The integrity of the NFL? What does this have to do with integrity?
Let me present an opposing view. if you read the NFL's actual prohibition against videotaping, you'll see that no mention at all is made of stealing signals. The rule only addresses making a videotape of an opposing coach's signals. Now, you and I know what the intent is, but why is the NFL hell-bent on avoiding legilsation that involves the use of stolen signals?
The NFL can't legislate this because it's such an ingrained part of the game. There is no before and after here, no "before cheating was uncovered," and no league "after cheating was uncovered." There is only an always. There always was this sort of cheating, and always will be, until they install radio receivers in defensive helmets.
Since they couldn't legislate against it, an unspoken rule developed that I'm sure everyone thought they understood. One, don't do it blatantly. Two, never make accusations of cheating like this because the NFL has no way to adjudicate the accusation without calling into question the NFL's stance on stealing signals. We're in a big gray area. Both the Patriots and the Jets have broken the spirit of the NFL's unspoken stance. The Patriots were too brazen, and the Jets were too ratfinkish. The Patriots will be punished, and they should be, but I'm sure the commissioner is right now pissed that the Jets have invited a slew of lawyers and bureaucrats into the room to look over what was previously a gentleman's agreement. We already know the NFL's true feelings on this issue because they declared the Dolphins cheating last year as valid and legal. now the Jets have forced them into a tight spot. New legislation is needed, and now we're going to endure endless Sundays of teams sicking their security and lawyers on one another.
That's what this entire event means. It has very little to do with the game, or the game's integrity. It has everything to do with people's egos, lawyers, the NFL's own screwed up organization which allows the competition committee to be composed of a few select teams that inevitably tilt the field in their own favor.