Did Roger Goodell punish Bill Belichick enough for the Patriots flagrant cheating violations?

Question

I think the NFL's credibility has been shattered by the commissioner's gentle slap on the wrist of the Patriots. mere fines and a draft pick? are you kidding me? Bill Belichick was caught flagrantly cheating after repeated warnings ON FIELD during a NFL game. Bill Belichick should be banned for life or minimally suspended for an entire season. Michael Vick and Pac man Jones were both severely suspended for OFF FIELD actions, Yet the commish somehow feels that rampant cheating that has negatively affected the outcome of numerous games including regular season, playoff and yes even Superbowl games isn’t worthy of a suspension. Commissioner hang your head in shame this is Pro sports worst scandal since the Black Sox. If I were commish for a day I would ban Bill Belichick for life, fine the Patriots all of their 2008 draft picks. Ban the Patriots from the playoffs for at least 7 seasons the same as Belichick's reign of cheating. Watch and see if the fines aren't just picked up by the team.

Answer 1

No.

The NFL and the Patriots are pretending they were "just filming" -- when ANYONE that has a digital camera or cam knows you can relay video in real-time. The camera was basically being used as a high-power BINOCULAR to relay signs, immediately -- so Belichek could relay the perfect play to counter. This is at the basis for who-knows how many years of cheating -- and says a LOT about how a roster without 'stars' could win, game after game... vs. teams with better players. It's awful for the game of pro football (although, as usual.. in New England, their OWN teams can do "no wrong").

The game should be forefeited -- and Belicheck suspended & examined for past games & outcomes.

Answer 2

I say considering that a letter was sent out sept 6th spelling out exactly what wasn't allowed and they flagrantly disregarded that letter and basically said F U to the NFL Rules, I say that Goodell dropped the ball on this one. Not only was it a slap on the wrist, but it also send a message that players need to be on a tight leash and watch their backs, and that coaches can do what they want, as long as they don't get caught! I hate to say it, and I am white, but I wonder what would of happen if Belichick was black. It seems that there is a bias factor going on here, and I don't agree with it. If Goodell thinks that the actions of Pacman Jones and Mike Vick made the NFL looked bad, he needs to realize that Belichick and even his own reactions to this situation, is just as damaging to the image of the NFL!

Answer 3

Now, don't get me wrong: New England probably did deserve to be punished by the commissioner for getting caught videotaping New York's defensive staff as it signaled plays in to its players. But a first-round draft pick? Methinks the punishment doesn't fit the crime.

Is this really worse, for instance, than Mike Tice scalping Super Bowl tickets? Or a Detroit assistant coach getting caught naked at a drive-in? It's common knowledge (trust me) that teams look at defensive signals through binoculars, and have been doing so for years. That the Pats took another step, and started taping them, is a clear violation of an NFL edict. But make no mistake: they're not the only people trying to learn their opponents' signals. That's a practice as tried and true as eye black.

So is the fact that they used videotape so heinous that we should have 31 first-round draft picks in the '08 draft, instead of 32? Let me put it this way: There's no way on Earth the commissioner takes away the Patriots' first-rounder if they hadn't had two (one from San Francisco, and their own). But because the Pats did have two, Roger Goodell could "make an example" of them, and show his critics that he's not the butt-boy of Bob Kraft, one of Goodell's biggest supporters on his way to winning the commissioner's job. The world will keep spinning on its axis, but this heavy-handed punishment does not fit the crime.

Answer 4

I agree with post #7. Vick and Belichick are not the same. I think Belichick should be suspended for at least this season and 8 games next season. It's despicable what Belichick did. It cheating.

Like McGwire, Bonds, etc...you have to question all of Belichick's super bowls.

My new nickname for Belichick...Bill the "asterisk" Belichick...lol!

Answer 5

Roger Goodell's "punishments" for BB and the Pats are a travesty. I have TOTALLY lost respect for the whole lot. I cannot believe how lightly this is being taken. I mean, a ref betting on games in the NBA is bad enough... but at least David Stern has the balls to take it seriously and get rid of the culprit... RG is a wimp in my perspective and I will never look at BB or the Pats in the same way again. Losers!!!

Answer 6

I agree with you man. How can you suspend a coach for 5 games for taking HGH, or whatever, which completely has nothin' to do with coaching, no advantages in the game whatsoever. But pat this coach on the wrist that blatantly cheated, more than once mind you. I try not to think about it because it makes me sick to my stomach how some people get treated so differently, makes me just want to watch college ball sometimes. There, if Belicheck had done the same, their records and wins would've been stripped, no questions asked.

Answer 7

you are right! I also question if there are gamling implications here (if you know the team cheats, don't you bet on them...?)
This is unbelievable! Every gmae they played is in question. Tom Brady should be submitted to a lie detector test. "Did you KNOW the blitz was coming?" I hat to say this, but I think that this shows how differet TYPES of people are handled DIFFERENTLY. This is like smoking crack on the sidelines and getting a slap on the wrist. Would EVERYONE get the same slap?

Answer 8

I think they should have had to FORFEIT the game vs the Jets. Then the PLAYERS would have called an internal meeting and said "hey coaches...no more cheating...we're busting our butt out there and then we LOSE a game versus the Jets? na man, quit it or we lay down."

The fine was max in dollars, but not in effect IMO. Remember, it's only cheating if you get caught...I'm sure this is not the first time it's happened.

I still think the Pats can put this behind them and win another Super Bowl....however.

Answer 9

No. He should have suspended him for at least 2 games. He doesn't have a problem suspending players, of course they don't sign his paycheck.

Answer 10

Absolutely not. He should be suspended for the rest of the year, have all of his championships taken away and possible should be booted and forced to coach CFL for the rest of his life.