Belichik Fined

[cheesner]

1/2 million dollars

NE looses their 1st rd pick if they make the playoffs. 2nd and 3rd if they don't make the playoffs.

As just reported by NFL Network.

[falco]

Posted: 36 minutes ago
NFL fines Belichick, strips Patriots of draft pick

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- Roger Goodell's hard line on discipline, aimed so far at players, came down this time on a coach and a team.

New England coach Bill Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for spying on an opponent's defensive signals.

Jim Rogash / Getty Images
Bill Belichick is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Patriots.

Related Content:
» Belichick: profile
» Patriots: Team page | Official site
» Belichick meets with Goodell
» Video: Stealing signals

The commissioner also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't. If the Patriots lose their first-rounder next season they still will have a first-round pick, obtained from San Francisco in the deal that brought Moss from Oakland.

"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid longstanding rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.

Reached at his home, Patriots owner Robert Kraft declined to comment.

The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win last Sunday at Giants Stadium.

The Jets issued a statement saying, "We support the commissioner and his findings. The focus of our organization remains on the upcoming game against Baltimore."

The NFL said the camera was seized before the end of the first quarter and had no impact on the game.

Goodell said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

New England, strengthened by the addition of Randy Moss and two other first-rate wide receivers as well as linebacker Adalius Thomas, is considered one of the favorites to win the Super Bowl for the fourth time since the 2001 season.

NFL rules state "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." They also say all video for coaching purposes must be shot from locations "enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."

That was re-emphasized in a memo sent Sept. 6 to NFL head coaches and general managers. In it, Ray Anderson, the league's executive vice president of football operations wrote: "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."

The NFL statement said Goodell believed Patriots owner Robert Kraft was unaware of Belichick's actions.
Belichick's reaction

I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.

As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.

Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.

With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter. We are moving on with our preparations for Sunday's game.

But it said the commissioner believed penalties should be imposed on the club because "Coach Belichick not only serves as the head coach but also has substantial control over all aspects of New England's football operations. His actions and decisions are properly attributed to the club."

The action against Belichick is the latest in a series of harsh disciplinary actions taken by Goodell, who took office last Sept. 1, succeeding Paul Tagliabue.

The most notable were the indefinite suspension of Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick after he pleaded guilty to a federal dogfighting conspiracy charge and the one-year suspension of Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones after numerous run-ins with police.

On Wednesday, Belichick issued a one-paragraph statement 10 minutes before his regular availability, saying he had spoken with Goodell "about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my interpretation of the rules."

"Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," he said.

NFL coaches long have suspected opponents of spying. In the early 1970s, the late George Allen, coach of the Washington Redskins, routinely would send a security man into the woods surrounding the team's practice facility because he suspected there were spies from other teams there.

And coaches like Seattle's Mike Holmgren and Philadelphia's Andy Reid, among others, always cover their mouths when calling plays from the sideline because they fear other teams have lip readers trying to determine their calls.

The most recent hefty fine against a coach was in 2005, when Tagliabue fined former Minnesota coach Mike Tice $100,000 for scalping Super Bowl tickets.

Last November, Goodell fined Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, co-chairman of the competition committee, $12,500 for criticizing officials. He also fined Pittsburgh owner Dan Rooney, one of his mentors and the man who informed him he had been elected commissioner, for the same violation.

[MadtownPacker]

I think every QB the patriots play for the rest of the season should throw a pass right at belicheat's face to show him what they think of him.

[GrnBay007]

Goodell said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

I don't know about this. Yes the forfeiture of draft picks with hurt and be more long-lasting but just say Belichick decides to call it quits after this season....doesn't hurt him a bit. And as far as that fine goes, that will hurt Belichick's girlfriend more than it will him.

The penalty should cause more sting for the here and now. Jets should be given a win to start with. ....plus more.

I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.

Mistake? Damn I hate it when people in a position such as this use that word. Shove the MISTAKE up your ass Belichick.

[packers11]

I agree... punishment not harsh enough... Why don't people go rally in front of the commissioner office like they did for Vick...

VICK DIDN'T ALTER GAMES...
THIS PIECE OF SHIT DID...

SOMEHOW VICK IS SUSPENDED INDEFINTATLY... AND THIS "GENIUS" GETS OFF EASY...

