The Punishment

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell handed down his punishment for the Patriots involvement in videogate: 500K fine to Belichick, 250K fine to the Pats and the loss of their first round draft pick. Now, if you want to punish the Patriots franchise, this is a good move. Losing the #1 pick might effect the Pats for the next 10-12 years. Losing a #1 is like losing a guy that was a first round pick, such as Seymour, Warren, Wolfork, Mankins, Maroney or Watson. That's a long term punishment for the franchise. It will probably still be effecting the Pats long after Belichick has gone. The Commish should have penalized Belichick. Suspend him a game or two or four for all I care. That would have been torture for Belichick - and the franchise could keep their next franchise player - next year's first round pick.

There are a lot of looney's out there calling for the loss of the pick and a suspension. Some even called for the Pats First round pick to be given to the Jets! Give me a break. I agree that the fines don't make a dent in their perspective wallets, but the fines in conjunction with the pick are plenty of punishment. Don't be thinking that giving up their #1 is not enough just because they were wise enough to trade for the 49er's first round pick next year.



Then there is the conspiracy theory.

The theory exists that Belichick wanted to get caught. He wanted to make sure that his players didn't believe the hype about them. He wanted to insure that they'd continue to work hard even though many have anointed them superbowl champs. Why else would he be so blatently obvious about filming the Jets signals? Why else would he be so obvious against Manjuvenille, who must know that it's something Bill does/did in the past. Now the players have to prove they're for real by going out and winning a "clean" superbowl. It's not my theory, but take it for what it's worth.