Patriots and Belichick Fined, Docked Draft Pick

[Sheriff Gonna Getcha]

Anyone who hasn't done so already should watch Bill Belichick's "apology" on ESPN.com. His arrogance is amazing. The guy is a grade-A a**hole. Between shoving photographers, cheating on his wife, bashing Mangini, refusing to shake Mangini's hand in the middle of the field, to spying, and to refusing to apologize for his actions, I can't believe anyone thinks otherwise.

[hooskins]

Originally Posted by Sheriff Gonna Getcha

Anyone who hasn't done so already should watch Bill Belichick's "apology" on ESPN.com. His arrogance is amazing. The guy is a grade-A a**hole. Between shoving photographers, cheating on his wife, bashing Mangini, refusing to shake Mangini's hand in the middle of the field, to spying, and to refusing to apologize for his actions, I can't believe anyone thinks otherwise.

I agree, he never apologizes and acknowledges he did something wrong.

[The Zimmermans]

They should make the patriots play all their games on the road.

[saden1]

This 1st round, a low first round, is definitely not enough and the fines are chump change. I am not happy with this slap on the wrist! It's cheating. It's a violation of the trust in the integrity of the game.

Good thing I'm not the Commissioner because Patriot fans will want to have me killed after I take away all their draft picks next year and their 1st round picks for the '09 and '10.

[Oakland Red]

The Patriots would have not made it to one Super Bowl, let alone won one of those close games they played in them, without Belichick's use of spying to give the Patriots the huge competitive advantage they did, in my opinion.

In my view, this is on par with Pete Rose betting on the team he was managing, ethically. Actually it is a lot worse - NFL championships have gone to a team that didn't deserve them on three years. Probably nothing on that scale happened as a result of Pete Rose's actions.

Belichick made a serious mistake. He's a human being, and I for one forgive him, while at the same time believe that he should be given a lengthy suspension from coaching. This is an Enron approach to NFL team management.

As it is, I think circumstances will catch up with him and he will resign after this year or next.

[Cowell]

I mean, I have my doubts, but you always wonder I mean if their cheating was that effective then wouldn't they have won by larger margins? Or maybe it's because they never could match up talent-wise.

[Bill B]

One interesting point - it seems that anytime someone is accussed or caught for cheating/devaluing the game it hurts if not completely eliminates their chances to be elected into the hall of fame - in Baseball Pete Rose will never get in and a lot of the players who are accused/found guilty of steriods are not getting in. My question is why Goddell just didn't come out and officially ban Belichick from the Hall of Fame?

[SmootSmack]

[saden1]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

That singer has talent!

Brady is a baller but knowing what the defense is bringing makes him an awesome baller.

[Daryl Elite]

Wow... that was a great video. The guy who made it is the same guy who was on MNF with his daughter singing about the Bengals...

[sandtrapjack]

For one, Belichick is NOT paying that 500,000. Everyone knows that Robert Kraft is writing that check. The guy gave his owner 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, and the owner will take care of his coach, trust me. And, yeah he will make that coinage up in ticket sales. Or he'll have them charge an extra 1.00 to 1.50 per beer at the stadium and he will make that up in no time.

Did anyone else notice that the Patriots have TWO first round picks in next years draft. The one they forfeited will probaby be a low round pick, but they also acquired the 49ers first rounder in 2008, which will probably be a bit higher. So they will still have a first round pick next April.

The Patriots and Belichick got away with this, with barely a light wrist slap. Goodell has not upheld his statement that coaches are held to a higher standard.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by sandtrapjack

For one, Belichick is NOT paying that 500,000. Everyone knows that Robert Kraft is writing that check. The guy gave his owner 3 Super Bowls in 4 years, and the owner will take care of his coach, trust me. And, yeah he will make that coinage up in ticket sales. Or he'll have them charge an extra 1.00 to 1.50 per beer at the stadium and he will make that up in no time.

Did anyone else notice that the Patriots have TWO first round picks in next years draft. The one they forfeited will probaby be a low round pick, but they also acquired the 49ers first rounder in 2008, which will probably be a bit higher. So they will still have a first round pick next April.

The Patriots and Belichick got away with this, with barely a light wrist slap. Goodell has not upheld his statement that coaches are held to a higher standard.

Are the Patriots allowed to choose which draft pick they forfeit?

[saden1]

I would hope he's not so repugnant as to cheat in the SB. If he cheated in a SB that's monumental and totally unforgivable. It warrants immediate lifetime ban for Belichick and a lifetime of disgracer for everyone on his staff! I would also hope the Patriot organization is thrown into the gutter for a long long time for stealing SBs.

They won their SBs by 3 points every time (20-17 vs Rams, 32-29 vs Panthers, 24-21 vs Eagles) and stealing defensive signals would be an unbelievably huge advantage. Not to mention all the other AFC playoff games they won by close margins.

I doubt he cheated in the SB but then again I wouldn't surprised if he did.

[Oakland Red]

I was going to say lifetime ban for him, and yes I think you are right that this qualifies for a lifetime ban. While I never say a person isn't redeemable, what happened I think is inadmissible and cannot be allowed to happen again.

If it can be shown they did use spying in the Super Bowls, their titles should be revoked. I believe they did personally, but we can't know for certain.

Sheldon Brown of the Eagles finds that the Patriots' actions were fishy in that Super Bowl game:
Eagles try and recall anything fishy about Super Bowl loss to Patriots - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Originally Posted by saden1

I would hope he's not so repugnant as to cheat in the SB. If he cheated in a SB that's monumental and totally unforgivable. It warrants immediate lifetime ban for Belichick and a lifetime of disgracer for everyone on his staff! I would also hope the Patriot organization is thrown into the gutter for a long long time for stealing SBs.

They won their SBs by 3 points every time (20-17 vs Rams, 32-29 vs Panthers, 24-21 vs Eagles) and stealing defensive signals would be an unbelievably huge advantage. Not to mention all the other AFC playoff games they won by close margins.

I doubt he cheated in the SB but then again I wouldn't surprised if he did.

[D'BOYZ]

No, they will lose theirs the one they adquire from the 49ers is the 1 they will keep