Belicheat fined 500,000 and draft choices...*Merge*

[rexrobinson]

Yes, still have the 49ers' first-round pick, which (probably) will be much higher. And they can use the cap space saved by not having a first-round pick to sign another free agent.

The league should have at least reduced their 2008 cap room by the amount that would have been used on their first-round pick. Otherwise, they're not really being penalized that much.

ROFL the league may have done them a favor!

Their may be some language in the offical version of the punishment that bars them from any first round pick regardless of if they had one from another team, I doubt it but I wonder if the commish thought, "Hey I will take away their 1st round pick that will probably be high 20ish if not #32 and they still get what will probably be a low pick from the 49'rs anyhow...no harm no foul"

 

[Kaika]

Yes, still have the 49ers' first-round pick, which (probably) will be much higher. And they can use the cap space saved by not having a first-round pick to sign another free agent.

The league should have at least reduced their 2008 cap room by the amount that would have been used on their first-round pick. Otherwise, they're not really being penalized that much.

My thoughts exactly.
Makes the penalty that much more BS.

They should take both away .

 

[Oh_Canada]

If all it will cost is a first round pick and 750k...JJ should starting sending out television crews before each and every game.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

I wonder if the Patriots are going to get "Raidered" from the officials.......


He's at the 30, the 20, the 10 ..Touchdown.....wait there's a flag on the field.

 

[dallasfan]

Belichick fined $500K

Club fined $250K

Forfeit 2008 1st Round Pick if they make playoffs

Forfeit 2008 2nd and 3rd round if they don't

Holy **** this is harsh

edit: I thought it said 2008 1rst and 2009 2nd and 3rd.

IMO, if Wade Wilson got suspended 5 games and 100K, Belichick should've gotten the same. His cheating actually effects the game.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

This is setting up to be a horrific season.

The Patriots are one of the best teams in the NFL. They'll make the playoffs. They've got an excellent chance of making it to the Super Bowl.

So NFL fans everywhere are going to watch the "cheaters prosper."

What a crappy theme for a season.....

Goodell should have suspended as many of those guilty coaches as possible for at least half a season.

Basically, Goodell should have fixed it so that the Patriots would have a very difficult time making it to the playoffs this year. THAT would have been in the best interest of the game.

The alternative is for the nation to watch these cheaters continue to win games week in and week out.

It is disgusting.

The only good news is, they are now a truly hated team all across the country -- this slap on the wrist will make people even more angry. So at least they'll have to get booed everywhere they go and answer tons of questions all year long. Hopefully being asked about being cheaters a million times will become a big distraction to them.

 

[dogunwo]

I wonder if the Patriots are going to get "Raidered" from the officials.......


He's at the 30, the 20, the 10 ..Touchdown.....wait there's a flag on the field.

That ruins the integrity of games too. But I wouldnt feel one bit o sorry for the Pats

 

[Dhragon]

All you guys are overreacting. Do you realize all the talking heads on TV were thinking MUCH, MUCH less would be done here? No one thought a 1st rounder would have to be lost or the max $750,000 in fines would be levied.

Because Wade was suspended only a suspension would be enough for cheater Bill? $500,000 is NOT chump change for Bellicheck. That's about 1/5 of his salary ( for average Joes making around $50,000 a year that would be like losing $10,000 - it would be tough to manage ).

And losing a first rounder is NOT a huge penalty? Give me a break. They are golden. Even if they owned two and are only losing the lower value one they are losing a bunch.

Goodell was very harsh here. A suspension would have been nice considering what happened to Wade but just because he didn't get one doesn't mean the other penalties were not very harsh.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

This is setting up to be a horrific season.

The Patriots are one of the best teams in the NFL. They'll make the playoffs. They've got an excellent chance of making it to the Super Bowl.

So NFL fans everywhere are going to watch the "cheaters prosper."

What a crappy theme for a season.....

Goodell should have suspended as many of those guilty coaches as possible for at least half a season.

Basically, Goodell should have fixed it so that the Patriots would have a very difficult time making it to the playoffs this year. THAT would have been in the best interest of the game.

The alternative is for the nation to watch these cheaters continue to win games week in and week out.

It is disgusting.

Good post.


You just know the NFL is praying that the Patriots make a deep, deep run into the playoffs though. An 8-8 season basically confirms the suspicion that none of their Lombardi trophies are legitimate and the NFL can't have that.

