Patriots ‘The Dynasty’ Review: Episode 4, Spygate

In the fourth chapter of the New England Patriots 10-part docuseries, the Spygate scandal is examined as both a fall from grace, as well as a source of motivation for the 2007 Patriots.

As Jimmy Conway once told a youthful Henry Hill in 1990’s Goodfellas, “Never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut.” 

While the aforementioned Martin Scorsese classic film is not often mentioned in the same vein as the New England Patriots, the underworld-like aura surrounding Episode 4 [Spygate] of “The Dynasty” docuseries cannot be ignored. 

Perhaps the most misunderstood “scandal” in NFL history, Spygate is given an expected “cloak and dagger” treatment, while acting as the sinister specter hanging over the Patriots historic 16-0 regular season in 2007. 

Unfortunately, the episode also documents the manner in which the season ended. (more on that, in a moment)

Cred: ESPN Images

The chapter opens with former New Jersey police officer Patrick Aramini, who was serving as the top security official of the Meadowlands Arena on Sept. 9, 2007. Aramini responded to a request by Jets coach (and former Pats assistant) Eric Mangini to remove a Patriots camera operator purported to be filming defensive signals from an on-field location — accusing the team of violating league rules.

After seizing both the camera and the tape, Aramini recounts turning them over to the NFL — unknowingly setting off a firestorm of controversy which threatened the integrity of the Patriots recent dynastic run, along with their current season. 

Following a league investigation, commissioner Roger Goodell announced that coach Bill Belichick would be fined $500,000, while the team would be docked $250,000, along with the loss of their 2008 first-round draft pick.

However, the strain placed on the organization by the incident and its aftermath was a prevalent theme throughout the episode. Kraft recalls both his disappointment and anger at Belichick for his role in what the NFL determined to have been a “calculated attempt to gain competitive advantage” over an opponent. 

“I went right over to Bill and I said, ‘Let me ask you something … How important to us is something like that, on a scale of 1-100?’” Kraft asked.  

“He said to me, ‘One,’ recounted Kraft. “And I said to him, ‘Then you’re a real schmuck.’”

The murky nature of Spygate’s shadow was further enhanced by the image of the Kraft Group senior vice president of business affairs Robyn Glaser — currently serving in a senior advisory role to new Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo — walking down a Gillette Stadium hallway while carrying a hammer.

Glaser recreates the day when the NFL ordered the Patriots to destroy the infamous Spygate videotapes. 

“I remember walking down the hallway and asking someone for a hammer,” Glaser said, “And they [NFL Representatives] took the hammer to the tapes. And I’m on my hands and knees, in a dress and high heels, picking up the tapes and throwing them away.”

Unsurprisingly, neither Belichick, or longtime confidant Ernie Adams were in a divulgatory mood when it came to reminiscing about such a notorious time in franchise history. While Belichick declined comment, Adams did offer a parting thought: 

“It's going to the grave with me...a little bit,” Adams said when asked if he would reveal any additional information. “But, let me just say, there have been plenty of teams in the history of the NFL that have tried to decipher other team's signals, using all kind of methods to do so.”

In contrast to the dubious depiction of Spygate, director Matthew Hamachek provides a more illuminative look at how the incident galvanized the team, in what would be a historic run to a perfect regular season. Pairing quarterback Tom Brady with Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss was the catalyst for a lethal offensive attack — which took a scorched earth approach against their opponents. With nearly the entirety of the football universe casting them as villains, the Patriots embraced their newfound role, using it as motivation for each game they played. 

Their efforts landed them in the Super Bowl, with the chance to make history.

“The perfect season,” Moss fondly recalled. “We are just one game from making it happen … It's time to rock!"

While much of the nation believed that the Pats path to perfection would lead to victory, the underdog New York Giants refused to buy into the hype. With a tough, yet brilliant defensive game plan, along with a little extra good fortune, the Giants toppled “Goliath” — just as the Pats had done to the Los Angeles Rams in Super XXXVI. 

Though the episode adequately caters to the miraculous catch by Giants receiver David Tyree, no mention is made of former Pats cornerback Asante Samuel allowing a pass from Giants quarterback Eli Manning to sail through his hands. If caught, the Pats victory and perfect season would have come to fruition. 

EXCLUSIVE: ‘Dynasty’ Director Reveals Patriots' 'Buried Treasure!'

Still, in the final analysis, the episode’s message of finding motivation through adversity sets the stage for the team’s future success. 

“We were crushed,” said Brady. “This was our history-making moment. And it hurt.  There was no sleep. There wasn’t any sleep for a long time.” 

Echoing Brady’s sentiments was Giants Hall of Fame defensive end Michael Strahan, whose words were both prophetic and foreshadowing: “We thought we slayed the devil [Patriots] …but the devil wasn’t done.”   

Episode 5, “Torn” will be available on AppleTV+ on Mar. 1.

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