OT: Goodell drops the hammer on Patriots

[Heucrazy]

Losing multiple draft picks is going to hurt.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014677

Goodell is considering severe sanctions, including the possibility of docking the Patriots "multiple draft picks" because it is the competitive violation in the wake of a stern warning to all teams since he became commissioner, the sources said. The Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents.

The Patriots will be allowed an opportunity to present their case by Friday, sources said, most likely via the telephone.

The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday's game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.

Goodell is expected to have a decision no later than Friday but that is not set in stone.

 

[D-Dogg]

He hasn't done it yet though.

It better be multiple HIGH picks. Like two first rounders at least.

 

[Russ Smith]

If they really want to send a message they should take their #1 pick, and give it to us.

 

[Gambit]

We'll see. I suspect he might go easier on Team Tom Terrific than if it were a squad like the Raiders.

 

[sportznutt]

Who would get these picks?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Who would get these picks?

No one, they would just be forfeited.

 

[Rivercard]

Obviously something of this nature was deemed acceptible by the head coach. If a player can get suspended 4 games for Ephedra, then Bill Belichick should be suspended at least that much. Losing draft picks and a coaching suspension sounds appropriate.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

He hasn't done it yet though.

It better be multiple HIGH picks. Like two first rounders at least.

Yep, let them forfeit their entire draft for 2008. With as well as they draft, it will hurt them in 2 years.

 

[abomb]

He hasn't done it yet though.

It better be multiple HIGH picks. Like two first rounders at least.

My thoughts exactly. Two #1s sounds about right. Maybe some #2s also for good measure.

Who would get these picks?

I am guessing no one. Maybe the first round would be 31 picks?

 

[Russ Smith]

Who would get these picks?

I think they'd just lose them since you can't exactly give them to the Jets, who knows how many times before they did this it wouldn't be fair to those teams to give the picks only to the Jets.

Someone I know suggested they should forfeit the game, it's a totally unprecedented idea but it sure would send a message.

 

[sportznutt]

Man that sucks for the players trying to come into the league......that almost destroys about 4 more dreams.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I think they'd just lose them since you can't exactly give them to the Jets, who knows how many times before they did this it wouldn't be fair to those teams to give the picks only to the Jets.

Someone I know suggested they should forfeit the game, it's a totally unprecedented idea but it sure would send a message.

YES!! Yahoo would then have to adjust the fantasy scores, and I no longer lose this week. Brilliant.

 

[abomb]

I think they'd just lose them since you can't exactly give them to the Jets, who knows how many times before they did this it wouldn't be fair to those teams to give the picks only to the Jets.

Someone I know suggested they should forfeit the game, it's a totally unprecedented idea but it sure would send a message.

I just checked and as the result of the Twolves/Joe Smith debacle. The NBA changed the first round to 28 picks and the second to 29.

 

[NMCard]

I wish they would do something harsh to the Patriots like banning them from post season play for 2 years and taking 30 million from their cap for the same 2 years.
The NFL makes far to much money from sponsers and the fans to put up with any cheating.

 

[Gambit]

Man that sucks for the players trying to come into the league......that almost destroys about 4 more dreams.

Nah, it just gets more UDFAs. And instead of being picked to a team, they will have a choice about where to go.

 

[Russ Smith]

YES!! Yahoo would then have to adjust the fantasy scores, and I no longer lose this week. Brilliant.

No I'm sure they'd count the stats, but just record the game as a loss by forfeit.

So you'd still lose, as did I. I actually think a forfeit in the long run might be better, if you take picks away it just gives them more caproom, you'd have to take the picks AND deduct the rookie caproom or else you'd just help them sign FA.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

No I'm sure they'd count the stats, but just record the game as a loss by forfeit.

So you'd still lose, as did I. I actually think a forfeit in the long run might be better, if you take picks away it just gives them more caproom, you'd have to take the picks AND deduct the rookie caproom or else you'd just help them sign FA.

Damn it man, quit ruining my high.

 

[Renz]

So you'd still lose, as did I. I actually think a forfeit in the long run might be better, if you take picks away it just gives them more caproom, you'd have to take the picks AND deduct the rookie caproom or else you'd just help them sign FA.

Isn't the rookie pool predicated on the number and position of draft picks already?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Isn't the rookie pool predicated on the number and position of draft picks already?

Yes, but isn't it just an estimation?

 

[abomb]

If I were in charge of the NFLPA, I would make sure no draft picks were unaccounted for.

 

[AZCB34]

No I'm sure they'd count the stats, but just record the game as a loss by forfeit.

So you'd still lose, as did I. I actually think a forfeit in the long run might be better, if you take picks away it just gives them more caproom, you'd have to take the picks AND deduct the rookie caproom or else you'd just help them sign FA.

Here is what I think Goddell should do. Penalize the Patriots their 1st and third round this upcoming draft and give them to the Jets (since that is the team who they were caught cheating against). Then when the Jets sign those picks to their slotted contracts, the Patriots would then have to not only pay those salaries for the length on contract but they would have to count those salaries against their cap.

Then, you suspend Belichek for the remainder of the season.

And fianlly, hit Kraft as hard as you can with fines.

 

[Russ Smith]

Isn't the rookie pool predicated on the number and position of draft picks already?

Right but let's say the rookie pool for NE is 4 million, and you take away a #1 pick. That pool goes down, let's say to 2 million. Now they have 2 million more in caproom for a UFA.

For us big deal it's tough for us to use it all as it is, for them, players WANT to sign there, having 2 million extra would be huge for them.

Remember when Ditka traded his whole draft for Rickey, the side effect was he signed more free agents with the extra caproom.

 

[Russ Smith]

Here is what I think Goddell should do. Penalize the Patriots their 1st and third round this upcoming draft and give them to the Jets (since that is the team who they were caught cheating against). Then when the Jets sign those picks to their slotted contracts, the Patriots would then have to not only pay those salaries for the length on contract but they would have to count those salaries against their cap.

Then, you suspend Belichek for the remainder of the season.

And fianlly, hit Kraft as hard as you can with fines.

I guess my only problem there is it gives the Jets an unfair edge on the rest of the NFL.

I do agree about suspending Belicheck, as others have said he clearly authorized it.

 

[CardLogic]

1. Forfeit the game vs. the Jets
2. Suspend HC for a least one game (no contact with team during suspension)
3. Fine ownership

 

[Russ Smith]

There's an interesting side story. Last year the same guy got caught by the Packers filming their signals. Turns out he had showed up before teh game and asked for permission to be on the field, he lacked the correct credentials but the Packers let him on provided he obeyed their rules. Not long after they observed him filming their coaches, decided he was stealing signals, so they kicked him off the field.

The official reason was he lacked NFL credentials, only NFL insiders actually knew the reason. The reason the Packers didn't publicize it was they got killed that day and they didn't want to then add to that by coming out and saying they were cheating, because they thought they'd look worse. So instead they just reported it to the NFL.

So it almost sounds like the NFL "set up" the Patriots. They waited until they had that same guy for a full game, then caught him, took the tape as evidence, and now down comes the hammer.