[GrnBay007]

SOMEHOW VICK IS SUSPENDED INDEFINTATLY... AND THIS "GENIUS" GETS OFF EASY...

This arrogant POS is sitting back laughing at the NFL right now.

[Jimx29]

At the very least they should make him stop wearing those rags he wears on the sideline. That is about as disrespectful towards the game as anything

[GrnBay007]

The more I think about this, the more angry I get. The guy out right admits....takes full responsibility for the actions that caused the ruling.......which was cheating. He is taking responsibility for actions that could directly affect/alter the outcome of NFL professional football games!!!! I'm seriously wondering why this guy is not being banned from the NFL ??????

[the_idle_threat]

Yep, she's sassy!

[Harlan Huckleby]

Goodell said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

The old false choice trick. It isn't an either/or, he should have done BOTH. The franchise should have lost a draft pick and Belicheck should have been suspended.

What Goodell did was sweep the affair under the carpet as best he could. He imposed the bare minimum penalty, any less would hve caused an uproar. By avoiding a suspension, he hopes to get the case out of the news quickly.

"As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress."

This statement defies logic. If the videotaping was strictly an innocent, technical violation, then why are the Patriots losing a first round draft pick? A small fine would be appropriate for a out-of-control videographer.
Either the Patriots were cheating or they weren't. Which was it?

Well, now that the case has been swept under the carpet, and assitant coaches are not being interviewed under duress, the truth ain't going to come out. Coach B can claim that his intentions were honorable, just a matter of a little sloppy execution.

What a crock.

[Bretsky]

I'm not sure why, but I don't get much of a rise out of any of this; I'm glad NE lost their first rounder because the Packers will pick a spot earlier in round two I guess.

But to an extent I feel every team stretches the rules out, maybe not to the extent BB does, but they are all trying to steal each other's signals.

[GrnBay007]

I'm not sure why, but I don't get much of a rise out of any of this; I'm glad NE lost their first rounder because the Packers will pick a spot earlier in round two I guess.

But to an extent I feel every team stretches the rules out, maybe not to the extent BB does, but they are all trying to steal each other's signals.

So it's OK for an NFL coach to CHEAT and admit it....but not OK for an adult male to smoke marijuana?

BB is getting the old "patriot" treatment is all. It's a crock. I respected the commish for what he was attempting to do in cleaning up the league, but he needs to hold the coaches to the same or MORE degree of accountability as the players.

Funny how the majority of people pointed out that Vick was gambling and that was against league policy but yet Billy is doing something that could directly affect the outcome of a game and he's still going to be on the sidelines coaching his lil darlings this Sunday. Sickening!!!!!

[Bretsky]

I'm not sure why, but I don't get much of a rise out of any of this; I'm glad NE lost their first rounder because the Packers will pick a spot earlier in round two I guess.

But to an extent I feel every team stretches the rules out, maybe not to the extent BB does, but they are all trying to steal each other's signals.

So it's OK for an NFL coach to CHEAT and admit it....but not OK for an adult male to smoke marijuana?

BB is getting the old "patriot" treatment is all. It's a crock. I respected the commish for what he was attempting to do in cleaning up the league, but he needs to hold the coaches to the same or MORE degree of accountability as the players.

Funny how the majority of people pointed out that Vick was gambling and that was against league policy but yet Billy is doing something that could directly affect the outcome of a game and he's still going to be on the sidelines coaching his lil darlings this Sunday. Sickening!!!!!

First off, I'm not too convinced that any of this immediately effected the outcome of any game; the camera was seized by end of quarter #1.

And it's not against the Federal Law to do this, well that I know of at least. So the Mary Jane comparison means nothing to me. I could have really cared less that Vick was gambling; I'd have thrown him into a Lions Den for what he was doing to the animals. For me the gambling was just a good way to punish him more the just the animal cruelty would allow.

[Harlan Huckleby]

First off, I'm not too convinced that any of this immediately effected the outcome of any game.

If they were stealing signals, it affected outcomes, period.

[GrnBay007]

First off, I'm not too convinced that any of this immediately effected the outcome of any game.

If they were stealing signals, it affected outcomes, period.

Not to mention the whole thing with the radio frequencies. That's a whole other story.

If it would not affect the outcome of a game, they wouldn't have been taking a chance on doing it!!!!