NFL Network is reporting Patriots coach Bill Belichick has been fined $500,000 - the maximum fine possible according to the NFL Constitution and By-Laws - for his role in violating league policy for use of equipment to video tape opposing teams' signals.
The Patriots organization has been fined $250,000, and, if they make the playoffs, the team will lose its 1st pick in 2008. If they do not qualify for the playoffs, they will lose a 2nd and a 3rd round pick.
The Patriots have two first-round picks, one of which is the 49ers, acquired from the Joe Staley trade in April.
Important information noted in the NFL news release sent to the media yesterday:
NFL policy states that "no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game" and that all video shooting locations for club coaching purposes "must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."
In a memo to NFL head coaches and general managers on September 6, 2006, NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations Ray Anderson said, "Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."
In his review of the facts, 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.
Put simply, the violation is more for videotaping outside of a room enclosed on all sides with a roof. The fact the Patriots were filming outside of this designated area was never in question, and could not possibly have been misinterpreted. It's important to identify the part that generalizes the use of videotaping signals. It seems the ruling is signals cannot be videotaped, but videotaping cannot occur from anywhere outside of an enclosed room.
Moving on to the penalty issue...
For kicks, I fired up Madden 2007, and skipped quickly into a regular season.
Selecting the Patriots, I tried to trade the Raiders a 1st round pick and a 4th round pick for WR Randy Moss.
The Raiders denied it.
Funny, because that's all the Patriots ended up paying for him. Add in $750 grand, and that's what the defending AFC East champion Patriots ended up paying for a rejuvenated and elite WR and a bizarre video taping violation.
Seems like a great trade for the Pats. Not so good for Oakland and the rest of the NFL.
Could it have been worse? Absolutely. NFL Network is reporting they received a statement from Goodell, in which he said he considered a suspension for Belichick, but chose not to impose one.
Should it have been worse? Did Goodell chose the fine over the suspension because of the Week 2 Super Bowl this weekend?
MORE COMING...Read it on Die Hard Steel...
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Comments (21) Add A Comment
JUST A F*CKING FINE???????
erwin: Back Again.
The Big House, MI
Total Comments (2186)
HAHA, Lol.
Wow, I didn't see ONLY that coming.
DetroitFan* BS:…
The Big House, MI
Total Comments (34666)
It's been amended...
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
Total Comments (3638)
"The NFL has fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick the maximum of $500,000 and stripped the team of its 2008 first-round draft pick for violating league policy on the use of video equipment on the sidelines."
That's what NFL.com is saying.
DJTG_2010
Total Comments (5178)
Ah ok I sort of understand by reading your blog Cooz.
DJTG_2010
Total Comments (5178)
jack lynch of boston is reporting bill belichick is fine 500,000 and he has to paid that and the patriots will lose a first and third round pick .
AMAZING GRACE
Danielson, CT
Total Comments (1544)
LOL Says you, Larry? NFL.com is run by the NFL, jackass. They'll make whatever decision whenever they feel like doing so.
Besides, you barely got swatted on the a.s.s., what are you crying about?
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
Total Comments (3638)
When I first saw the amount of the fine and then the 1st round pick, I thought that was pretty stiff.
But then when you put in perspective as to how it related to Moss, WOW.
Basically, Bill got off easy.
Mac Has Left FN…
Middle Of Nowhere, LA
Total Comments (9448)
How bout that....pssh.
Coletrain
Total Comments (10918)
It will...ITS THE NFL'S OFFICIAL WEBSITE!!!
PhillyFan
Medford Lakes, NJ
Total Comments (1254)
Goodell is a hypocrite. He comes down hard on Pacman, but he lets the Pats (who were cheating) off of the hook on this!? No suspension! I say they lose BOTH of their first rounders and Bellichick is suspended for four games.
IrishR#1
Total Comments (8572)
I'm kind of confused, Larry...do you realize that the Commissioner is quoted in that article you are downplaying?
And no, the AP story is not the source in this blog. I went with what the NFL Network had. They broke the story. Since the NFL owns the NFL Network, I'm having a real tough time listening to your bullsiht about this.
That's the final verdict dude. Who's crying here? And you spelt Hines wrong, f-tard. I hate it when people argue but can't f'n spell. How hard is that? I spell Belichick right. You root for the team and spell it one of three different ways!
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
Total Comments (3638)
Hey, Irish, comment on my actual blog. I really like that point, post it there, will ya?
www.diehardsteel.com
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
Total Comments (3638)
The Pats should be stripped of one of their rings, but not the second one. They were obviously not cheating on that one. Also they should change their name to the New England Dane Cooks.
eaglemaniac814 BS…
Altoona , PA
Total Comments (1027)
LOL @ eaglemaniac. That would be awesome.
Coletrain
Total Comments (10918)
Goodell chose not to suspend Belicheat because to do so would give the Pats an excuse at the end of the year why the Steelers went to the Superbowl, and the Pats got fat on their coaches watching them.
Cassidy: Blond Joke
Whatsittoya, NO
Total Comments (16196)
Larry B is a effin f*ckstick. What a moron. I think Bill should have been suspended for at least 4 games. A fine? This guy can pull a randy Moss and straight "pay cash" as he quoted years ago.
I think the loss of the loss of the draft picks will hurt them the most. Am I wrong, or do they have 2 1st round picks next year though?
TheGreat1
Total Comments (596)
I was actually going to mention that, Great1. Good point. Moss asked if he should pay in cash or check. What a jerk...
Read my blog about the draft picks. I talk about that extensively.
As for everything else, I am reading the press release directly from the league right now, Larry. Do you still feel the commissioner has not made his official ruling yet? Cuz I can send you a copy if you'd like.
Steelercooz
St. Paul, MN
Total Comments (3638)
Another note: All the Pats fans are complaining that the tape was confiscated in the 1st quarter so it couldn't possibly have helped them.
Well, they play the Jets twice a year, and did again once in the playoffs last year, so what makes you think that they didn't cheat then and used some reads in this game.
I know coordinators switch from time to time but it's reasonable to think that the Pats were still able to have an advantage the ENTIRE game from what they learned in the past.
I lost all respect for Bill. I used to think he was a genius and a great coach. Now I think his genius might have come from spying on the enemy.
The Pats "dynasty" will be questioned from now on.
TheGreat1
Total Comments (596)
thats some bull. im not so sure tey woulda won all those titles without cheating. in italian soccer, a team that was caught cheating got their titles stripped from the last 5 years. same with pats i wish
jeevs BS
Schenectady , NY
Total Comments (4109)
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