Stiff enough for the Pats?

NICKinDALLAS · September 13th, 2007, 10:36 PM

Billy-boy docked a cool half Mil, the organization clipped a quarter, and if they make the playoffs they'll lose their first first round pick (they have two) and if they don't make the playoffs (right) they'll lose their second and third rounds.

Seems pretty damn stout to me.

BaldBil · September 14th, 2007, 06:44 AM

Maybe so but I expect the crazed mob here on the rant and elsewhere will not find this severe enough. They will only be happy if they can attack the castle with torches and pitchforks to slay the two-headed frankenstein that is Kraft/Belichick.

BtownBeers · September 14th, 2007, 07:18 AM

I don't think its severe enough. Why? Cause I am sure Kraft will gladly pay the 3/4 of a mil out of his multibillion dollar bank account. They have 2 first round picks next year so if they lose one...I don't see it as a big deal. If they don't make the playoffs and lose their 2nd and 3rd then they can easily take their 2 firsts to make up for that or use one of them to get a 2nd and 3rd so in these respects I don't see it as to stiff. It sounds stiffer than it actually is if you ask me.

Now that said I think this is could be only the beginning of a larger scandal within the Pats and the league is instituting a review and basically an investigation of their other pratices that have been reported such as opposing teams wireless headsets "cutting out" at crucial points in the game...so much to the fact that they now bring their own wired headsets and also audio recording equipment intercepting transmissions to QB's helmets and line calls by the QBs and Center's.

As more comes out its just a shame that they had to go and pull crap like this and hurt their integrity and possibly the integrity of the game for an advantage to win.

ssigman · September 14th, 2007, 08:51 AM

agree with beers...750k means 2 home games they won't make any money...big deal when you make millions more from tv revenue and merchandising...then they give up 1 pick and belichek isn't even suspended...you want to hurt the team, you suspend belichek, make them forfeit the first game cause that directly affects the chances to make the playoffs and you take away multiple draft picks in multiple years like the nba did to the timberwolves in the joe smith scandal

BtownBeers · September 14th, 2007, 08:55 AM

OH and by the way they have 2 3rd round picks...so thats 2 first and 2 3rd round picks next year.

I'm not asking to bring down the organization here but this penalty really does not hurt the team. I think there was a McClaren Formula 1 cheating scandal in Europe or whatever where they were fine 100 MIL. Just another perspective to look at their "punishment".

ssigman · September 14th, 2007, 09:11 AM

wow, who the hell is giving the patriots all these picks every year??

klicks · September 14th, 2007, 09:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BtownBeers

OH and by the way they have 2 3rd round picks...so thats 2 first and 2 3rd round picks next year.

I'm not asking to bring down the organization here but this penalty really does not hurt the team. I think there was a McClaren Formula 1 cheating scandal in Europe or whatever where they were fine 100 MIL. Just another perspective to look at their "punishment".

Agreed with the general sentiment here - the punishment is not stiff enough. Like you say - look at FIA's penalties to McLaren for a roughly equivalent infraction - $100 Million AND they lose their constructors points (in effect giving the constructors to Ferrari now). $100 Million - in my estimate, about 25% to 33% of the teams yearly budget - now THAT hurts, and the NFL can learn something from FIA on this. If the NFL isserious about forcing teams to adhere to the rules and keeping the integrity of their league at a high level, they need to levie penalties that hurt. It's been said before in Sportsrant, but I repeat the Pats should lose their first win as well and the fine should be higher - much higher.

BtownBeers · September 14th, 2007, 09:40 AM

The second 1st round pick was traded from SF and the second 3rd round pick was traded to them by Oak.

whourdaddy · September 14th, 2007, 09:51 AM

The league won't take away a win, it just won't happen. I think with the playoff penalties it gets the point across. I think the league didnt go stiffer since other teams are doing it, the Pats just pushed it too far.

JGAC · September 14th, 2007, 09:58 AM

He's on right now live conference...

"its in the past, can't change it"

He's going to "focus on the Chargers now"

klicks · September 14th, 2007, 10:03 AM

that's a good point Daddy, that I had not really considered - I guess part of the problem is that it is hard to catch these guys unless they get blatant and/or careless. This puts some onus on the league to get creative in finding ways to police the signal stealing/spying. From what i understand, they have pretty clear lines of what's legal and what's not (basically, cannot record sidelines, prcatices or dressing room, and cannot intercept electronic communication but I think, but I am no expert on the rules in this area). If they won't take away the win, I still think the fines could be higher.

whourdaddy · September 14th, 2007, 10:11 AM

Kraft should match the fines with a charitable donation to really start smoothing things over, but that would never happen.

klicks · September 14th, 2007, 10:17 AM

Daddy - you're making way too much sense. Maybe that's the what the NFL should demand, it would increase the penalty and help the leagues rep. I vote for Daddy to be the next NFL commissioner - or is it president?

whourdaddy · September 14th, 2007, 10:25 AM

I will take either. But Kraft could really get the fans back on his side by making a huge "I'm sorry" donation to a Boston charity and get the players out making public appreances for good causes.

BtownBeers · September 14th, 2007, 10:29 AM

Whoa klicks calm down that would be a disaster on all fronts for the league (its commissioner BTW).

Unfortunately what has been done is done and it won't change (unless other things I have mentioned as rumored come to be real and proven). The penalties imposed while I feel are a little under the "crime" so to speak when diagnosed as I did would be generally bad for most teams.

I think the monetary fines should have been higher but the fact that they have the extra picks they do is what gets me since it really does not hurt at all. I still think the best punishment would have been a 2 game suspension 3 million in fines and a first round pick and a 3 round pick next year. I wouldn't have been opposed to losing home field advantage in the playoffs if they were to gain it come season end.

