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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.

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.

There you go. You have come close to admitting it. Your conversion is progressing. Say it with me: BELICHICK CHEATED.

I don't disagree that criminals, and Belichick, deserve a second chance. If Belichick ever gives a real apology, and is genuinely contrite, he deserves to be forgiven.

But at the present time, neither Belichick nor the Patriots deserve any respect.

I applaud your rational thoughts on this highly emotional thread.

After 45 years of hearing the Patriots referred to as the Patsies and being treated as the Rodney Dangerfield of football, I'm actually enjoying the whining and "Patriots Derangement Syndrome" displayed here.

Should they win the Super Bowl, some of these folks' heads will explode.

He really didn’t have to cheat against the Jets..