Originally Posted by Fahrenhype

Belichick effed up. He should accept the consequences for that, even if they're incredibly harsh. By the same token, the NFL will have to live with its decisions. If we find out over a period of time that Belichick is being crucified for widely employed tactics, than the NFL is going to have a black eye worse than Michael Vick or the Cincinatti probation department could ever inflict.

For the sake of the league, I actually do hope that it stops here, Belichick takes his medicine, and we go back to focusing on the games.

Originally Posted by He Ban Me

Drivel, drivel, we are the Pats, drivel drivel, how could you, drivel drivel, we did nothing wrong, drivel drivel, everyone does it drivel drivel, what do you mean by "tape"? , drivel drivel.......blah blah blah


Of COURSE he's wrong, because it went against you. EVERYONE IN THE UNIVERSE IS WRONG, SAVE FOR PATTY FAN.

Originally Posted by maverick4

Roger Goodell just fined Belichick 500K out of his own pocket, the Patriots 250K, and a 1st round pick, and this is the most ridiculous, short-sighted, cowardly, infuriating, embarassing thing I have seen the NFL do in my entire lifetime of being a football fan. The Broncos cheated the salary cap to keep John Elway and Terrell Davis, a far worse violation, and only lost a 3rd rounder. He may think he's laying down the law, but he's really showing that he's a puppet to an irrational mob, and not his own man. I have lost complete respect for him as an objective, reasonable manager of the league.

Here's why:

- With such a harsh statement, he is clearly bringing judgement on the issue of stealing calls, which should not be part of the evaluation of the videotape violation. He is saying that videotaping the sideline for POST-game analysis is sacrilege, but that using lip readers, binoculars, audio surveillance, and other videotaping methods are perfectly legal and okay (and there is evidence of other teams doing these things). It comes off as extremely hypocritical, and also opens a HUGE pandora's box that may drown the league.

- For the past 7 years, the Patriots have been the class of the league. They won 3 superbowls, drafted well, consistently built a team of unselfish, blue-collar high character men, and were put up as a model franchise. Such a harsh punishment basically implies that the Patriots have been cheating for much longer than just one game, and it puts into question the entire dynasty of the Patriots, and it lets all the Patriot-haters use this as an excuse to explain why we beat them in any game in the past.

- Goodell completely overvalues the impact of sideline videotaping of defensive calls. If this were the case, wouldn't the Patriots offense have been unstoppable over the past 7 years? Wouldn't we have done much better in the 2nd half of nearly every game, including each of the 3 Superbowls? Belichick claims the sideline videotaping is only for post-game analysis, and even if this were not the case, I fail to see how the competitive edge is so much more than what teams already employ (binoculars, lip readers, audio, other video, etc).

- Finally, and this is most disappointing to me, Goodell is letting the completely biased Competition Committee, as well as rabid media and fan frenzy, influence his decision. He does not take into account that these Patriot haters have an axe to grind, whether it be because they are direct competitors, were put off by Belichick's media interviews, or were jealous/vindictive of past defeats.

Goodell, you have made a strong statement, which is what you wanted, but it was in the WRONG direction on so many levels. You just tore down Howard Roark's statue.

Originally Posted by DaBruinz

I knew the KING MORON would be back in here. Listen and try to understand. The Punishment does NOT fit the crime. And, if you had your head anywhere but up your own arse, you'd know that.

As was said, the league CONDONED lip readers and buying of audio tapes, but they punish THIS?

The league wasn't nearly as harsh on the Broncos or 49ers regarding their tens of millions in salary cap transgressions. And that was a far more egregious act.

Originally Posted by He Ban Me

Thanks for validating my post with your drivel, drivel, blah blah, broncos are worse, whine, whine......

Originally Posted by Gunnails

The thing Goodell is guilty of is not explaining in detail what exactly happened and how exactly this affected the level playing field and what exactly were the reasons that he decided that this was the apoprpriate punishment.

Originally Posted by DaBruinz

The problem is that the punishment doesn't fit the crime. This is worse than what happened to Denver or San Fran when they violated the Salary Cap by tens of millions of dollars.

How can it stop here? The fact remains that the league CONDONED Miami buying audio tape of the Pats audible calls, yet they give out this harsh punishment. BS. Talk about friggin hypocritical.


Gooddell proved he's nothing but the Competition Committee's stooge.