The Anti-Patriots Agenda Continues: Jim McMahon Calls Bill Belichick A 'Liar', Says 'Cheating Ain't Far Behind'
BOSTON (CBS) -- Earlier this week, the Dan Patrick Show asked Tony Dungy about the Patriots. Now, he brought on former NFL quarterback Jim McMahon to ask him about DeflateGate, and he became the latest person to perpetuate the anti-Patriots crusade.
Controversy sells. Patrick knows this. It's why he's still talking about DeflateGate, and bringing on guests who he knows have less-than-stellar pasts with the Patriots - or in this case, Bill Belichick.
"I was with Bill in Cleveland in '95. He lied to me right to my face so I never trusted him after that," said McMahon, who spent half of the 1995 season with the Cleveland Browns when Belichick was head coach. "So all this stuff that happened, I'm sure he was right in the middle of it."
According to McMahon, Belichick told him he would re-sign him after cutting him in the preseason, and be paid during his time away from the team. Basically pulling a Ross Ventrone.
McMahon says he was never paid. He eventually signed with the Green Bay Packers that season. So of course, Patrick had to ask: Does McMahon think Belichick is a cheater?
"I know he's a liar," McMahon said. "So cheating ain't far behind, I don't think."
SEE ALSO: Patriots Named Most Hated Team, Belichick Most Hated Coach By Sports Illustrated
McMahon is obviously entitled to an opinion, and if what he says happened is true, then it's understandable for him to hold a grudge against Belichick. But David Michael Smith on Pro Football Talk made an interesting point: McMahon shouldn't expect any guarantees that aren't written in his contract, implying that no one should ever take the coach's word for it, no matter who it is.
The problem with stories like these is, the anti-Patriots soldiers will take this and escalate it to the very worst possible outcome.
Peyton Manning was paranoid the Patriots bugged the locker rooms? Well obviously that means they did it! Belichick said he'd re-sign McMahon and never did? Belichick doesn't pay his players!
Even worse, it will perpetuate the asinine notion that the Patriots "only win because they cheat", even though this has literally nothing to do with the Patriots. Keep believing that all you want, it's not going to take their rings away.
It seems that since Tom Brady's case in DeflateGate is getting stronger by the day, the focus is now shifting to Belichick. He was exonerated in the Wells Report, but that won't stop certain programs from questioning it...
These stories of paranoia and betrayal will undoubtedly get blown out of proportion by the general public, just like DeflateGate and the Patriots' other controversies. Those outside of New England will assume guilt. All Patriots fans can do at this point is get ready for the 2015 season and support the team. Remember, they're still the defending champions. But the anti-Patriots media crusade isn't ending anytime soon.
Matt Dolloff is a digital producer for CBSBostonSports.com. Read more from Matt here and follow him on Twitter @mattdolloff.