 

[Avery]

This has been going on for years too - you have to wonder how many rings this helped them win.

Tuck your bush in, commish.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I tried to tell everyone this afternoon they would be disappointed with the punishment.

To be honest this punishment is even weaker than I had feared.

 

[ZeroClub]

Assuming this has been going on for years (the Dr. Z story says it dates back to at least 2000): They took 3 rings. All of them in narrow victories.

And all it cost them was $750,000 and a first-rounder.

Yup, and they come out of it in fine shape.

And they've got a great chance of making it back to the Super Bowl this year.

It'll be like watching Barry Bonds get the record all over again.

This crappy controversy is going to overshadow the postseason, if the Patriots win....

 

[AbeBeta]

This has been going on for years too - you have to wonder how many rings this helped them win.

Tuck your bush in, commish.

I think it is foolish to think that the Pats are the ONLY team doing this.

 

[DasTex]

What's his email address?

I think it's www.bbcompletesme.com

 

[Cochese]

Im fine with the punishment, lets all move on with it and stop talking about these AFC teams.

 

[theogt]

I think it is foolish to think that the Pats are the ONLY team doing this.

Dan Reeves disagrees. He said he's certain they're the only team that's been doing it. Not sure how he'd know, but he was pretty confident that it's only the Pats doing it.

 

[Dhragon]

Oh, and this is just for a strike one.

If they ever get caught again - and teams will be scrutinizing them at games very very closely from now on, the 2nd strike would undoubtfully be catastrophic to the franchise. It will not be worthwhile for them to cheat again this year. And next year I guarantee the owners will vote for radios in defensive captains helmets next year so this will be a non-issue in future years anyway.


Plus, the asterisk they will now have next to their Superbowl wins in alot of fans eyes is the biggest penalty of all. No way will they be viewed as one of the greatest teams ever with this shadow over them.

 

[theogt]

Oh, and this is just for a strike one.

If they ever get caught again - and teams will be scrutinizing them at games very very closely from now on, the 2nd strike would undoubtfully be catastrophic to the franchise. It will not be worthwhile for them to cheat again this year. And next year I guarantee the owners will vote for radios in defensive captains helmets next year so this will be a non-issue in future years anyway.


Plus, the asterisk they will now have next to their Superbowl wins in alot of fans eyes is the biggest penalty of all. No way will they be viewed as one of the greatest teams ever with this shadow over them.

This is the fourth time they've been caught.

 

[peplaw06]

Because Wade was suspended only a suspension would be enough for cheater Bill? $500,000 is NOT chump change for Bellicheck. That's about 1/5 of his salary ( for average Joes making around $50,000 a year that would be like losing $10,000 - it would be tough to manage ).

Wade was fined a third of his yearly salary and suspended 5 games. Belichick is fined 1/5 of his salary and suspended zero games.

 

[Oh_Canada]

All you guys are overreacting. Do you realize all the talking heads on TV were thinking MUCH, MUCH less would be done here? No one thought a 1st rounder would have to be lost or the max $750,000 in fines would be levied.

Because Wade was suspended only a suspension would be enough for cheater Bill? $500,000 is NOT chump change for Bellicheck. That's about 1/5 of his salary ( for average Joes making around $50,000 a year that would be like losing $10,000 - it would be tough to manage ).

And losing a first rounder is NOT a huge penalty? Give me a break. They are golden. Even if they owned two and are only losing the lower value one they are losing a bunch.

Goodell was very harsh here. A suspension would have been nice considering what happened to Wade but just because he didn't get one doesn't mean the other penalties were not very harsh.

You're missing a KEY point....Bellichek's actions compromise the integrity of the game...Wade Wilson is a QB coach who was taking a legal substance for his quality of life.
Many have wondered in utter amazement why it seems Bellichek's teams always seem to be "in the huddle" of the opposition, can you imagine if this was the reason?? There are three teams who lost Super Bowls to the Pats who might be thinking the exact same thing, not to mention the countless other teams who have been beaten by the Pats over the years. This kind of behaviour needs to be harsh...harsher than any steriod penalty or off the field incident...it has to be a deterrent to the rest of the NFL and to me this is not going to do it. Belliichek's fine will be paid by the organization I can assure you and a late first round pick for a team with this much talent is a drop in the bucket...it's a joke!!