updated 6:43 p.m. ET Nov. 8, 2007

MIAMI - Don Shula used softer language Thursday, but stuck by his belief the New England Patriots’ success this season is diminished by the spying scandal that prompted stiff punishment from the NFL in September.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Shula laughed when asked if the Patriots deserve an asterisk if they finish 19-0.

“That’s not for me to say,” the Pro Football Hall of Fame coach said. “They were penalized, after the first game, wasn’t it? They had a No. 1 draft choice taken away, and (coach Bill) Belichick was fined, and the team was fined. ...

“Since then they’ve been playing within the rules, and their accomplishments should be recognized. But if there was something that happened to diminish what they’ve accomplished, then that has been noted.”

Shula coached the Miami Dolphins to a 17-0 record in 1972, still the NFL’s only perfect season. He caused a stir when he first made critical comments regarding the Patriots scandal to the New York Daily News on Monday.

“You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They’ve got it,” Shula told the newspaper. “I guess you got the same thing as putting an asterisk by Barry Bonds’ home run record. I guess it will be noted that the Patriots were fined and a No. 1 draft choice was taken away during that year of accomplishment.”

However, Shula declined to make the Bonds comparison when asked about it by the AP.

“I don’t know enough about Barry Bonds,” Shula said.

And Shula backtracked Thursday when discussing the Patriots on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike in the Morning.”

“If they run the table, and they win all the games, then they are doing it within the rules of the National Football League,” Shula told ESPN. “And there shouldn’t be any asterisk to it. That would be the accomplishment that they made. It would be the best in all of sports.”

Following the Patriots’ season opener, the NFL determined the team used a video camera to spy on opposing coaches and steal signals. Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Belichick $500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick next year.

The Patriots are 9-0 this season after defeating previously unbeaten Indianapolis last Sunday.

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