2008 Woodie Awards
Coach Cheats, Fills NFL Seats
Greg Jeffers
Issue date: 9/19/07 Section: Sports
Other than winning my first fantasy league match-up, I didn't see anything good come out of the NFL on opening weekend.
An over abundance of injuries occurred, including a scary spinal cord injury to Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. After a tense few days of observation though, doctors are optimistic he will one day walk again.
The second biggest hit of the week was delivered to New England Patriots' Head Coach Bill Belichick, the same coach responsible for winning three Super Bowls this decade. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Belichick $500,000 last week for cheating in their game against the New York Jets. Specifically, the Patriots were caught videotaping Jets' coaches, sending signals in from the sidelines to their players on the field.This was expressly forbidden by Goodell and the NFL.
Though it also included the loss of a draft pick, the penalty wasn't nearly tough enough. The commissioner has an obligation to the fans, as well as to the other teams in the NFL to ensure this type of activity does not occur; and Goodell had a tremendous opportunity to set a harsh example and establish a massive deterrent to cheating. Unfortunately, he blew it.
Does he really think a monetary fine alone will put a stop to this, in a profession where money seems to grow on trees? To us common folk, a half-a-million-dollar fine seems huge, but in professional sports, it's the proverbial drop in the bucket.
Belichick should have been handed a suspension lasting anywhere from a year to life. That's right-life. Sound heavy handed? That's too bad; I guess he shouldn't be a dirty, rotten cheater. Hey Bill, way to go winning all those Super Bowls, by the way. How in the world did you ever pull that off? Yeah, you're a real coaching genius.
I'm fairly certain a lifetime suspension would have gotten the point across to any other coaches tempted to gain an unfair advantage, but Goodell seems to be saying, "We can't suspend the premiere coach in the league, that might end up costing us money."
My disappointment doesn't end with Goodell's gutless decision to merely fine a cowardly cheater. Belichick's boss, Patriots' owner Robert Kraft, also merits a raised eyebrow. I don't understand why Belichick is still employed. He cheated and brought shame to an organization. If I owned the Patriots, I'd already be looking for a new coach. Is it possible that Kraft knew about and endorsed Belichick's tactics? Kraft's lack of action can only lead me to wonder.
Despite the league ruling, Belichick still hasn't "fessed up" to his actions; and other than a pseudo-apology has remained silent on the matter.
He has effectively gotten away with the perfect crime, and is probably at this very moment trying to figure out another way to cheat without getting caught. And that's just fine with the NFL.
An over abundance of injuries occurred, including a scary spinal cord injury to Buffalo Bills tight end Kevin Everett. After a tense few days of observation though, doctors are optimistic he will one day walk again.
The second biggest hit of the week was delivered to New England Patriots' Head Coach Bill Belichick, the same coach responsible for winning three Super Bowls this decade. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Belichick $500,000 last week for cheating in their game against the New York Jets. Specifically, the Patriots were caught videotaping Jets' coaches, sending signals in from the sidelines to their players on the field.This was expressly forbidden by Goodell and the NFL.
Though it also included the loss of a draft pick, the penalty wasn't nearly tough enough. The commissioner has an obligation to the fans, as well as to the other teams in the NFL to ensure this type of activity does not occur; and Goodell had a tremendous opportunity to set a harsh example and establish a massive deterrent to cheating. Unfortunately, he blew it.
Does he really think a monetary fine alone will put a stop to this, in a profession where money seems to grow on trees? To us common folk, a half-a-million-dollar fine seems huge, but in professional sports, it's the proverbial drop in the bucket.
Belichick should have been handed a suspension lasting anywhere from a year to life. That's right-life. Sound heavy handed? That's too bad; I guess he shouldn't be a dirty, rotten cheater. Hey Bill, way to go winning all those Super Bowls, by the way. How in the world did you ever pull that off? Yeah, you're a real coaching genius.
I'm fairly certain a lifetime suspension would have gotten the point across to any other coaches tempted to gain an unfair advantage, but Goodell seems to be saying, "We can't suspend the premiere coach in the league, that might end up costing us money."
My disappointment doesn't end with Goodell's gutless decision to merely fine a cowardly cheater. Belichick's boss, Patriots' owner Robert Kraft, also merits a raised eyebrow. I don't understand why Belichick is still employed. He cheated and brought shame to an organization. If I owned the Patriots, I'd already be looking for a new coach. Is it possible that Kraft knew about and endorsed Belichick's tactics? Kraft's lack of action can only lead me to wonder.
Despite the league ruling, Belichick still hasn't "fessed up" to his actions; and other than a pseudo-apology has remained silent on the matter.
He has effectively gotten away with the perfect crime, and is probably at this very moment trying to figure out another way to cheat without getting caught. And that's just fine with the NFL.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dick
posted 9/19/07 @ 10:26 AM PST
thanks greg for another unbiased, childish rant from a very ignorant, bloodsucking piece of journalistic $hit. you stupidity is only eclipsed by your shameful display of hate. (Continued…)
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