What should the NFL do about Patriots cheating?

[Pappy13]

I'm thinking the precedent has already been set. Sean Payton was suspended for a year for not putting a stop to bounties after he had been warned against them. I don't see how this is much different in fact I think it's worse since Belicheck was already fined and lost draft picks once for cheating which is a heck of lot stronger than a warning. In my opinion a second offense of cheating has to carry a larger punishment. 1 year suspension and if he's caught cheating again lifetime ban from coaching in the NFL. That should get Belicheck to stop pushing the boundaries or if not then he'll be out of coaching in the NFL.

Honestly, this is for his own good. Belicheck is making a mockery of what has been a stellar career other than these blemishes on his resume. When other NFL Hall of fame coaches start poking fun at you for cheating, you need to realize something is very very wrong.

[Spider-Dan]

So, more detail:

Gerry Austin, longtime referee, says halftime Pats-Colts footballs brought in, checked at half. Colts footballs still legal. Pats were not.

[masterfins]

Penalties:

$1 million dollar fine.

Loss of 1st & 2nd round draft picks.

Belichick & Brady both suspended for four games next year.

One other Starter has to go out for a night of partying with Aaron Hernandez.

[CF DolFan]

It's coming out now that the NFL was aware of New England being accused of this prior to that game even being played so they were supposedly already being watched. There is no way Belichick doesn't get some serious time off and I'm guessing Kraft would support that. He's been behind the big push for integrity in the game.

[dolphins4life]

I still don't get how this gives them an advantage

[Cathal]

I still don't get how this gives them an advantage

I believe, and I could be wrong, a less inflated ball is easier to hold onto. So with the great run game the Pats have, try and make a guy fumble who is holding onto a deflated ball.

[Brian Fein]

^^ its also easier to throw and catch.  In short, its easier to grip because it has some give to it.

Considering Brady's horrible start, it wouldn't surprise me if this was the answer to the "sky is falling" mentality after week 4, which signified the Patriots' magical turnaround.  In his first 4 games, Brady averaged 59% completion, 197 yards per game, 1 TD and 1/2 INT per game, 79.1 QBR.  Since then, 65%, 276 yds per game, 2 TD, 1/2 INT, 103 QBR.  Production drastically improved...? 

Total speculation, but if the ball is easier to hold, does that show why Brady's numbers improved so drastically, practically overnight?

[dolphins4life]

^^ its also easier to throw and catch.  In short, its easier to grip because it has some give to it.

Considering Brady's horrible start, it wouldn't surprise me if this was the answer to the "sky is falling" mentality after week 4, which signified the Patriots' magical turnaround.  In his first 4 games, Brady averaged 59% completion, 197 yards per game, 1 TD and 1/2 INT per game, 79.1 QBR.  Since then, 65%, 276 yds per game, 2 TD, 1/2 INT, 103 QBR.  Production drastically improved...? 

Total speculation, but if the ball is easier to hold, does that show why Brady's numbers improved so drastically, practically overnight?

Aren't the balls supposed to be inspected before each game?

[Spider-Dan]

Yes, and all the balls passed said inspection.  Yet at halftime, the Colts' balls were still in compliance, while the Patriots' were not.

Therefore...

[EDGECRUSHER]

2nd offense pf cheating that we know of and Sean Payton had to miss a season for the bounty scandal.

I can see any outcome from the league, but I don't know how you can justify anything other than a loss of several draft picks and a year long suspension for Belichick. Nothing for Brady as you really can't prove he knew or did anything. Throw in a $1 Million fine.

NFL is probably praying that the Seahawks win so that they don't have to suspend and fine the Superbowl winners.

[dolphins4life]

Idk, to me this sounds like the Simpsons episode where Bart drops the fly ball, and later in the episode somebody says, "They dusted home plate with a non-regulation brush so we have to replay the last inning all over again.

[Sunstroke]

Idk, to me this sounds like the Simpsons episode where Bart drops the fly ball, and later in the episode somebody says, "They dusted home plate with a non-regulation brush so we have to replay the last inning all over again.

While I am all for punishing the Patriots whenever possible (see my previous comment about decapitation), this situation reminds me of one of my all-time favorite comic strips. It was a 4-panel episode of a comic that used to appear in the old Stars and Stripes military newspaper, called Corporal Quibley. Like Charlie Brown, Corporal Quibley had a dog who voiced his thoughts via a little bubble over his head. In the first panel, Cpl Quibley and his army buddy were walking back home from a softball game, cleats hanging off their softball bats over their shoulder, with the dog walking behind them.

Quibley starts by saying "I've never seen the umpire make so many lousy calls."
His buddy replies "I've never seen the sun so bright in left field."
Quibley retorts "I've never seen so many rocks in the infield."
They go back and forth a few times, trading excuses.
In the last panel, you see the dog walking behind them, thinking out loud: "I've never seen anyone get beat by 70 runs before."

[Spider-Dan]

What actual advantage did the Patriots gain by illegally taping from their sideline?  They have access to hours upon hours of game footage from multiple angles via the TV feeds.

And yet Spygate was still considered a big deal.

[MikeO]

I still don't get how this gives them an advantage

If it's not an advantage then why did they do it?

[Pappy13]

You're missing the point if you think it really didn't give them an advantage in the game. The thing is that Brady and Belicheck thought BEFORE THE GAME that it was going to give them an advantage. That is enough. The thought that they were gaining an advantage by doing it is enough to punish them severely. Had the game ended 21-20 then NO ONE would be questioning whether or not it's a big deal. It IS a big deal because when they did it the score was 0-0 and they had no way of knowing that they were going to win by 38. If they did they wouldn't have risked it. Brady and Belicheck were worried enough about the outcome of the game that they risked everything to tilt the field in their favor. If that doesn't tell you how big a deal it is then you have never played a sport in your life.