I had a similar thought. This isn't about the AFC Championship game. It's about the game of football in the NFL.
Conservatives (me included) are rooted in the Rule of Law as it pertains to the Constitution. And most conservatives don't aspire to it's ok to break the law sometimes without consequences. Case in point; I dare you to start a vanity thread inviting FReepers to comment on what should happen to a driver that runs a red light to get out of the way of an ambulance all in front of a police officer. Trivial yes, but it is and should be a conservative conundrum. The driver did the right thing by breaking the law. But he did break the law.
FReepers are human and have lots of compassion. But most don't suffer fools, even in sports. Look at the lengths NASCAR has gone to try and keep their sport fair. NASCAR was built on smart guys innovating for advantages. The engineers are always a step ahead of the officials. Football is no different. If the Patriots broke the rules, as has been proven in the past, then they deserve to be punished. They are still going to the Superbowl and a 5 figure fine and a draft pick loss will be a small price to pay and forgotten in a year.
I dunno about 'forgotten in a year'. The culture of cheating is so tied to the pats. All this feigned outrage won't be forgotten, and it will be brought back with a vengance the next time Tom Brady or Coach Bill gets a speeding ticket...Ray Lewis, Pete Carroll...lots of others...but the Patriots are suspected/accused of doing something, and everything blows up...