Schlereth: ‘Fine line’ between gamesmanship and cheating in NFL

This week NFL Network analyst and Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders made headlines by saying the Indianapolis Colts stole signals from other team’s defenses.

In response to his NFL Network colleague LaDainian Tomlinson saying some critics will hold the New England Patriots’ success in lower regard due to the club’s Spygate scandal, Sanders said:

“Those same critics, did they say anything about the wins that the Indianapolis Colts had? You want to talk about that too? Because they were getting everybody’s signals. Come on, you don’t walk up to the line and look over here and the man on the sideline giving you the defense that they’ve stolen the plays of. We all knew. L.T. knew. Everybody in the NFL knew. We just didn’t let the fans know. That was real and that was happening in Indy.”

On Thursday, “Schlereth and Evans” co-host and former Denver Broncos guard Mark Schlereth said before the NFL started cracking down on filming signals, he’s “almost 100 percent” certain all 32 teams did it “because everybody was doing it.”

Including the Broncos.

“I think all 32 teams filmed signals. I’m almost 100 percent (certain) all 32 teams because everybody was doing it, and then the NFL started cracking down on it,” Schlereth said. “So, of course, if everybody was doing it we were doing it. I don’t think there’s any question. I think everybody was doing it.”

But Schlereth, who’s admitted to breaking the rules by greasing his jersey and using sticky spray on his gloves, said there’s a fine line between gamesmanship and true cheating — like taking PEDs.

“I never did an anabolic steroid in my career, and I wouldn’t. That, to me, is cheating,” Schlereth said. “This other stuff, to me, is gamesmanship. There’s a fine line. We all walk that.”

Among that other stuff, Schlereth said he’s heard of teams sending fake reporters out to watch and record pregame warmups, fake NFL Films guys recording sideline adjustments, teams wiring helmets so players can hear in crowd noise, and so on.

“I have heard it all, and, you know what, I 100 percent believe it all happened,” Schlereth said. “And maybe I’m the guy who’s got the tinfoil hat on listening to ‘The X-Files,’ but I’m telling you …”

Schlereth said that what we’ve learned from PEDs is that “cheaters are ahead of the testers” and whenever there’s incentive to do so, people will cheat.

“… As long as there are great, great attainable things — money, fame, celebrity, whatever it is that drives you — guys are going to find a way to cheat,” Schlereth said. “It’s just the way it is.”

However, Schlereth defended Tony Dungy — the Colts head coach at the time of Sanders accusations — saying, “Tony Dungy is a great man. And part of it is protecting your legacy because people don’t understand the difference (between gamesmanship and real cheating.)”

Follow digital content producer Johnny Hart on Twitter: @JohnnyHart7.