OT: Goodell drops the hammer on Patriots

[jefftheshark]

while I agree that losing a first rounder is a big blow, I believe it should have been BOTH losing the first rounder and a suspension for BB.

Especially when you consider that they have two first round picks next year.

JTS

 

[Russ Smith]

while I agree that losing a first rounder is a big blow, I believe it should have been BOTH losing the first rounder and a suspension for BB.

Because they can use the caproom. Hell they could sign Brady to a new extension next year and give him an additional 1.5 million or whatever the 1st round pick would have cost.

That's the whole problem, the pick is important sure, but without the capmoney it just allows them to spend more capmoney somewhere else.

And the suspension should have happened. As others have said the pats will probably give him a bonus to repay him for the 500K, they'll just disguise it. I mean if this really bugged them wouldn't Kraft have already come out and condemned the actions of his coach?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I sent the following email to the NFL:

Being a season ticket holder of a member team in the NFL, I feel obligated to express my opinion regarding the inadequacy of the actions taken by the commissioner’s office in the recent cheating scandal.​

​

The disciplinary actions taken against Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots were insufficient. The fines, while seeming large to the average person, are dwarfed by the income generated by a team in the NFL, so much so as to be inconsequential. We all know this.

The loss of draft picks while significant does not carry the full impact if it does not include the loss of corresponding salary cap associated with those draft picks. What prevents the Patriots from using the money not spent on draft picks for additional Free Agent acquisitions?

I applaud the efforts of the league to keep it’s affiliates free from usage of illegal and banned substances. In recent action the commissioner has suspended a coach (Wade Wilson) for 5 games for use of a banned substance. Mr. Wilson’s actions, while inappropriate, in no way impacted the on-field integrity of the league.

Whereas the actions of Mr. Belichick, and the New England Patriots in filming opponents signals are a direct infringement upon the integrity of the game itself! The fact that they continued this type of activity after having been warned about it previously illustrates their disregard for the commissioner’s office and the integrity of the NFL. A suspension of Mr. Belichick was warranted and should have been executed.

Additionally, the Patriots game vs. the Jets, during which the Patriots were caught conducting illegal activities, should have been forfeited. There may be additional games which also ought to be considered for forfeiture.

By taking far too lenient actions in this cheating offense by the Head Coach and the organization of the New England Patriots, the NFL commissioner’s office risks the continued attack upon the integrity of the league by those individuals and organizations who place winning above honor and integrity.​

http://www.nfl.com/contact-us

I commend you, as I feel the exact same way.

 

[D-Dogg]

If this wouldn't have happened, the next 5 opponents on the Pats schedule may have been videotaped, etc. without their knowledge giving the Pats an unfair advantage.

If the fines were the max that they could levi, I am "fine" with that. They should have also lost their entire 2008 draft along with their rookie pool allotment of the salary cap.

I really think the only fair thing would be as I posted earlier. No participation in the draft (any traded picks would go back to the team they traded with, and would be given to NE the following year), no participation in free agency. Only able to sign their own free agents. No franchise tag option available. Remove the rookie pool money from their salary cap. Suspend Slob for at least one game.

The NBA took away FIVE number one draft picks from Minnesota...five number ones. As much grief as Stern gets, THAT is called dropping the hammer. Not this piddly little "punishment." That there are even conditions on the loss of the draft pick is mind-numbing.

 

[Gambit]

Wow, most of you guys crack me up.

You really don't get the difference between losing a first rounder and being suspended for a few games?

If Goodell had suspended BB then it would have minimually effected the team for 4-5 games and then that's it.

Losing a FIRST ROUND PICK affects the team for YEARS. The Pats have just lost out on the ability to draft a cornerstone of their team that would play for them for at least 5 years. That's 5 years of production minuimum that Goodell just took from the Pats. That is harher than Belichick coaching from team headquaters during game day.

It would have more bite if they didn't have 2 in the first round, plus the opportunity to sign more free agents because they were not penalized in the salary cap.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I really think the only fair thing would be as I posted earlier. No participation in the draft (any traded picks would go back to the team they traded with, and would be given to NE the following year), no participation in free agency. Only able to sign their own free agents. No franchise tag option available. Remove the rookie pool money from their salary cap. Suspend Slob for at least one game.

The NBA took away FIVE number one draft picks from Minnesota...five number ones. As much grief as Stern gets, THAT is called dropping the hammer. Not this piddly little "punishment." That there are even conditions on the loss of the draft pick is mind-numbing.

I hear that. Never thought about no participation in FA. That is another good one.

 

[joeshmo]

I hear that. Never thought about no participation in FA. That is another good one.

With the NFLPA and any sport with a union for that matter it would never happen, ever. Complete no participation in FA would never happen, maybe a suspension from the first 3 days of FA but not a complete block out.

Also It has been mentioned and including myself that they should have a cap fine for what ever the amount is of the lost draft pick would be, so they couldnt use it for FA instead. The NFLPA would never allow that either as it lowers the amount of money given to their players in their union.

Fines, Suspensions, and loss of draft picks were and continue to be the only real options the NFL had to pick from.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

With the NFLPA and any sport with a union for that matter it would never happen, ever. Complete no participation in FA would never happen, maybe a suspension from the first 3 days of FA but not a complete block out.

Also It has been mentioned and including myself that they should have a cap fine for what ever the amount is of the lost draft pick would be, so they couldnt use it for FA instead. The NFLPA would never allow that either as it lowers the amount of money given to their players in their union.

Fines, Suspensions, and loss of draft picks were and continue to be the only real options the NFL had to pick from.

Forfeiture of the game had to be an option, albeit not an attactive one.

 

[Russ Smith]

Forfeiture of the game had to be an option, albeit not an attactive one.

The commissioner does not have the authority to forfeit games. Apparently it has to go to a competition committee vote or something. He can order a game replayed, or restarted at a certain point, but not forfeited. I read that yesterday I forget where though.

 

[Russ Smith]

With the NFLPA and any sport with a union for that matter it would never happen, ever. Complete no participation in FA would never happen, maybe a suspension from the first 3 days of FA but not a complete block out.

Also It has been mentioned and including myself that they should have a cap fine for what ever the amount is of the lost draft pick would be, so they couldnt use it for FA instead. The NFLPA would never allow that either as it lowers the amount of money given to their players in their union.

Fines, Suspensions, and loss of draft picks were and continue to be the only real options the NFL had to pick from.

Good point joe and you are right, the union would never go for that.

 

[gamebird98]

This taints everything the Patriots have done since BB started coaching.

It puts all their recent accomplishments on the same level as Barry Bonds HR record.

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[CtCardinals78]

It's about time that the media is waking up to the fact that Belichick is a classless, arrogant, cheater. I hate this guy and the Patriots and every single Patriots game needs to be examined. I would still like to see this A------ suspended, but I don't thin Goodell is through with him or this team yet. What exactly is the "Patriot Way?" To cheat and win games.

Bill Belichick=Barry Bonds

 

[joeshmo]

This thing is still far from being over.

Patriots | Goodell wants all evidence from videotape
Sun, 16 Sep 2007 08:37:04 -0700

Chris Mortensen, of ESPN, reports the New England Patriots have been ordered by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to hand over all videos, files and notes related to the incident that resulted in the punishment against the team, according to sources. If the Patriots do not hand over the evidence, they will receive more punishment. If Goodell discovers that Belichick and the team has copied the files without disclosure to the NFL, the Patriots would face significant penalties.