ESPN: Belichick fined $500,000, Pats lose picks in 2008

by Brad Wells on Sep 13, 2007 8:42 PM EDT in NFL General

ESPN is running this over on their mainpage with no link:

Tommasse over at Pats Pulpit has more news up regarding Belichick's potential punishment for cheating.

According to a report by Mike Lynch of WCVB-TV (Channel 5, Boston), the NFL will fine New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and take two first-day draft picks from the team.

Meanwhile, Don Banks and Peter King of CNNSI say the league is weighing a multiple-game suspension of Belichick and taking a single high-round draft pick.

Whatever the punishment, I feel that it will be fair. Goodell has been fair with moron players like Vick (who lied to him) and Pacman Jones (who went to a strip club after Goodell lectured him on apppropiate behavior). What I find especially infuriating is the excuse making from Patriots fans. In Tommasse's same post, he said this:

If a lower-tier team, say Detroit or Cleveland, had been caught stealing defensive signals, would the uproar be as great? Would the league's punishment be as severe?

Think about it before you decide. If Seattle, a top-tier NFC team, beat the snot out of bottom-feeding Detroit and caught one of the Lions employees with an unauthorized video camera on the sideline, would the story be so sensational?

Seriously, is that a joke? Because if it isn't that is one of the biggest cry baby excuses I've heard in some time. If Rod Marinelli or Romeo Crennel (who was likely involved in sign stealing when he coached in NE) were caught doing the same thing, they'd likely get the same treatment. Remember, New England was warned about this last year. Teams had been reporting their activities for longer thna that. New England ignored the warnings, got caught, and now here comes the pain! The issue here isn't which team did it or not.

If any team is caught doing this, they would get the same treatment, especially after they'd been warned.

The reason the story is so sensational is New England has been a very successful team for a long time, and they have been suspected for doing this kind of cheating for the same amount of time. This leads many people to believe that the success they've had (3 Super Bowls, 22-game winning streak, etc.) is a direct result of cheating. For some reason, this simple nugget goes right over the head of most Patriots fans.

So, comparing New England's punishment to a hypothetical like Detroit is a classic deflection tactic. "Oh poor us! They're punishing us because we're good. Boo. Woo." No Tommasse, they're punishing the Patriots because they cheated. Plain and simple.

I also want to take this opportunity to call the Patriots fans out for the hypocrits they are. Some haven't acted this way. Some have done the right thing: Profess disgust; Scold Belichick for being an idiot; Show legitimate shame and disgrace for the way their team has conducted themselves. Even Bill Simmons has admitted this is a black mark on the Patriots and their legacy, and there is no defense for what they've done. They deserve whatever punishment comes to them.

But there are other Patriots fans that are complete, utter hyprocrits for the very simple reason that (speaking of hypotheticals) if this were to have been charged against Tony Dungy and Peyton Manning, every single Patriot fan from hear to Quahog would have screamed bloody murder.

See! They cheated us in the AFC Championship game. That's how they came back from 16 down!

Now we know how Manning threw 49 TDs.

Dungy can't beat Belichick fair and square. So, he has to cheat.

Any Patriots fan that says they wouldn't be screaming this is a bold faced liar. Tomorrow we'll get the official word. Whatever that word is, it will likely be fair.

Update [2007-9-13 20:45:52 by BigBlueShoe]: NFL.com now has it up. $500,000 fine, loss of draft picks. Fair punishment.

Update [2007-9-13 21:2:15 by BigBlueShoe]: Good point made by shake n bake in the comments: This might be the first in a series of punishments. The Patriots are also accused of intercepting radio signals. If found at fault for that, expect suspensions.

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Comments

No Suspension?

Slap on a wrist... they had 5 first day picks.

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 13, 2007 8:51 PM EDT reply actions

I'll defend the punishment

They lose their highest first round pick if they make the playoffs. If they dont, they lose a 2nd and 3rd round pick. Belichick gets the maximum fine, and the team coughs up amlost $300,000. They also get to have a finger pointed at them all season with the accusation "CHEATER!" behind it. You can bet Dungy is going to unload on the Pats tomorrow. Just about every coach and player is going to bash and berate them as well. And regardless of whatever they do this season, it is tainted.

So, all that is a fair punishment for me. One more point: If Belichick gets caught doing this again, he'll get Pacmaned.

Please make an account and post a diary, add some comments, and make some noise. Accounts are free, and only require an email address.

by Brad Wells on Sep 13, 2007 8:55 PM EDT up reply actions

He won't get caught again...

He won't do it on the road, but who knows what happens in Foxboro.

If warned players get 4 to 8 game suspensions for off-the-field incidents, why shouldn't a warned coach's on-the-field incident have just one suspension?

