Patriots coach fined $500,000...Pats fined $250,000..Patriots guilty

[RobAce]

Well it just came down the ol chute.....
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3018338

NEW YORK -- New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for videotaping an opponent's offensive and defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.

I think this is a fair punishment. I would have liked more but ehhh, what can you do.
Some had talked of suspending "the coach", but honestly Id rather have him on the field, with fans hissing and booing, opposing coaching giving him the stare, and players running down the sidelines yelling "cheater" than for him to be at home. Think of all the press conferences for the rest of this year, this issue will not die....the media will see to that.

Also, you know what else is funny...whenever I play Madden, after each season the last 2 Madden series, they always have the NE Coach retiring. Every freaking time I play it. I mean EVERY TIME I start a new game with a new team, the NE Coach retires.
Maybe the game makers at EA had a feeling about something also.

Well, discuss....what do you think about the penalty.

Rob

 

[unclebill]

Apparently this has been going on for years now. Like it or not, this taints the Patriots Super Bowl victories.

 

[RobAce]

Whether I like it or not, Charlie Weis IS NO offensive genius.

Me and some other Irish fans have written in to Notre Dame about finding out what help Weis got, and firing him.
Looks like this sham of an offense, and the fact he cant win big games...is because he doesn't have the help of video playback.

Rob

 

[SamuelKhan]

I seriously doubt if the Pats were the only team cheating. And yes the Lombardi's could be illegitimate. That isn't going away anytime soon.

 

[SamuelKhan]

Apparently this has been going on for years now. Like it or not, this taints the Patriots Super Bowl victories.

If I were a Rams, Panthers and even an Eagles fan, I would be pissed.

 

[maniactickler]

The punishment has been applied. we shall see how their record is at the end of the year. if they finish 9-7 or worse, then id say the cheating had a huge effect. now lets get back to winning the superbowl!

 

[the wiz]

This shows the hypocrisy of the NFL, when a player is arrested, he is automatically suspension, and fine; even before his trial. Packman, Tank, Vick; however, when a coach is caught video taping the opponents side lines; especially when the league already told him he could not do it. He should have received more than a $500,000 fine.

Everyone already crying football players are role models, blah, blah, blah, but, isn’t the coach a role model too, his the head of the team, shouldn’t he be held to a higher standard than a lowly football player?

 

[RobAce]

This shows the hypocrisy of the NFL, when a player is arrested, he is automatically suspension, and fine; even before his trial. Packman, Tank, Vick; however, when a coach is caught video taping the opponents side lines; especially when the league already told him he could not do it. He should have received more than a $500,000 fine.

There is a huge difference between breaking league rules only, and the aforementioned players who broke league rules, and the law. Him videotaping is not a criminal offense. If it was, I am sure he would have been disciplined like the players. After all Wade Wilson (a coach) was given a suspension and fine just like players who test positive for banned substances. Last year when that assistant coach went through the Wendy's (I think) drive through naked..he was fired.
This is just like when the NFL tells players not to have an elaborate celebration after scoring a touchdown. If they do it, they pay a fine...no suspension, because it is not a criminal act, just like videotaping...its against the rules, but not a criminal act.

Rob

 

[jaba]

After all Wade Wilson (a coach) was given a suspension and fine just like players who test positive for banned substances.


Last year when that assistant coach went through the Wendy's (I think) drive through naked..he was fired.

Rob

ha ha...thats pretty funny...I didn't hear about that one....

I wonder what banned substance he was on....crack?....

 

[CitY of MicA]

I'm a little ambivalent about the penalty, because the league is privy to information that I am not about what was on that videotape, what the Patriots use and procedure concerning taping was, past frequency of this type of rule breaking (we know that the Patriots were accused of doing this last year against Green Bay), etc. The league assures us that (and Belichick is saying the same thing), since the tape was confiscated before the 1st quarter had ended, it didn't effect the outcome of the game. But the only true evidence of this, in my opinion, would be if the tape runs uninterupted from the start of the game; if there are gaps, this might have given them the opportunity to peruse it and steal the signals. The league might want to comment further to dispell myths about the incident. I'm not convinced that forfeiture of the game shouldn't have been part of the penulty. Here is an article which gives some of this information:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7222570

The fine for Belichick is the maximum handed out by the league, so I don't see how anyone could complain about it being too lenient. I think it's strict but just. I don't have an opinion one way or another about the team fine. Somehow, losing their 2nd and 3rd round draft pick if they don't make the playoffs seems like a stiffer penalty than losing their first round pick if they do. The 2nd and 3rd round picks would be higher picks in those rounds if you don't make the playoffs; the first rounder won't be a high pick if they do make the playoffs (and in that division with their team, they'll make the playoffs).

Since the Patriots are so loaded with talent, any loss of draft picks probably doesn't seem like as harsh a penalty as it would be for any other team in the league; they don't seem like they need it. Additionally, they have two first round picks as they picked up one in the deal for Moss.

 

[the wiz]

There is a huge difference between breaking league rules only, and the aforementioned players who broke league rules, and the law. Him videotaping is not a criminal offense. If it was, I am sure he would have been disciplined like the players. After all Wade Wilson (a coach) was given a suspension and fine just like players who test positive for banned substances. Last year when that assistant coach went through the Wendy's (I think) drive through naked..he was fired.
This is just like when the NFL tells players not to have an elaborate celebration after scoring a touchdown. If they do it, they pay a fine...no suspension, because it is not a criminal act, just like videotaping...its against the rules, but not a criminal act.

Rob

Rob,

You completely missed the point; It doesn't matter if it was or was not against the law of the state, it was against the rules of the NFL. The aforementioned players broken the law with is true; however, they also broken the NFL rules; my problem is they was suspended before they were found guilty of the crime. nce 2 of the 3 admitted to being guilty, their suspension was extended. Packman, have not admitted to anything and his is still out of the league.

My main point is; he's the head coach of a professional football organization; also a 3 time Superbowl winning coach. He should be held to an higher standard than anyone also, in addition, he was told he could not video the opposing team. Yet, he did it anyway.

you fine people for doing stuff like talking about the officials; but, for a head coach to be caught cheating in the middle of an official game on National TV. He need to be suspended for the next 4 games for starters if not the whole year without pay.

 

[Knox The Hatter]

Wow! Drug dealers. Gang bangers. Spousal abusers. Dog torturing murderers. And now, cheaters. All we need now is one more titty flash, and the whole world will have gone to hell in a handbasket

 

[the wiz]

Wow! Drug dealers. Gang bangers. Spousal abusers. Dog torturing murderers. And now, cheaters. All we need now is one more titty flash, and the whole world will have gone to hell in a handbasket

where is Janet Jackson when you need her? Is Brittney available? How about Barbara Bush?