Edit: For those unaware "The Patriots" are an NFL team that play American Football. "The Jets" were their opponents in their first game of this season which was last week. 

So if you haven't heard by now, this last Sunday the Patriots were caught taping the defensive signals of the Jets and by some accounts were using them to make informed offensive playcalling decisions as well as relaying blitz warnings, and what coverage to expect.

But even more surprisingly is that most fans (myself included) were shocked at the leagues admittance that this is not the first time the Patriots and specifically Bill Belichick have been "warned" for doing exactly this.

Now I think it was friday the judgment came in from the league and they are fining Belichick $500k personally, as well as $250k fine for the team. In addition they are taking away some draft picks contingent apon their success during the season. If they manage to make the playoffs they will lose a first round pick. But if they fail to reach the playoffs they lose a 2nd & 3rd round pick.

Now that you are all up to date on the situation, I have to ask what you think of the whole debacle. Do you think they were dealt with too harshly or not harshly enough? How big of an impact do you think the cheating is on a game? And finally does it concern you that they have cheated in the past and apparently very little was done?

Send the team to the WWE so Kane can tombstone them over and over?

i didn't understand any of that. at first i thought you were on about the army or some group thats against the army[patriots] doing somthing to their jets... then something about a blitz [blitzkrieg - lightning war]

i figure from the replys you are on about baseball

I have a friend who is a huge Stealers fan who thinks they should basically tell Bilichick that he needs to find another league to coach in because he isn't welcome in the NFL anymore. Well actually he says he would dissolve the entire team but pitching Billy boy is bare minimum for him.

My opinion is that if they have proof the info was actually used in the Jets game they should forfeit that game. Then they should be made to forfeit a 1st & 2nd round pick regardless of standing in the league. Thats what they need to do to the team. Now for Bilichick I think a 4 game suspension is minimum. And I think any incident in the future no matter how small should result in him being barred from the league. I also think the fines they imposed on all parties are somewhat of a joke considering the sheer amounts of money these guys make. Yeah it hurts a bit but as it stands from his perspective he paid 500k for a few Superbowl Rings. Not a bad deal all things considered. I would keep the fines, but if they believe for a second that a monetary punishment means anything they are completely wrong.

Ok thats my opinion, lets hear someone elses now =).

@Sqrl

I think what you describe for penalties is a bare minimum. I'm in agreement with you.

I think the fine on belichick is fine. half a million is a pretty big chunk of change for a single person, even if it they do make 2-3 million a year. however the 250k team fine doesn't mean much at all. Raise that to 2-5m and now every team will make sure they aren't doing the same, and also the patriots would probably take internal action too.

also, i agree, if they did use the information they gained in the same game, then it should be forfeited.

also, for the draft pick, i think that they should loose 2&3 if they don't make the playoffs, but 1,2&3 if they do make it. I interpreted what you wrote as they only loose 1st if they make the playoff, but get their second and third back.

give it a fucking rest and move on the greatest ass kicking in the world they will give to the chargers!!!!!!!!

It's easily just the bare minimum. Both the team and Belichick should of gotten worse. Belichick should of gotten suspended AND not be allowed to wear those awful hoodies anymore. The team should lose first day draft picks so 1,2,3 regardless of playoffs. I heard on sports center that the team is worth some crazy amount like hundreds of millions so the 250k fine means absolutely nothing to them.