"The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished," Shula said in an interview with the New York Daily News. "You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it."

This statement by Don Shula aggravated the hell out of Mike Vrabel and presumably many other New England Patriots players and coaches.  I understand why they are annoyed by Shula.

Those "perfect" Dolphins always openly cheer against teams who threaten to go undefeated.  You combine that with Shula's statement and you can't help but think they are a bunch of crazy old men who like to talk about the good old days.   Shula thinks spygate diminishes what the Patriots have or could accomplish.  I would say Shula's statements only serve to diminish what the Dolphins accomplished.