NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell punished the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick for using a spy to steal defensive signals agaisnt the Jets last Sunday, fining the coach $500,000 and plucking at least one of the teams’ 2008 draft picks. If the Pats make the playoffs this season, they’ll lose a first round pick next year and if they don’t quality for the postseason, they’ll lose a second and a third. The team was also fined $250,000.
“Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.”
This is just another classic Belichick-spin. Instead of completely owning up to the fact that he cheated, he sidestepped the situation, which is arrogant and irresponsible on his part. It was also arrogant to use a sideline spy against the Jets of all teams, knowing Eric Mangini would be looking for it. It was almost like he was trying to bully Mangini as in, “I’m going to get your signals and there’s not a damn thing you can do about it because the NFL can’t touch me.” It all goes back to last year when Belicheat didn’t want Mangini to take the Jets job and he’s been pissed off ever since.
Not that losing a draft pick will hurt New England that much, but at least Goodell continues to not be a pushover.
