| Do Patriots spy? Ex-Pat Fauria says no, sort of |
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| Written by Admin |
| Thursday, 13 September 2007 22:12 |
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -Signed by the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday, Christian Fauria has been busy moving, meeting his new teammates and keeping track of the spying scandal involving his old team, the New England Patriots. ``I was going back and forth on how I really feel about it,'' the veteran tight end said Thursday. ``I'm all for doing everything that it takes to win. If somebody is going to leave their playbook out in plain view, I'm going to look. If I'm on offense and I can pick up the defensive calls, I'm going to tell the rest of the offense. ``As far as filming it, I never saw it when I was there.'' Fauria then broke into laughter. ``No, I really didn't,'' Fauria said, before turning toward his locker and smirking. ``Really, I didn't. Seriously.'' Fauria then chuckled again. As Fauria played coy, the NFL was trying to decide on a punishment for the team Fauria spent four seasons with. ``All I know is there better not be an asterisk by any of the Super Bowls I was with them,'' said Fauria, part of the 2003 and 2004 title teams. ``I better call my wife and tell her to put (my rings) in a safe.'' Later Thursday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined coach Bill Belichik the maximum $500,000, and the Patriots were fined $250,000. Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't. Fauria, who turns 36 next week, was brought in because his familiarity with offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson, who was an assistant in New England when Fauria was there. He said Belichick and Davidson are masters at preparation, and he was happy to get a call to rejoin Davidson after getting released by Washington in a salary cap move last spring. ``I've been in this offense for a long time and I think I can help, especially the tight ends, on some finer points,'' Fauria said. ``Just being a team player, being a leader.'' Fauria said he's already been getting some razzing from teammates over the Patriots scandal, much of it coming from veterans who were around when Fauria and the Patriots beat the Panthers in the Super Bowl after the 2003 season. ``Are we all looking for an edge? Of course,'' Fauria said. ``How you go about that, I don't know how to answer that question.'' Fauria then laughed, again. ``This isn't going to be on ESPN,'' Fauria asked. ``Is it?'' |
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