NFL To Fine Belichick 500 Grand + Draft Picks

[Preacher]

Hmmm....

Just short of what I wanted.

I wanted the forfeit of last week and a 1st and 2nd this year, 2nd next year.

I will take the half a million for the 2nd next year as it puts personal responsibility on Theifachek. However, I still think they got a win based on cheating and the win should be removed.

However, while I am not completely satisfied with it, I can (almost) settle for it.

[Atlanta Dan]

The fine is pointless - it will just get rolled into his next contract - players who screw up do not get fined - they get suspended - should be the same for coaches

SI.com says the talk is potential loss of first day draft choices + multi-game suspension

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ick/index.html

[fansince'76]

Originally Posted by Atlanta Dan

The fine is pointless - it will just get rolled into his next contract - players who screw up do not get fined - they get suspended - should be the same for coaches

SI.com says the talk is potential loss of first day draft choices + multi-game suspension

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/200...ick/index.html

Considering the source of the article is in Boston, this may just be wishful speculation.

[I-Want-Troy's-Hair]

I would have liked to see a decrease in their salary cap next year and not only a fine for the Coach but a fine for the organization AND a suspension for at least 4 games. I dunno I think they went to easy on them.

[Livinginthe past]

This is just speculation - Goodell is only making the announcement friday at the earliest.

The Boston media has not shortage of pro-Sox reporters, anti-Patriots reporters (the two are seen to be in direct competition by the owners of some of these papers) - so I can believe they are jumping the gun with this one.

These are the guys who made came up with the exclusive 'Belichick summoned to NY' story - which turned out to be bogus.

As usual, there is no end of 'sources' - people who can't be held accountable when the story goes pear-shaped.

For someone as in-the-know as this source alleges to be he is very vague on the actual draft picks being taken away from the Patriots "could be as high as a 1st and a 3rd"...sure...two high draft choices can't mean much else can it?

One thing that my sources have told me we can totally discount is any type of retroactive forfeiting of the Jets/Patriots game.

Some Jets fans have even convinced themselves they are going to get these draft picks that the Patriots have to forfeit!

Anyhow, time will sort this one out - it would be good to have the judgement tomorrow.

[revefsreleets]

Regardless of penalty, the most important thing is that the Pats will have to play fair now. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Are they really as talented as we all thought? How mad will the Chargers be? How hard will the Pats players try to overcompensate? Will it make up the gap? Is there a gap?

The Pats/Chargers game was already going to get great ratings being the Sunday Night game, but now? HUGE ratings!

[ShutDown24]

That's awesome

[tony hipchest]

Originally Posted by Livinginthe past

One thing that my sources have told me we can totally discount is any type of retroactive forfeiting of the Jets/Patriots game.

Some Jets fans have even convinced themselves they are going to get these draft picks that the Patriots have to forfeit!

.

you have "sources"????

but yeah, theres no way the game will be forfeited. theres no precedent for that (even though theres no precedent for this type of cheating).

jets fans are on crack if they think they will be the beneficiary of all of this.

i agree that a fine of belichick is pointless and a salary cap reduction would probably be a good way of evening things out, although im sure theres ways to circumvent that by just pushin players salaries into the future. plus it hits them next year and not now.

that is why a suspension makes the most sense. it punishes them NOW for infractions committed NOW.

any of the 3 penalties alone mean practically nothing. all 3 together send a distinct message. now is where we really see if goodell is wearing the pants...

fine
suspension
draft picks

[Preacher]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Regardless of penalty, the most important thing is that the Pats will have to play fair now. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Are they really as talented as we all thought? How mad will the Chargers be? How hard will the Pats players try to overcompensate? Will it make up the gap? Is there a gap?

The Pats/Chargers game was already going to get great ratings being the Sunday Night game, but now? HUGE ratings!

Oh yeah....

It may get 60, 65 percent superbowl ratings...

I think almost every fan of every team is now going to watch to see what the Pats can do when they don't have their hands in teh cookie jar.

[Livinginthe past]

Originally Posted by revefsreleets

Regardless of penalty, the most important thing is that the Pats will have to play fair now. It'll be interesting to see how this plays out. Are they really as talented as we all thought? How mad will the Chargers be? How hard will the Pats players try to overcompensate? Will it make up the gap? Is there a gap?

The Pats/Chargers game was already going to get great ratings being the Sunday Night game, but now? HUGE ratings!

Thats a very good point.

As Atlanta Dan (I think) pointed out - sports needs its good guy/bad guy match ups - everyone loves LT (I still think he is great despite his outburst after the Divisional game last year) and everyone hates the Patriots - well slightly more than they used to anyways.

We'll see how this shakes out sunday.