Well, Roger Goodell couldn't wait until tomorrow to pass out a little justice. Rece Davis just reported on ESPN that the NFL commissioner will fine Bill Belichick and the Patriots $750,000 for videotaping the Jets' defensive signals (Belichick will personally be fined $500,000, and the team will be fined $250,000).
If the Patriots make the playoffs, they will forfeit a 2008 first-round pick. (UPDATE: via the comments, and from ESPN.com, New England will forfeit the 2008 second-and third-round picks if they don't make the playoffs.)
Wow. Frankly, I didn't know what to expect from Goodell. Some NFL players have been calling for stiff sanctions given Goodell's stance on player misconduct, and I'm not sure how this will go over with the rest of the league.
First, there was no suspension. Whether you thought it was merited or not, Goodell has suspended just about everybody he's come in contact with the past 12 months. Second, the fine is useless. Yeah, a half-million bucks ain't a drop in the bucket, but it's not the end of the world for a guy who can name his price. Oh, and owner Robert Kraft just paid $250K fine in cash.
The first-round pick, however, is kind of a big deal. Why it's contingent on the Pats' making the playoffs is a little confusing -- you'd think if they missed the postseason that would be the perfect time to stick it to them. If the Pats miss the playoffs, however, they'll give up their second- and third-rounders, so it's not like they'll get out of this unscathed if Belichick tanks the season.
Somewhere in New Jersey, Manboobs Mangenius just cracked a humongous smile.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-13-2007 @ 8:54PM
Al H said...
Apparently the first round is only if they make the playoffs, if they miss the playoffs then they forfeit a second and a third.
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9-13-2007 @ 9:05PM
Bret said...
If you look at the "Trade value of picks", sounds to me like Goodell wants them to pay a certain amount of that. The better they do, the lower the value of their picks, so making the playoffs triggers a bump up in the pick value. It should probly be worded the other way, if they don't make the playoffs it's a second and third. That way if they finish last, for example, they're not giving up the supremely valuable #1 pick. Sure, that's not likely, but who knows what could happen, say if Brady, Matt Cassell, and Maroney were to rob a liquor store together or something. :-)
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9-13-2007 @ 9:11PM
Jesse said...
A reporter asked Randy Moss how he thought Belichick would pay the fine and he said "Straight cash, homey"
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9-13-2007 @ 9:33PM
Donna Read said...
I think Belichick is a mean man!!! He treats people terrible! Peyton won the play off against the Pats and Belichick, literally pushed him just like he did the camera man! Shame on him! He is mean and whatever they hand him, he deserves and more!! NO WONDER HE WAS WINNING GAMES!!! The SNAKE!!!
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9-13-2007 @ 9:42PM
Bill Walters said...
This is a freekin joke right. If Goodell is endorsing cheating, he has announced it here. This is silly no punishment what so ever.
A player I can see receiving this slap on the ass. A cach CHEATING! He should be immediately dismissed. New England should be pulled from the schedule and all games forfeited.
Hell, with this punishment Belichick will be right back to cheating this Sunday.
Grow a set of balls Goodell. Back up your threats, take REAL action against this bullshit.
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9-13-2007 @ 9:44PM
Ryan Leaf said...
Now we know how they made those second half adjustments and came back to win those Super Bowls. St Louis, Carolina, and Philly fans should be the most pissed of them all!!
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9-13-2007 @ 9:45PM
LOSING FAITH said...
GOODALL IS IN BED WITH KRAFT, THE PATS OWNER. THE FINE IS A JOKE, SO ARE THE DRAFT PICK TERMS. WITHOUT A SUSPENSION, GOODALL IS SAYING IT'S FINE TO CHEAT. I GUESS COACHES ARE IMMUNE FROM SUSPENSIONS OR AT LEAST COACHES THAT ARE IN THE FRIENDSHIP RING WITH GOODALL.
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9-13-2007 @ 9:50PM
Bill Walters said...
Come on Goodell, after every Pats game get on national TV and tell us they didn't cheat.
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9-13-2007 @ 9:51PM
connie said...
