Belichick Fined; Pats Lose Pick

ESPN ^ | 09/13/07

[misterrob]

Bill Belichick was hit with a $500,000 fine Thursday night -- the maximum allowable by NFL by-laws -- for violating the league's policy on videotaping the Jets defensive signs Sunday. In addition, Roger Goodell notified the Patriots that they would forfeit a 2008 first-round draft choice if they reach the playoffs, or second- and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs. The club was also fined $250,000.

[peterpaul12345]

"And the Sox woulda beat the Yanks in 1978 if not for Bucky Dent...

LOL!! New Englands "Tuck Rule" ghost. :D

[peterpaul12345]

Years ago the 5 yard chuck rule was instituted because the Colts complained about getting held at the line of scrimmage. So they changed the rule and Pats still won the Superbowl. I expect the same here.

It is also known in fun as the Ty Law Rule. We have Na-Polian to thank for the tag football that is currently being played. LoL!

[daler]

Whaddya mean my time will come?

I'm a Vikings fan.

Get real.

[gc4nra]

This is the second time they were caught, no telling how many times they have done it in the past.

The Jets were the ones hurt. How does a fine and a loss of draft picks help rectify the damage done to them?

IMHO the NEP’s should have forfeited the game.

[peterpaul12345]

"Bull. The Dolphins acquired network tapes, which is not against league rules in any way, shape, or form."

Nothing "Bull" about it but the truth and according to league insiders Sun-Sentinal and ESPN Chris Mortensen they are the same and just as frown upon by the league. A fuss wasn't raised about the Dolphins incident because they are a low tier team.

Chris Mortensen(ESPN):"Yes, and what's interesting is that Thomas let it slip that the Dolphins had gotten some TV audio that helped them decipher some audibles and line calls. of course, Nick Saban and Bill Belichick have coached together and are bosom buddies, so it was ironic that the Dolphins shut out the Patriots that day...and Belichick never complained. The word is that this particular tactic involves wiring some interior D-linemen with microphones against a divisional opponent and matching up the video so the next time you play, you might have a big competitive advantage. I believe the Dolphins' incident was one of the reasons why the commissioner sent a stern warning to all teams."

[misterrob]

There was no damage done to the Jets except for what Randy Moss did. The Pats didn’t get to see any tape.

[Terpfen]

Sorry, but it is bull. The Dolphins did not operate in a manner that went against league rules. They obtained tapes from CBS, not from wiring up defensive linemen, as the Chris Mortensen quote you posted implicates. There was nothing in the rule book that forbade the acquisition of additional film from networks, either from the production crew that broadcast the game, or from a TiVo. Furthermore, Moretensen's suggestion that it was the Dolphins who caused Roger Goodell to warn the 32 teams is incorrect: we now know that the warning was sent as a result of multiple complaints about the Patriots, not the Dolphins. There is absolutely no parallel, equivalence, similarity, or congruency between the Dolphins using broadcast tapes to prepare for the Patriots and the Patriots putting an employee on the sideline specifically to tape the opposing team's defensive signals. They are two totally separate situations. The only commonality is that they both involve tapes. At issue is how the tapes were obtained, and what those tapes contained. By the way, in that 21-0 loss, the Patriots were taping the Dolphins' defensive signals.

[peterpaul12345]

Philadelphia's Andy Reid $519,950 per point!

Jeeze... is this real? They really pay per point?

According to Forbes Magazine that what they get per point. I can't get over the fact one of the worst teams last year was dishing out the most in $$ per points to Dennis Green. LOL!
Most Valuable NFL Coaches

[peterpaul12345]

I think the reason they didn’t go the forfeit route is because they had the goods on the Pats cheating in the last Super Bowl.

Wishful thinking but not accurate. Good try though. LOL!

[Craigswatch]

When you are number one in the league and favorite to win the ring this year, all the loosers come out of the closet.

News flash,
Jets lost the game because they are terrible........

[misterrob]

[Craigswatch]

Another mad Jets fan.....

[misterrob]

They have played the Pats tough before and you know that Mangina handed out the Pats Playbook before each game.

There is a culture of this in the NFL.

[Craigswatch]

The only snow the Raiders know about is the stuff up their nose.

[Craigswatch]

Baseball season is when the Red Sox knock the Yanks out of the post season tonight.

[peterpaul12345]

When does the fine have to be paid? In one year or over the life of his contract with the Pats?

If I read the report correctly the fine gets paid in one TD, Field Goald or Two Point Conversion considerating he makes $244,561 per point. Even if its the life time of his contract one field goal pays it off for. Yeah, that's a "real" stiff punishment. LoL!

[Reno232]

Cheaties

[Reno232]

Cheaties

Just trying to make it bigger.

[GregB]

From what I understand the league is still investigating The Pats.

[RinaseaofDs]

Face it, they’re cheaters. Belicheat is a fraud.

But hey, that’s Boston.