NFL Commissioner forced to take action against Bill Belichick

New England head coach Bill Belichick got his hand caught in the cookie jar. The Patriots have been caught cheating. More specifically, filming the NY Jets' defensive signals during the game.

Does this news really surprise anyone? Bill Belichick is lauded for his outstanding game planning and strategic thinking. He has shown, as evidenced by his treatment of former LB Ted Johnson and his concussion issues, that winning is the only thing that matters.

So the Pats were caught stealing defensive signals. Some would argue that is not even cheating, really. In the 2005 season, the Patriots leveled accusations that the Miami Dolphins purchased a tape of Tom Brady calling plays during a game. Nothing came of that.

Regardless of the ethical implications of "CameraGate," Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots have put new commissioner Roger Goodell in a bad spot. Goodell has determined that the Patriots did, in fact, break the rules. He is now deliberating as to what the Patriots' punishment should be.

There is no precedent set as to what the punishment should be for this type of cheating. In the past, teams have been docked draft picks for salary cap and free agent violations.Those punishments were handed down by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue. Tags was a softy, especially compared to the new commissioner.

Are draft picks enough of a punishment? Goodell recently suspended the Dallas Cowboys' QB Coach Wade Wilson for using Human Growth Hormone (for which Wilson had procured to help with impotence). Docking the Patriots a third round pick and letting Belichick remain on the sidelines seems like a slap on the wrist in comparison. The Pats were caught violating the integrity of the game. I doubt Wade Wilson was able to teach Tony Romo how to be a better QB any more effectively after taking HGH.