Cheaters Never Win: Patriots Lose Draft Pick, Fined, In Spying Scandal

AP :

Bill Belichick is ready for his close-up. The Patriots' coach escaped suspension for using a video camera to spy on opposing coaches, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell deciding instead on Thursday night to fine him $500,000 and dock the team $250,000 and a first-day draft pick next year.

It was the biggest fine ever for a coach and the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty. But Belichick will be on the sideline on Sunday night, as planned, when the Patriots play the San Diego Chargers.

Read the whole story: AP

Comments

[Kundera]

01:31 PM on 09/14/2007

THE JETS SHOULD HAVE BEEN GIVEN THE VICTORY.

THEY WERE THE HARMED PARTY.

[Maxx61]

01:17 PM on 09/14/2007

You folks who are writing that the Jets game should be forfeited should be aware that the camera was confiscated in the FIRST quarter when the Patriots only held a 7-0 lead. They scored 24 in the final two quarters and ended up routing the Jets.
New York could of had Tom Brady himself playing for them in the final quarter and they would not have won and it will be even worse the next time they meet...bet on it.

[Swampy]

12:22 PM on 09/14/2007

Boston? Hey that's the home of Harvard and their vaunted school of business, right? Me firsters all, learning the Wall Street strategies allowing the devil only the hindmost. Wazza matter you people? Never hear of ethics? You've poisoned business and are working hard on sports. Don't like it -- get mad baby! And fix it.

[naschkatze]

12:08 PM on 09/14/2007

Just look at this guy's face. Would you want his job?

[Where is Jesus?]

11:59 AM on 09/14/2007

Multiple game suspensions without pay would have had more of an impact of Bullishit, I mean Bellichick. That could more likely cause the Pats to lose some games and possibly risk playoff standings. That's what they really deserve, given this is not the first time they have done this. Now he just says were done and moving on. Now we shall see how well they do without their camera! Wouldn't it be interesting to see them get beat more often. That would make you wonder about past victories, wouldn't it?

But he gets to keep coaching. The owner will just shrug thier shoulders and that will be the end of that. He's not going to fire Bellichick or demote him. In effect, he really did get a slap on the wrist.

[Chris]

12:07 PM on 09/14/2007

Really wher esi the proof that this occurred before?

I should better than to expect people on this site to actually support their claims.

[Where is Jesus?]

12:16 PM on 09/14/2007

Go back and read the papers and news reports and you will find that the Packers had to deal with this same thing with the Pats. There is your support. I should not have to read the news for you.

[(R)Haslittle1's]

11:43 AM on 09/14/2007

He should have been suspended for the season too because fans such as myself pay money for season tix and other people gamble on the games in Vegas so given that I think he got off lightly. He making 4.2 million minus the 500,000 dollar fine so he will make 3.7 million this year. Why no other coaches got fined?

[kwright]

11:21 AM on 09/14/2007

guess all nfl teams better get ready. it is not only the patriots who are guilty of this. they are just the first team to get caught.

[helonias]

10:52 AM on 09/14/2007

I bet they didn't do this because it didn't benefit them, a whole lot.

Or something.

[expatsteve]

10:50 AM on 09/14/2007

Cheaters never win? Have you been watching the Patriots for the past several years. I would think this is a testimony to the benefits of cheating.

[repubesnivel]

10:37 AM on 09/14/2007

Of course, once you've played in a conference against the Vikings, dirty tricks don't phase ya.

[repubesnivel]

10:35 AM on 09/14/2007

As a rabid cheesehead I can say that Lombardi would have personally kicked this creep's ass from here to Pluto!

[CowboyBob]

10:23 AM on 09/14/2007

Bill should run for POTUS!!! Seems like he must have the "right stuff"...look for an appointment to the Bush administration....

[ProgressivePartisan]

10:12 AM on 09/14/2007

Anybody stunned by this ridiculously insignificant penalty yell: "BULLSHIT!". [silence] ... [more silence] ... [overpowering silence].
I said: ANYBODY STUNNED BY THIS RIDICULOUSLY INSIGNIFICANT ...

[CowboyBob]

10:01 AM on 09/14/2007

Apparently a long history of cheating correlating with their winning record. Cheaters do win, this guy must be a huge Republican.

I think they should forfeit the game they were finally caught in and intensive review of historical game films to investigate if other games should be forfeit, including Super Bowls.

Sorry ass bunch of can't win on our own abilities. His entire team should be drug tested, I'm sure he feeds them roids 24/7.

[WillPower]

10:52 AM on 09/14/2007

Democrats don't cheat? What about the Hsu scandal? Jefferson's money in the freezer?

[Chris]

12:06 PM on 09/14/2007

Cowboy you should read the commish's statement. The video tape had no effect onthe outcoem fo the game.

For you and others who keep spewing this nonsense
SHould the NFL take away both of the Broncos SB wins in the 90's (circumvented the cap and were docked picks?) Niners (same thing) and how abotu the Steeler's in the 70's a player admitted to roids.

[bibimimi]

09:48 AM on 09/14/2007

Three quarters of a mil--a little more than a slap on the wrist, a little less than necessary to deter those who think they aren't dumb enough to get caught.

I was sick of the Patriots back when they beat Oakland in that snowstorm game. I'm even more so now.

[Chris]

12:02 PM on 09/14/2007

Why becuase the officials had the audacity to enforce the rules of the game?