OT: Goodell drops the hammer on Patriots

[RugbyMuffin]

He hasn't done it yet though.

It better be multiple HIGH picks.

Like Claude Wrouten, and Ricky Williams?

 

[Rivercard]

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.

lol. Then how stupid are the Patriots? To do it again after just getting caught is absurd. belichek must have thought they would just get another slap on the wrist if they got caught again.

 

[Cheesebeef]

honestly, if you're coaching staff is literally caught cheating, stealing signals over the airwaves and what not, the NFL should make that team forfiet the game - period.

 

[DeAnna]

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.

I doubt they actually set them up. If anything, I'm sure Eric Mangini pointed him out to the NFL.

 

[Savage58]

I think alot of wishful thinking is going on here. I seriously doubt they get a 1st or 2nd round draft pick taken away. 3rd rounder at the max IMHO.

I'd prefer a 4 game suspension for BB along with their 3rd round pick in the next 2 drafts. I really hope they suspend him, that'd send the message best IMO.

 

[abomb]

Sirius NFL Radio reported this morning that the guy was discovered before halftime, when the game was still very close.

 

[Russ Smith]

lol. Then how stupid are the Patriots? To do it again after just getting caught is absurd. belichek must have thought they would just get another slap on the wrist if they got caught again.

They were apparently warned in the offseason. Belicheck apologized today, without actually admitting any wrongdoing. I guess he's claiming he misunderstood the rule even though the NFL very explicitly clarified the rule for teams in the offseason after the packers complaint.

 

[earthsci]

honestly, if you're coaching staff is literally caught cheating, stealing signals over the airwaves and what not, the NFL should make that team forfiet the game - period.

At least, but I don't think that sends a strong enough message. This coming from a lifelong Pats fan (until '88). It's a good opportunity to hit a team hard that will be able to absorb the hit.

 

[Zeno]

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

I thought I read somewhere that there are a minimum number of draft picks that have to be made every year. if there aren't enough comp picks they just give extra picks at the end of round 7 to the teams that had the worst record.

I'm sure someone knows the exact rule...my guess being Joe

 

[earthsci]

I thought I read somewhere that there are a minimum number of draft picks that have to be made every year. if there aren't enough comp picks they just give extra picks at the end of round 7 to the teams that had the worst record.

I'm sure someone knows the exact rule...my guess being Joe

Besides the fact that the Pats will still be bringing in rookies. Just undrafted.

 

[Russ Smith]

Someone else points out the flaw in forfeit. What if the Jets make the playoffs because of that forfeit, it screws over other teams.

Damn I hate when a good idea has a fatal flaw.

 

[joeshmo]

I thought I read somewhere that there are a minimum number of draft picks that have to be made every year. if there aren't enough comp picks they just give extra picks at the end of round 7 to the teams that had the worst record.

I'm sure someone knows the exact rule...my guess being Joe

You are correct. For example if they only hand out enough comp picks to get up to 250 picks they will then hand out the last 5 picks to the teams with the #1-#5 picks in the first round.

 

[jmt]

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

Agreed!

 

[nashman]

I like the idea like the NCAA to send a strong message. You got caught cheating your not eligible for the post season for a season! You want it to stop that will stop it for sure!

 

[Russ Smith]

I like the idea like the NCAA to send a strong message. You got caught cheating your not eligible for the post season for a season! You want it to stop that will stop it for sure!

The argument against that is with no playoffs, the team will mail in the games. Bench starters, sit starters with minor injuries. So then all the Pats fans who shelled out money for season tix get hosed.

Turns out the commish can't forfeit a game, he can make them replay the game or start the game from the point at which the cheating occurred but he can't just declare a forfeit, so that's out.

 

[CardinalLaw]

They were apparently warned in the offseason. Belicheck apologized today, without actually admitting any wrongdoing. I guess he's claiming he misunderstood the rule even though the NFL very explicitly clarified the rule for teams in the offseason after the packers complaint.

Goodell should lay the hammer down. Belicheck is a joke how do you misunderstand the rule. How do you even lie about it. He put the guy on the Jets sideline in a green shirt. Filming the coaches while a play was going on. Pic from 910. http://www.xtra910.com/pages/mikejurecki.html

You must be registered for see images

 

[gamebird98]

I think they should make him wear a suit and tie on the sideline for the rest of the season!!!!!!

 

[nidan]

1 game !!!

If this is true HC should get a lifetime ban

 

[az240zz]

1 game is a joke. If you want to send a message you have to hit hard.

Loss of all draft picks for 2008

Coach suspended for 5 games with no team contact

Team fined 5,000.000.

This incident affects the integrity of the game and calls for severe penalties.
Send the messge that if you cheat and get cought you will pay the price.

az240z

 

[SunsTzu]

The argument against that is with no playoffs, the team will mail in the games. Bench starters, sit starters with minor injuries. So then all the Pats fans who shelled out money for season tix get hosed.

Turns out the commish can't forfeit a game, he can make them replay the game or start the game from the point at which the cheating occurred but he can't just declare a forfeit, so that's out.

Just make them play again sometime during the Jets bye week 1 day after the Pats play. I'm sure the Pats would willingly forfeit at that point.

 

[PACardsFan]

I see what Belicheck did as cheating in a big way. Giving your team unfair knowledge of the other team's gameplan is like giving every one of your players HGH or Roids. I think Bill will get off easy because of who he is, but he should be suspended for the season and they should lose their entire upcoming draft IMO.

Hey who knows, maybe everyone does this except for us and that is why we have sucked for soo long.

 

[nashman]

I think this shows that Bellichek would do anything to win, and exactly how long they have been using these tactics? They always seem to be a different team after halftime maybe this is why? How would none of the players or ex-players not suspect something? I think they should come down hard like suspend him for 6-8 games with ZERO contact with the team and lose their 08 draft picks, I think that may send a pretty strong message maybe even fine the team also.

 

[Russ Smith]

The one thing with this is you have to wonder how could they have been doing this all along for years and only after Mangini left they get caught?

I mean didn't they lose ANY other coaches during that whole run, like Crennel, who could have turned him in? Or did all those coaches simply keep their mouth shut, and make sure BB didn't do it against them?

 

[Gambit]

The one thing with this is you have to wonder how could they have been doing this all along for years and only after Mangini left they get caught?

I mean didn't they lose ANY other coaches during that whole run, like Crennel, who could have turned him in? Or did all those coaches simply keep their mouth shut, and make sure BB didn't do it against them?

Maybe they figured they would be in trouble too? Mutually Assured Destruction?

 

[BigJoe]

Sign stealing happens all the time in baseball. (I understand that not all of us are baseball fans.) Should we really get upset about football coaches stealing signs and ignore that it is part of another sport. Or should we just assume that baseball players and managers are smart enough to switch up their signs, but football players and coaches aren't. Especially with the Cliff's Notes of War and Peace that these guys are wearing with the plays on their wristbands now. If the coaches can't figure out different ways of saying "run play 13 from your wrist playbook" then they deserve to have their signs stolen.

Is the venom because the Pats are so easy to hate and their coach is such a prick? Is it because they were so blatant about it? I just find it really hard to believe that this is the first team that had a video camera focused on an opposing team's sideline. Just because they were the first ones to get caught doesn't mean anything. This just seems more like an act of gamesmanship than anything. With the technology available today, there are much easier, more covert, and probably more effective ways of documenting signs and tracking them than some goofball with a 50-pound camera on his shoulder.