[misterrob]

He weighed the fine to the coach and the loss of the pick as ample enough punishment and as a deterrent to future actions.

This is going to hurt the Pats down the line. They were counting on having 2 number ones next year and that could have been used to replace Samuel and draft a good WR.

[Jaysun]

He weighed the fine to the coach and the loss of the pick as ample enough punishment and as a deterrent to future actions.

This is going to hurt the Pats down the line. They were counting on having 2 number ones next year and that could have been used to replace Samuel and draft a good WR.

Yeah, but it was the other team that got shafted. That should have been corrected.

[Terpfen]

They were counting on having 2 number ones next year and that could have been used to replace Samuel and draft a good WR.

It's pretty much a foregone conclusion that the Patriots are making the playoffs, so this means they're docked one first-round pick. Big deal; they'll still have four more first-day picks, including a first-round pick.

The Patriots are in no way harmed in either the short or long term by what Goodell did. The fine is nothing to either Belichick or the Patriots, and the loss of a single first-round pick is offset by the others they have on the first day, in addition to the usual compensatory picks that Scott Pioli is adept at stockpiling.

They'll regain that second first-round pick by trading up, no damage done.

Even in defeat, Belicheat wins.