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 13, 2007 9:00 PM EDT up reply actions

I think it needs a suspension as well ...

Or a post-season ban.

by PaytonMenning on Sep 13, 2007 10:44 PM EDT up reply actions

At least one game...

and I have read that Bob Kraft has already paid the 250,000 fine. Dunno if that is true or not...

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 13, 2007 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions

could just be a start

There's other accusations out there. If they put microphones on their defenders to do the same thing to the opponent's offense, then they should get the same punishment for that. 1 mil from Belichick, lose both their first round picks.

by shake n bake on Sep 13, 2007 9:00 PM EDT reply actions

yeap

This is very true. I'm sure Goddell is investigating all of that too. Also the wire-tapping incidents, and the frequently occouring radio problems in Foxboro.

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Sep 13, 2007 9:23 PM EDT up reply actions

Nice

I'm satisfied...thus far, let's see where the other accusations lead.

by BSanders37 on Sep 13, 2007 9:01 PM EDT reply actions

I am assuming...

but I think the investigation is over. Nothing else is going to happen.

IMHO.

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 13, 2007 9:03 PM EDT up reply actions

As for Pats fans

Yes, while some enlightened ones have expressed appropriate embarassment and outrage, there are SO MANY who are still making excuses. I've been engaged in 2 days worth of debates over at Pats Pulpit and it's the same thing over and over again from these people: excuses excuses excuses. And then, of course, denying that they've ever made excuses for the Patriots.

I made a comment about how this latest episode fits a pattern of bad behavior for the organization, mentioning Rodney Harrison's HGH, Ted Johnson accusing the team of forcing him back on the field before he had sufficiently recovered from a concussion, and Belichick's attempted waiver-wire collusion with Brad Childress of Minnesota (which Childress himself has said was dishonest). I could have mentioned many more.

But at every turn there was an excuse: Harrison acted alone and so doesn't reflect the organization, Ted Johnson later retracted his accusation (sure, after team officials got to him), everybody does waiver-wire collusion, etc. etc. etc. And then they have the audacity to indignantly claim that they've never made excuses. While the internet is full of columns about the history of dishonest/unethical behavior from the Patriots organization, the guys at Pats Pulpit steadfastly refuse to acknowledge that there is any such history whatsoever.

It truly boggles the mind what people who are forced to defend the indefensible will come up with....

by ctnyc on Sep 13, 2007 10:07 PM EDT reply actions

tommasse lives in his own world...

Good job fighting the good fight, but you are talking to brick walls over there.

Or as he would say, you are being naive and have no evidence!

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 13, 2007 10:11 PM EDT up reply actions

That's great

You're exactly right. I love how he presents so many of his arguments with no evidence and then accuses others of the same. Well, it is a brick wall, but for some reason I occasionally feel the need to call them on their hypocrisy. They'll never be swayed, but maybe a more enlightened breed of Pats fan will read my comments and decide not to drink the Kool Aid.

by ctnyc on Sep 13, 2007 10:35 PM EDT up reply actions

heh

Why you think I was banned? I kept bringing up the argument that "All you are using is biased rhetoric to support your claims, not fact."

Go Colts!

by KingRichard on Sep 14, 2007 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions

As Colts fans, we should be grateful.

For a minute, let us consider the historical ramifications of what the Patriots have done here. They came out of nowhere (let us not forget that for most of their history, the Patriots were an awful, awful team, much like the Colts), and won a Super Bowl in 2001 with arguably one of the least talented Super Bowl teams of the modern era. En route to their next two titles, the Patriots beat the Colts, culminating with a 21-3 butt kicking in the snow in Foxboro in 2005. Then the tables turn, and the Colts upend the Patriots in one of the greatest football games in modern history on their way to their first (for sake of argument, I'm considering the Baltimore Colts and the Indianapolis Colts to be separate franchises) Super Bowl win.

So what happens? First, the Patriots show a disturbing lack of class (Tom Brady excepted; his coach may be a douche, but as far as I can tell he's a class act) in 2006 in a win over the Chargers and their loss to the Colts, not to mention the snubbing of Mangini during the regular season and playoffs. Then in 2007 they get caught in their first game egregiously cheating, and get slapped with three quarters of a million dollars in fines, and the probable loss of a first round draft pick.

So, what does this mean in the context of the Patriots' legacy? It means that every team that the Patriots beat on the way to their Super Bowl wins is extra pissed, because there's a chance the Pats might have cheated. It means that the Patriots three titles suddenly went from one of the crowning achievements in all of professional sports to a possible point of disgrace, because the Patriots have allowed people to doubt that they earned them fairly. Most importantly, what it means is that right now, kids around the country are being raised by their parents to hate the Patriots and are being told "This is not how you win."

