Patriot Games
With the NFL’s confirmation this afternoon that the New England Patriots have violated league rules by videotaping the Jets defensive signals in this past Sunday’s game, the natural follow up question becomes, what might the penalty be?
We know from Roger Goodell’s actions this season with regard to player personal conduct that he wants to set a high bar for professional and personal behavior to protect the league and its image. Further, we now know that the Patriots have been caught taping the sideline signals of at least two other teams. Interestingly enough, the Boston Herald article above notes that teams were specifically warned about this behavior during the offseason:
“Earlier this summer, a league spokesman said all 32 teams received a reminder that it is illegal to videotape opposing signals, adding that cameras can’t be used on the sidelines, in the booth, or in the locker room during a game.”
So given this daunting set of circumstances, what might the penalty against the Patriots consist of?
The only past penalties I can recall that have been levied by the NFL against its teams for organized cheating were imposed for salary cap violations. The Niners, Broncos (on two different occasions), and Steelers have all lost draft choices and been fined for accounting irregularities with the salary cap within the last decade. The penalties for these infractions were as follows:
Niners (2000):
Fines:
- $400,000 paid by Carmen Policy
- $200,000 paid by Dwight Clark
- $300,000 paid by the team
- $350,000 paid by the player agents involved (Leigh Steinberg, Jeff Moorad and Gary Wichard)
Forfeited Draft Picks:
- 2001 5th Round
- 2002 3rd Round
Broncos (2001):
Fines:
- $968,000 paid by the team
Forfeited Draft Pick:
- 2002 3rd Round
Broncos (2004):
Fines:
- $950,000 paid by the team
- $100,000 paid by an anonymous former player’s agent
Forfeited Draft Pick:
- 2005 3rd Round
Steelers (2000):
Salary Cap Hit:
- $400,000 counted against the team’s 2000 Salary Cap
Fines:
- $150,000 paid by the team
Forfeited Draft Pick:
- 2001 3rd Round
Ominously, the 2000 Chicago Tribune story above detailing the 49ers cap violations contains the following warning:
“The league then decided to increase its power to punish future violations by allowing for suspensions of a year, fines of up to $3.5 million, and the loss of two No. 1 draft choices.”
It’s not clear whether this Sword of Damocles is reserved strictly for those who violate the league’s salary cap rules or whether it might be available as a remedy against other forms of organized cheating. And how much more — or less — egregious the Patriots’ violation of league rules is compared to salary cap shenanigans that unfold over a period of years remains to be seen.
But what is evident from even a cursory examination is that the NFL reserves the right to fine not only the team involved but also the cheating ringleaders as individuals. Based on the warning above, suspensions of individuals for up to a year also appear to be within the NFL’s discretion as a potential remedy. And the loss of one or more future draft picks for teams proven to have engaged in organized cheating must be considered commonplace.
Given Roger Goodell’s recent crusade to polish up the NFL’s public image and his willingness to make public examples of those who would tarnish it, I can only side with T.O. — “get your popcorn ready.”
Loading ...
