Now I'm not sure if any of you fine folks out there are football fans, casual or avid, but I'm sure a few of you have heard of the NFL cheating scandal that was made public in the past couple of weeks (end sarcasm). The New England Patriots, winners of Super Bowls in 2001, 2003 and 2004 were caught with their hand in the cookie jar, so to speak. Patriots head coach Bill Belichick and his staff were busted videotaping the NY Jets defensive play calling signals during the first half of the Jets / Patriots game Sunday (in which the Patriots won) . Fittingly enough, light was shed on the Patriots clandestine spying by former New England defensive coordinator and current NY Jets head coach Eric Mangini (the plot thickens!). Apparently Mangini had knowledge of the videotaping habits during his employment with the Patriots and evidently turned stool pigeon, giving up his former boss's secrets to NFL security personnel. Last week the National Football League announced that Bill Belichick has been fined $500,000, the New England Patriots $250,000 and will lose up to two future draft picks (depending how their season fares). Now I'm sorry, but to me something is very very very wrong with this scenario. Last month NFL star Michael Vick copped to funding a brutal dog fighting ring, animal abuse and conspiracy charges. When NFL judge, jury and executioner (actually he's the commissioner) Roger Goodall heard of Vick's admission of guilt, an "indefinite" suspension was levied against the former Falcons star. Vick's actions where heinous, irresponsible and he deserves his punishment yet, what he did was by no means a blow to the integrity of the NFL. Bill Belichick got caught CHEATING, and walks away only with a fine?! Having advance knowledge of your opponents play calling signals is practically a crystal ball, it takes away any element of surprise or strategy from the opposing team and allows you to comfortably match them move for move. Belichick's sneaky behavior is unsportsmanlike , and with out honor. This hack has attacked the integrity of the NFL and needs to be run out of the league A.S.A.P. How disgustingly ironic that a team caught for cheating was previously renowned for their squeaky clean image, were winners of 3 Super Bowls, quarterbacked by the wholesome Tom Brady, and coached by one of Time magazines "Top 100 Hero's & Icons" is named the Patriots, but turns out to be cheaters.

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