Patriots must not get a slap on the wrist. What should their punishment be?

Question

If the Patriots cheated and they are given a slap on the wrist then it's over for the NFL. This punishment is important because it'll send a message to other teams.

I don't care if other teams have been cheating all these year. It still doesn't make it right.

So if the Patriots are given a slap on the wrist then this suggest that other teams can cheat as well fully knowing that they won't be punished severly. I don't think taking away a draft pick with a fine will be enough.

I like the asterisk idea on all their past championships as well as submitting a loss to the Jets in addition to the draft pick reduction. Some more extreme ones would include not letting them enter the playoffs. I would like that, but it doesn't seem likely to happen at least compared to the other suggestions.

Answer 1

I guess you are a Jets fan. The Pats were just the first team stupid enough to get caught trying to copy, then figure out, then change their scheme based on the signals from the sidelines.

It is just like stealing signs from a third base coach in baseball. Some people are smart enough to figure out the system. Don't say you don't care if other teams have been supposedly cheating like this. Why do you think players and coaches try to cover their lips when talking on the sideline phones or to other players or coaches. They know somebody has binoculars, watching and trying to figure out what is said to get an edge.

Sorry you are upset. Get over it.

Answer 2

The Patriots have definitely opened up a new, unprecedented debate...what do we do to teams who get caught cheating?

I do not think the punishment will end up fitting the crime. But I also think that the punishment may not require as swift a justice as probably should be necessary.

I would not want to punish the players, as they were most likely not aware of the cheating.

Take away draft picks - Not really effective and will only hurt the team.

Banish them from the playoffs - then why play the rest of their games? This would cause controversy with every other team that plays the Patriots this year. Playoff spots could be decided by teams beating the Patriots who would not be playing their starters and really would not care if they win or not. Big can of worms here.

Forfeit the win over the Jets - slippery slope there, that forfeited win could put the Jets in the playoffs over a team that won outright.

I think the best punishment is to fine Belichick and all his cronies big time, fine the owner, President, etc..everyone in management. Suspend Belichick at least 2 games. And make sure that a second offense would result in a 1 year suspension for all those involved.

Answer 3

I'm blue in the face trying to tell people the difference between Mike Vrabel picking up "blue" as the audible code on his own and the expressly illegal videotaping of essentially the other team's huddle on the sideline.

The Patriots got caught - AGAIN - videotaping the sidelines with deliberate intent to steal the inbound plays. That was one of the highlight warnings from Roger Goodell's office just before the season started, and that's why the Jets came forward.

I believe the Patriots should be made to forfeit that game and lose draft picks. A fixed fine means nothing. They can suspend Bill Belichick or take a revenue percentage from the owner (whomever is in charge of the guy who spies) to apply direct punishment where it matters.

I am also certain without proof that other teams cheat. Players take steroids and ephedra and HGH and GHB, so it is known they cheat too. The only deterrent from cheaters is swift and expertly meted punishment.

Answer 4

Wow 750,000 what a shame. The NFL should really look up the definition of integrity. If they don't have a dictionary they could call Formula 1. Had the NFL handed the Patriots as a team a 100million dollar fine they could restore the publics trust that the game they are watching is fair. Its sad that American sports are not much better than professional wrestling. Bravo to Formula 1.

Answer 5

Yes, I agree with you many other people cheat in ways just as bad as this but they cant get a slap on the wrist. Suspend belicheck for 8 games and fine him. does nayone remember last year when the Dolphins were caught recording audio from the patriot sidelines. The jets called in Reche Caldwell and Artrell Hawkins to interveiw them about the pats plays. im not defending the pats, im saying its not that different from anything else. its still wrong and they cant get a slap on the wrist because it will set a bad example and make cheating alright. i dont think they did this to this extent before the 06 season.

Answer 6

The pats fans that keep saying how every team probably does this really must be dumb. Think about if everyone else is doing it and nobody else has been caught what does that say about the patriots organization? What are they saying their team and organization are a bunch of bungling morons?

As for punishment I think a loss of picks and a loss of cap money as in they have a few million less to spend for the next season as a fine would be sufficient.

Answer 7

This is sickening, okay Brady was 22 of 28 passing okay he knew the defense been called. How long have they been doing this so far they have been caught twice but how many times have they done it without been caught, I wonder if they did it against the Colts 3 yrs ago when Peyton could not even score a Td the year he was MVP and broke the TD record, the pats were all over the Colts and seemed to know exactly where the Colts receiver were at, it diminishes their 3 Super Bowl seasons, agreed by ESPN.

1. Bill should get suspended 4-8 games. (thats light but im nice)
2. The win should be forfeit to the Jets
3. Certain Draft picks be taken away
4. Pay a heavy fine
5. Pats should be allowed to play in the playoffs if they make it in but their image is tainted.

Answer 8

I have the sneaking feeling that most of the people calling for the Pats heads are either Jets fans or other AFC East rivals fans. The Pats won't get a slap on the wrist, they'll lose draft picks. They won't forfeit the game, they won't have any astrisk by their past championships and they won't be barred from post-season play. They might get fined, they might not. That's what's going to happen, and a million deluded Jets fans, who think they'd actually have beaten the Pats anyway (they still would have gotten stomped, the Jets suck) aren't going to change the outcome.

Answer 9

Suspend Bellicheck for the season. I live in the midwest and could care less about the Jets or whoever else is in the conference.

Cheating is really serious. Getting arrested for a bar brawl when you're 21 and paid to fight people for 6 months out of the year is one thing, honestly no big deal, and Gooddeell or whatever goes out of his way to slam those guys (unfairly).

This is a major problem and this guy is guilty as sin. You'd think if you got accused of cheating you'd be a little more forthcoming.

Answer 10

Just wanted to address all the morons who keep posting the same thing in defense of the Patriots on each of these same questions: "everyone else does it/has done it, and its fine, the Pats just used a video camera." Ya, its fair game to try and figure out what the other team is calling, FROM YOUR SIDE OF THE FIELD. When you start using a camera man on the opposition's side of the field directly and diliberately stealing/recording playcalling/signals, thats a problem. People need to stop justifying it with excuses, kind of like the "stealing signals from third base coaches" justification above. As for a punishment, of course it wont be harsh enough, I just hope they dont embarass themselves even more by cheating AND losing at home to the Bolts this Sunday.