to the decision, is really a league matter,' said Jets coach Eric Mangini, a former Patriots assistant under Belichick. 'That's all I can say about it. I hope you can respect that.'

Belichick was peppered with questions on the scandal again Friday. He seemed bemused by the repeated attempts to get him to expand on his earlier statement in which he accepted 'full responsibility for the actions' that led to the punishment.

'It's over, and we're moving on,' Belichick said. 'Right now, all of my energy and focus and attention is on the San Diego Chargers and our game Sunday night. So, that's where we're at. ... It doesn't matter. It already happened. So right now, we're focusing in on what's in front of us, and that's the Chargers.'

The Patriots have won three Super Bowls this decade under Belichick.

'All I know is there better not be an asterisk by any of the Super Bowls I was with them,' said Christian Fauria, a tight end on the 2003 and '04 title teams who is now with Carolina. 'I better call my wife and tell her to put my rings in a safe.'

Most Patriots players insisted the scandal has not affected their preparation for the nationally televised game against the Chargers. Some refused to discuss anything but football.

'I am looking forward to playing the Chargers,' quarterback Tom Brady said when offered the chance to weigh in. 'But thank you for asking.'

A statement from Patriots owner Robert Kraft was released by the team Friday. Part of the statement read:

'This has been an extremely difficult week for our organization. The most troubling part for me, personally, is the impact these actions have had on our fans. We have spent the last 14 years developing and building a franchise that people could embrace and support. The loyalty of our fans has been the most rewarding aspect of owning the team. I am deeply disappointed that the embarrassing events of this past week may cause some people to see our team in a different light.'

Ricky Williams to Seek Reinstatement By NFL

MIAMI - Bad news for NFL linebackers, good news for soap opera fans: Ricky Williams is planning another comeback. The suspended running back is eligible to seek reinstatement by the NFL after Oct. 1 and will do so, his attorney said Friday.

Williams has played in only 12 NFL games since the start of the 2004 season. His current suspension began in April 2006 after he violated the league's drug policy for the fourth time, and a positive test for marijuana this past April delayed his return.

Williams' attorney, David Cornwell, said they spoke by phone Thursday and 'he sounds wonderful. He sounds like he's in a great place, and I'm confident that will come through to the commissioner.'

It's uncertain how quickly Williams, 30, might be cleared to return. He remains under contract with Miami, where he won the NFL rushing title in 2002, but first-year Dolphins coach Cam Cameron has not indicated he wants Williams.

BILLS: Tight end Kevin Everett has slightly moved three fingers on his right hand, potentially another positive sign in his recovery from a life-threatening spinal-cord injury, a person close to the family said. When Everett arrived at the hospital Sunday, he was paralyzed below his neck. Since then, he has shown signs of improvement and was taken off a respirator Wednesday.

COWBOYS: Linebacker Greg Ellis returned to practice on a limited basis this week after an extended rehabilitation from a torn left Achilles' tendon, but Coach Wade Phillips said Ellis hasn't made enough progress to play Sunday at Miami.

EAGLES: Backup quarterback A.J. Feeley had a second operation on his injured non-throwing hand, one day after the hand swelled following practice. Feeley's availability for Monday's game against the Redskins was not known.

GIANTS: Quarterback Eli Manning took some snaps with the first unit Friday for the first time all week, but he remains questionable.

JETS: Despite published reports that the team will start backup quarterback Kellen Clemens on Sunday for Chad Pennington (ankle), Coach Eric Mangini insisted that hadn't been determined.

RAIDERS: Daunte Culpepper is expected to start at quarterback Sunday against Denver after Josh McCown left practice early with a sore foot.

RAMS: Cornerback Tye Hill is out indefinitely after hurting his lower back in practice. 'The best-case scenario is probably two games,' Coach Scott Linehan said.

TITANS: The NFL fined defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth $5,000 for a hard tackle last week. He was fined for unnecessary roughness after slamming Jaguars runner Maurice Jones-Drew to the ground.

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