The funniest part about this thread is watching all of the Pats fans consistently misspell Bill Belichick .

double or nothing on our clemens/wake bet? i'll take sd +5.

If Bellicheck is such a genius, aren't we forced to assume this actually WAS important and necessary? Is he dumb enough to do something that wasn't even necessary that risks league sanctions?

from Don Banks and Peter King today:

One of the disciplinary options that the NFL is considering against Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for New England's illegal videotaping of New York Jets defensive coaches on Sunday includes both the stripping of a first-day 2008 draft pick from the Patriots -- perhaps a first rounder -- and a suspension of either two or three games for Belichick, SI.com has learned.

One disciplinary option ruled out by Goodell is the forfeiture of the Patriots' 38-14 win over the Jets on Sunday at Giants Stadium

According to a source, the league will definitely take a first-day draft pick away from the Patriots, perhaps a first-round selection

edit: local media are saying $500k fine to be paid by Belichick and a 1st and 3rd round pick. this has yet to be confirmed.

If he doesn't have an internets he might take that bet.

craig

believe he was the one who said 'crush', thus the line is slightly altered for confidence.

I guess just fining the sh*t out of NE creates too big a tax burden for Goodell. What do you suppose Arthur Blank's penalty will be for employing a known felon???

Yah that's a good read. Headsets crapping out too? Pretty lame.

If this was happening, and causing some quarterbacks to be more effective in the fourth quarter and some to be less effective, then everyone who was arguing that teams perform the same in clutch situations has been wrong.

I'd be surprised if they take a 1st rounder given the Players Association would throw a major fit.

yeah, thats a good point. who knows, maybe there could be a side deal made to give the players union some extra $$$ if they lose a first round pick. I hope not

This might be a stupid question...but can the NFLPA actually do anything (other than complaining?). The players drafted aren't part of the union yet, correct? So I can't really see how they would be capable of stopping the NFL from punishing the Pats with a loss of a 1st round pick if that's what they want to do.

Is there anything in the CBA that specifically says that there has to be 7 rounds of 32 picks? As it stands right now with comp picks more than 224 players get drafted every year anyway.

the issue is that the union doesn't want to lose 1 st round pick, b/c the money is bigger for 1st rounders. I think the union wants more money for all players.

LDO. I understand what the issue is. I'm just wondering if the NFLPA actually has the power to stop the NFL from doing this? They can make a stink as much as they want, but can they really stop the NFL from taking away a 1st round pick?

BB fined 500k
Team fined 250k

If Pats make the play offs they forfeit a 2008 first round pick.

Ouch.

Edit: Seems small compared to the 100 MILLION dollar fine McLaren got for spying by obtaining secret technical data on Ferrari...

yeha just saw this

ESPN reporting that Belichick is fined 500k, the pats 250k, and that they lose a 1st round pick in 08 (with the condition that they make the playoffs).

"I guess just fining the sh*t out of NE creates too big a tax burden for Goodell. What do you suppose Arthur Blank's penalty will be for employing a known felon??? "

Same as every other owners?

Yeah, what a sick fine.

Crazy fine. Since the Pats are obviously making the playoffs thats a hurting punishment.

Want to take bets on whether another F1 or NFL cheating scandal happens first?

well, that sucks. as a fan of course I don't care about the fines.

the Pats were incredibly well positioned for the future with 2 1st rounders next year, now they are positioned just a bit better than the other good teams. (assuming the pick we forfeit is our own, not the one we got from the 49ers).

If they don't make the playoffs they lose a 2nd and 3rd round pick.

So I guess I'm on the 49ers bandwagon.
Nice job Goodell.

I'm not even going to pretend to know a thing about F1, I was just looking at ESPN.com and the fine amount was listed on their front page and I was 'wow, that's a huuuuuge fine for spying.' In other words, I'm going to have decline any wagers.