As Colts fans, this only benefits us. After all, who's the Patriots' biggest rival? Which team seems to maintain a roster filled with quality, character guys without a single problem? Which team just had it's coach write a New York Times bestseller about leading a good, honest life? That's right: the Colts.

In the context of the season, this is a double benefit. First off, the Patriots won't get another favorable call this season, not even in Foxboro. They'll get called for every holding, false start, and defensive pass interference penalty that the officials can come up with. Secondly, they'll probably lose a first round draft pick. Sure, they have two. But losing one is still a pretty big deal. Their defense is aging rapidly, and they'll have to start replacing key players like Junior Seau and Tedy Bruschi eventually. Don't forget that Asante Samuel is probably jumping ship as well.

All in all, we should be grateful for this. Our biggest rival is now saddled with ridiculous baggage and has had their reputation tarnished. Our other biggest rival (the Chargers) are so loaded it's criminal, but have one of the worst head coaches in football. The NFL just basically handed the Colts Super Bowl XLII. Assuming we stay healthy and no one gets hurt, the road to Glendale goes through Indianapolis.

by MonkeyBusiness on Sep 13, 2007 11:11 PM EDT reply actions

Tom Brady a "class act"?

Raising an illegitimate child, while banging the hottest supermodel he can find? Yeah, real "class act".

by PaytonMenning on Sep 13, 2007 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions

At least his is raising him.

Do you think I really wanted to raise Eli?

by ArchieManning on Sep 13, 2007 11:34 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm not sure if I was supposed to

But I totally "lol"ed there.

Bullets Forever: Blogging with Phenomenal Swag!

by Jake Whitacre on Sep 14, 2007 12:08 AM EDT up reply actions

What's the definition of a class act?

Upright, moral, proper? Excuse me if I'm incorrect, and he may be a nice guy for raising his illegitimate child, but of all the things that makes him, "class act" is not one of them.

by PaytonMenning on Sep 14, 2007 12:26 AM EDT up reply actions

Yeah I do

I do believe that Tom Brady is a class act. In today's world if he wasn't a class act he would deny that he fathered the child and probably have a lawsuit over it. Brady, himself, was never a sore loser and gives credit where credit is due.

by MarkV0327 @ Stampede Blue on Sep 14, 2007 7:20 AM EDT up reply actions

post chargers interview

guess you never saw the interview a couple of years ago when the chargers beat the patriots at home... yes brady is a sore loser... after that they considerably curtailed his interviews so he couldn't embarrass them again.

by bluegirl on Sep 14, 2007 9:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Unless of course

the Patriots win Super Bowl XLII.

by ArchieManning on Sep 13, 2007 11:33 PM EDT up reply actions

Brady Blameless?

Are you kidding? He directly benefited from the stolen signals and I don't see any way that he didn't know about them. He's the QB, he would be the obvious guy the coaches fed the stolen info to.

Bleeding Green Nation Philadelphia Eagles Blog

by JasonB on Sep 14, 2007 12:40 AM EDT up reply actions

You know, it's weird

I haven't seen Patriots backpedal this fast since Paul Revere!

Bullets Forever: Blogging with Phenomenal Swag!

by Jake Whitacre on Sep 14, 2007 12:14 AM EDT reply actions

Belichick really accepts responsibility...

This is the only time this has happened he claims. The punishment really made him fess up... from Fox Sports:

"I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.
"As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.
"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.
"With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter. We are moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game."

Again I say the punishment was too light. A suspension might have made a dent in him...

Go Colts!

by Marked Hoosier on Sep 14, 2007 12:15 AM EDT reply actions

Here's a poll....

from a website that doesn't have a biased fan base

Do you think Roger Goodell's punishment of Bill Belichick and the Patriots was enough? * 4205 responses

Yes, Belichick and the Patriots got what they deserved.
30%

No way, Goodell should have come down harder.
54%

Punishment was too harsh.
12%

What's the big deal? If you're not cheating, you're not trying, right?
4.6%

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20766229/

by MarkV0327 @ Stampede Blue on Sep 14, 2007 7:22 AM EDT reply actions

Belichick's tactics

Any fan can videotape an opposing team and then figure out their signals. Then they can just tell a coach like Belichick what the signals are. The NFL should just allow for the fact that espionage and counterespionage measures are part of the game.

by coltsfan on Sep 14, 2007 8:56 AM EDT reply actions

Watergate

So, it'd be o.k. if we just hired ninjas or something to break into the Patriots' facilities and steal their playbooks and whatnot. Maybe waterboard Belichick until he gives up some secrets? Hmm . . . now that you mention it, maybe I could get onboard with all of this espionage/counterespionage stuff.

by Masson on Sep 14, 2007 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions