Posted on 09/13/2007 6:18:32 PM PDT by indcons
New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals.
Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.
"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.
The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium. Goodell will not change the outcome of the game.
(Excerpt) Read more at sportsillustrated.cnn.com ...
They should have been forced to forfeit the game.
for later
And the answer ought to be every one in which they cheated.
Ouch !!! That’s series penalty ...
I agree.
Embarrasing.
I still love the Pat’s though. But now I really dislike BellyChick
74+ responses at last count. Good...we have coverage from both ESPN and SI.
Yet another example of Professional “sports” being reduced to “Thug Ball”....
What happened to the ORIGINAL objective of sports?
Little things like teaching character, team work, exertion toward a goal, handling defeat with dignity and victory with grace?
To the “Pros” — I guess that is all bullshit to feed the sucker fans...
Thats awesome! My wife (the Pats fan) will not like the new wallpaper on our laptop. Heh heh ...
Part of me says you’re right, but heck, the Dallas Cowboys of the early 1990s only had three running plays and about five pass plays-—and you still couldn’t beat ‘em. Emmit Smith right, Emmitt Smith, left, Emmitt Smith up the middle. So I don’t know how much of an advantage this was for the Patsies. But since I hate ‘em, I’m glad they lost some picks.
Get a grip. Half a million fine for the coach and loss of draft picks is more than enough.
The fine is bogus. The owners have lots of money and so do the banks. Coach should at least have been suspended this year plus $. Doesn’t matter whether owner knew about it or not. He’s the head of this corporation - he is responsible! You either take advantage of every opportunity you have to clean up pro sports or you don’t!
Ouch.
There have been a number who have been, for less serious offenses than this (rightly so).
Given the effect of even one loss on an NFL team in a wild-card playoff scenario, a forfeit could have potentially had the same effect on the Patriots.
And, this isn’t the first time they were caught doing it.
They got busted last year in a game with the Packers.
At least no I know why I never really thought much of Bill Belichick, despite his record (which is now suspect, BTW).
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