By that rationale, offsides is also cheating.

Yes, but if you get a sentence that’s normally applied to convicted murderers, you can.

No, it was only “illegal” after the September 6, 2006 memo from Ray Anderson. It was not in the official rules either. So you are bud nipping with wrong information. If you really feel the need to have a Spygate asterisk, then it’s for the 2006 season only.

*with old proven false accusations and/or “un-named sources” There is nothing new in this article.

The fact the both ESPN and SI come out with massive Spygate stories immediately after the NFL loses the Deflategate case confirms that the Patriots were/are in fact targeted. At the very least, it’s more likely than not that Goodell (and whoever else at the NFL) was generally aware that these smear articles were…