September 13th, 2007, 10:36 PM	#1
NICKinDALLAS Join Date: 11-24-2004 Location: Um, really? Posts: 2,370	Stiff enough for the Pats? Billy-boy docked a cool half Mil, the organization clipped a quarter, and if they make the playoffs they'll lose their first first round pick (they have two) and if they don't make the playoffs (right) they'll lose their second and third rounds. Seems pretty damn stout to me.

September 14th, 2007, 06:44 AM	#2
BaldBil Join Date: 06-15-2006 Location: Salem, MA Posts: 5,208	Maybe so but I expect the crazed mob here on the rant and elsewhere will not find this severe enough. They will only be happy if they can attack the castle with torches and pitchforks to slay the two-headed frankenstein that is Kraft/Belichick.

September 14th, 2007, 07:18 AM	#3
BtownBeers Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 21,564	I don't think its severe enough. Why? Cause I am sure Kraft will gladly pay the 3/4 of a mil out of his multibillion dollar bank account. They have 2 first round picks next year so if they lose one...I don't see it as a big deal. If they don't make the playoffs and lose their 2nd and 3rd then they can easily take their 2 firsts to make up for that or use one of them to get a 2nd and 3rd so in these respects I don't see it as to stiff. It sounds stiffer than it actually is if you ask me. Now that said I think this is could be only the beginning of a larger scandal within the Pats and the league is instituting a review and basically an investigation of their other pratices that have been reported such as opposing teams wireless headsets "cutting out" at crucial points in the game...so much to the fact that they now bring their own wired headsets and also audio recording equipment intercepting transmissions to QB's helmets and line calls by the QBs and Center's. As more comes out its just a shame that they had to go and pull crap like this and hurt their integrity and possibly the integrity of the game for an advantage to win.

September 14th, 2007, 08:51 AM	#4
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,221	agree with beers...750k means 2 home games they won't make any money...big deal when you make millions more from tv revenue and merchandising...then they give up 1 pick and belichek isn't even suspended...you want to hurt the team, you suspend belichek, make them forfeit the first game cause that directly affects the chances to make the playoffs and you take away multiple draft picks in multiple years like the nba did to the timberwolves in the joe smith scandal

September 14th, 2007, 08:55 AM	#5
BtownBeers Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 21,564	OH and by the way they have 2 3rd round picks...so thats 2 first and 2 3rd round picks next year. I'm not asking to bring down the organization here but this penalty really does not hurt the team. I think there was a McClaren Formula 1 cheating scandal in Europe or whatever where they were fine 100 MIL. Just another perspective to look at their "punishment".

September 14th, 2007, 09:11 AM	#6
ssigman Join Date: 03-15-2004 Posts: 27,221	wow, who the hell is giving the patriots all these picks every year??

September 14th, 2007, 09:40 AM	#8
BtownBeers Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 21,564	The second 1st round pick was traded from SF and the second 3rd round pick was traded to them by Oak.

September 14th, 2007, 09:51 AM	#9
whourdaddy Join Date: 12-08-2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,823	The league won't take away a win, it just won't happen. I think with the playoff penalties it gets the point across. I think the league didnt go stiffer since other teams are doing it, the Pats just pushed it too far.

September 14th, 2007, 09:58 AM	#10
JGAC Join Date: 05-09-2003 Location: North End, Boston Posts: 6,079	He's on right now live conference... "its in the past, can't change it" He's going to "focus on the Chargers now"

September 14th, 2007, 10:03 AM	#11
klicks Join Date: 07-04-2005 Posts: 1,385	that's a good point Daddy, that I had not really considered - I guess part of the problem is that it is hard to catch these guys unless they get blatant and/or careless. This puts some onus on the league to get creative in finding ways to police the signal stealing/spying. From what i understand, they have pretty clear lines of what's legal and what's not (basically, cannot record sidelines, prcatices or dressing room, and cannot intercept electronic communication but I think, but I am no expert on the rules in this area). If they won't take away the win, I still think the fines could be higher.

September 14th, 2007, 10:11 AM	#12
whourdaddy Join Date: 12-08-2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,823	Kraft should match the fines with a charitable donation to really start smoothing things over, but that would never happen.

September 14th, 2007, 10:17 AM	#13
klicks Join Date: 07-04-2005 Posts: 1,385	Daddy - you're making way too much sense. Maybe that's the what the NFL should demand, it would increase the penalty and help the leagues rep. I vote for Daddy to be the next NFL commissioner - or is it president?

September 14th, 2007, 10:25 AM	#14
whourdaddy Join Date: 12-08-2005 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 3,823	I will take either. But Kraft could really get the fans back on his side by making a huge "I'm sorry" donation to a Boston charity and get the players out making public appreances for good causes.

September 14th, 2007, 10:29 AM	#15
BtownBeers Join Date: 08-23-2004 Location: In Mrs. Jays Pants! Posts: 21,564	Whoa klicks calm down that would be a disaster on all fronts for the league (its commissioner BTW). Unfortunately what has been done is done and it won't change (unless other things I have mentioned as rumored come to be real and proven). The penalties imposed while I feel are a little under the "crime" so to speak when diagnosed as I did would be generally bad for most teams. I think the monetary fines should have been higher but the fact that they have the extra picks they do is what gets me since it really does not hurt at all. I still think the best punishment would have been a 2 game suspension 3 million in fines and a first round pick and a 3 round pick next year. I wouldn't have been opposed to losing home field advantage in the playoffs if they were to gain it come season end.