If you want to call the Patriots cheats, the label only applies to their earlier championships (Personally, though they technically cheated, I don’t really see it as a monstrous violation as all teams have game films of each other and signals can actually be picked up from TV broadcasts). This year is not the year the Patriots are tainted.
This is the year they got caught. So, it will be remembered as the year they both went undefeated in the regular season, and got caught cheating. They forfeited their first round pick and were heavily fined, but they are “krafty” enough to have the 49rs pick in the draft.
But i am thankful that we wont have to see the old 72 Dolphins drink champagne when the last team loses a game. So, there is some redeeming value to what the Patsies did. ;-)