The cheatin' Patriots

So the New England Patriots finally got caught doing something it was common knowledge around the league that they did. Cheat.

I understand that what they did, and have been doing, is against the rules. I think they ought to be punished for it. I just don't know how much. For me, the punisment is a matter of principle. They knew the rules. They knew they were breaking them. They did it anyway. They should get slammed. But how big should the slam be? People are talking forfeiting games, taking draft picks...and I don't know if it's all that serious. I mean, when you look at the practical usefulness of what they were doing, they were stealing signals from the opposition's defensive coach and figuring out what kind of defense would be called. By the time you get that information, there isn't a lot of time to react. Maybe you can relay something to your quarterback via hand signal and he can change a play at the line of scrimmage to adjust, but the timing would have to be incredible. Why then, you have to ask, would they do it...if it's not all that valuable? There has to be a reason besides Bill Belichick being a loonie...and a very successful loonie at that. So saying that, there has to be some advantage.

I think something has to be done to grab the Patriots collective attention though...to stop the blantant disregard of the rules. Maybe it has little to do with the practical application of the cheating. Maybe forfeiting the game is the right thing to do...if for no other reason that so next time Bill thinks about cheating, he'll think....yeah, but if we get caught, is it worth losing a game?