This is ridiculous - the Pats still have a 1st round draft choice even if they lose one so what's the penalty - and the $500,000 is nothing with his book and commercials on NFL network and ESPN - Commissioner was way too easy compared to how he treats the players - afraid of Kraft!!! Cheats on his wife and now the NFL and gets away with it!
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9-13-2007 @ 9:53PM
mattbaha said...
What a weak form of punishment. The team has two 1st round picks and has possibly the wealthiest owner in the league. Would any owner pay 500k in return for better odds of winning a single superbowl year in and year out? Hell yes.
Goodell dropped the ball.
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9-13-2007 @ 9:56PM
TalkingNFL said...
BELICHICK SHOULD BE HUNG FROM THE ZAKIM BRIDGE AND BRADY SHOULD BE CASTRATED AND I AM SOOOO MAD BECAUSE I HATE THE PATRIOTS SOOOO MUCH AND MY TEAM IS NOT SO GOOD AND I MUST USE CAPS SO EVERYONE PAYS ATTENTION TO ME AND-
...dear lord, calm down people. Have a Fresca or something.
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9-13-2007 @ 10:03PM
AquaJagForce said...
I didn't see him holding the rights to act more later...Like when all the facts come in..Then add more punishment...He must be wanting to cover up the whole thing...I still say the win should be given to the Jets...Cheaters never win....Right? A good place for this money to go...Is to helping the NFL VETS.
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9-13-2007 @ 10:16PM
patsrule1 said...
good for bill--win win win--let all the other crappy teams point fingers...weh weh weh....best team in football.. crybaby central is what you all sound like.....
go pats--another ring this year...
change your diapers you barely .500 team fans
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9-13-2007 @ 11:54PM
geo said...
Goodell also announced a couple of things:
1)No competetive advantage was gained by the Pats as they don't use the tapes during games.
2)If the camera was in the coaches box instead of the sidelines it would have been legal.
3) The Jets still suck.
4) The Chargers are a bunch of cry-baby sore losers.
5) The Pats will probablely go back to back.
Haters!!!!!! Geo
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9-14-2007 @ 1:44AM
DaNYzoo said...
Belicheat got off light..he should've been suspended for atleast four games in addition to the fines that was levied out.
This slap on the wrist punishment is telling everyone in the league that you can cheat to win that pivotal game for cash and draft picks..just think if a team was loaded with draft picks then losing couple here and there will not effect them in the least..
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9-14-2007 @ 1:53AM
r.e. todd said...
Coaches fine = $500k / Owners fine = $250k / future draft picks = $$$ free agents / QB knowing when the blitz is coming = $$$ priceless $$$
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9-14-2007 @ 2:26AM
LB said...
I guess when you are a player. You miss games and money.
If you aren't a player it's just money.
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9-14-2007 @ 3:01AM
Mike said...
First off, yes I am a Patriots fan and Belichick did something stupid and got off pretty light. I was all for a suspension, but hey I'm not going to complain. If you really go back and look at those three superbowls, the pats dominated all of them in the first half (with the exception of Carolina). The other teams came back in the second half and they were forced to win two of them by Adam Vinatieri field goals. So I can't see any sign of "cheating" there.
Also, the Pats had the video taken away in the first quarter of the game against the Jets, so how do you explain "cheating" there. Spying yes, cheating no. I also heard today that the Jets had a guy doing the same thing to the Patriots. I'm not sure if it's true or not, but hate to tell ya, all of your favorite teams do the same thing. It looks like everybody should just stop watching football in general. And LT, "mister class", is probably the biggest bitch in football. Classy people don't talk trash about things that have nothing to do with them. San Diego sucks!!!!
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9-14-2007 @ 4:26AM
pugman1963 said...
I have one thing to say. I have an idea that if somone had a playbook from an apposing team and was to give it to a coach of another team the 31 other coaches in the league would take it, Study it and prepare for the game against that team is that not cheating????????
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9-14-2007 @ 5:51AM
badgolfer78 said...
The coach's fine will be paid by the Patriots. He won't have to reach in his pocket at all. His loss will be the draft picks he won't be coaching.
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