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It's similar to the hatred and anger many people have towards President Bush because despite all the criticism and hatred directed towards him over Iraq, he never shriveled up in the fetal position and gave up. Instead, he simply changed tactics (as Belichick was forced to change tactics) and ended up scoring an unexpected victory over there.

Sam, Lad, I think we're on the same page re: President Bush. Let's not demean our president by comparing him to a piece of human garbage like Belichick.

I think you've got to just admit to yourself that the Patriots cheated. It is an unassailable fact. Once you do that, you can articulate your goofy theories about how the fraud did not make a difference and that the Pats would actually be worse if we let them keep cheating.

Once again, to summarize your position Sam: The Pats would be worse if we let them cheat.

Well Bill Belichick got caught breaking the rules and he and his team paid a hefty price for it. The fact that they lose a first round pick next year over it ensures that they will continue to pay the price for years to come.

I believe our culture benefits when once we decide to punish an individual for something, that we then give them a chance for redemption. For example, if we sentence a burglar to jail for 3 years, when that person gets out, we should assume that he paid the price for his crime and we should give that individual a chance to lead a moral, productive life. If we take the tack that we want this individual to stamped a criminal for life and never give him the chance to go out and be productive, then we might as well lock him up for life, as the only choice available to this person will be to become a career criminal.

The NFL Commissioner decided in this case that he would punish Belichick with a hefty fine and loss of first round draft pick rather than banishing him from the league for life. That being the case, we have to give Belichick a chance to redeem himself and that he did by coaching his team to a perfect 16-0 season. Belichick learned that he does not have to "cheat" or "spy" to be successful and that is the greatest gift that society could have given him. Now Belichick will know that he doesn't have to do these things to be successful and maybe now he will be a more moral person. In that case, it is a win-win situation for Belichick and for society at large.

I realize that many people wanted to see Belichick fall on his face and fail. But Belichick did not allow that to happen. He deserves all the credit for redeeming himself and showing the world that he does not have to "cheat" to be successful. In fact, he can actually be MORE successful by not cheating.