Patriots Punishment announced by NFL: Commissioner Roger Goodell cracked down hard on the New England Patriots and fined head coach Bill Belichick $500,000 in the Patriots videotaping opponents defensive signals scandal.
Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick has been fined a cool half million dollars, the maximum amount allowed, for violating league policy last Sunday by videotaping an opposing team’s offensive or defensive signals, the NFL announced today.
Patriots punishment details:
Commissioner Roger Goodell announce that the Patriots would forfeit their own first-round draft choice in 2008 if they reach the playoffs, or their own second-round and third-round picks if they do not qualify for the playoffs, and that the club would be fined $250,000.
“This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field,” Goodell wrote in the enforcement action notice to the Patriots.
In his review of the facts in deciding the Patriots punishment, Commissioner Goodell determined that the Patriots’ use last Sunday of the video camera, which was seized before the end of the first quarter, had no impact on the outcome of the Patriots-New York Jets game.
Commissioner Goodell also believes that Patriots ownership was unaware of Coach Belichick’s action, but determined that penalties should be imposed on the club because “Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England’s football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club.”
Commissioner Goodell informed the Patriots that the NFL would closely review and monitor the Patriots’ coaching video program, effective immediately.
“I specifically considered whether to impose a suspension on Coach Belichick,” Commissioner Goodell wrote. “I have determined not to do so, largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant.”
Boston newspapers are abuzz with defending the Patriots and bemoaning the severity of the NFL punishment, but they should be thankful coach Bilichick wasn’t suspended for the reats of the season.
After all, this Patriots spying on opposing teams signls is blatantly against the rules and they were caught redhanded. Patriots message boards are bemoaning the loss of draft picks because after all, Bilichick is the one being fined $500,000, not the club and he’s got plenty of scratch to cover that tab.
Bottom line? Cheaters may win sometimes, but they always get caught eventually. And that’s the latest on the Patriots punishment.
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