Belichick fined 500K; Patriots lose Draft Pick

[Bond]

Bill Belichick is ready for his close-up.

The Patriots' coach escaped suspension for using a video camera to spy on opposing coaches, with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell deciding instead on Thursday night to fine him $500,000 and dock the team $250,000 and a first-day draft pick next year.

It was the biggest fine ever for a coach and the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty. But Belichick will be on the sideline Sunday night, as planned, when the Patriots play the San Diego Chargers.

Belichick was peppered with questions on the scandal Friday morning, when he seemed bemused by the repeated attempts to get him to expand on his earlier statement in which he accepted "full responsibility for the actions" that led to the ruling.

"It's over, and we're moving on," the coach said. "All my energy and focus and attention is on the San Diego Chargers and that game."

Belichick did allow that he would change the team's videotaping procedures. Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella, whose camera was confiscated while he was on the Jets' sideline, will not be on the sideline.

Goodell found the Patriots guilty of using videotape to try to steal the New York Jets' signals during Sunday's game. He ordered New England to surrender next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs, and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

Source: Yahoo News

Wow.

[Professor S]

Honestly, when you look back on the past few years and Belichick's nearly flawless "coaching", I think that he's getting a slap on the wrist when it comes to what could happen if the NFL really went in depth with an investigation.

[Perfect Stu]

Lousy cheat. All this past week has done for me is further confirmed that my Pats hating is not (entirely) based on them whooping out butts out of the playoffs 2 years in a row.

He should have also been suspended a half dozen games...didnt some assistant coach get a 3-5 game suspension for taking HGH to help with his diabetes? What impact does a coach taking HGH have compared to cheating?

[The Germanator]

Yeah, I think a suspension was in line as well. At least a couple of games...As noted by some columnist, the Pats already have the 49ers first round pick in '08, so this doesn't hurt them all that much.