CHEATING: Time for the NFL to Hammer Down

The NFL had been under a lot of scrutiny this year, but now in the aftermath of the second largest blowout in an AFC championship game (1991 Bills 51- Raiders 3) the NFL is again investigating a familiar team. The New England Patriots were at it again and ESPN is reporting that 11 of the 12 footballs used were under the legal weight (air pressure) during the downpour Sunday evening.

            This year alone the NFL has determined to stop putting up with people breaking the laws. Starting with the Ray Rice case at the beginning of the year and the Adrian Peterson case a couple weeks into the season, the NFL has stood tall against illegal actions off of the field. New policies have included a two game suspension for first time DUI offenses and a six game suspension for the use of PEDs. Targeting fouls are at an all time high and the protection of players on the field is being enforced more than it ever has. Is it time for the NFL to take a stand against cheating and make the penalty so severe that no team thinks about doing it, I say yes.

            In 2007 we had spygate, where Patriots coach Bill Belicheck was fined a half a million dollars but was not suspended at all. The Patriots did lose their number one draft pick, but with a loaded team picking near the end of the first round, it really did not punish the team. At the most it gave them some more cap room to get a free agent. Even if video taping the defensive signals during the Jets practice had no impact on the game, it was done to help the team win the game. How many helmet to helmet penalties do you see where the receiver is falling to the ground and gets hit in the head. Even though the defender went low the penalty is still called.

            Then we have the New Orleans Saints. Coach Sean Payton received a year suspension for bounty gate (name a defender that  does not try to hit his opponent as hard as he can anyways). Payton was not even the mastermind behind this bounty program anyways, but because he is the head coach, he gets the punishment.

            The head coach is in charge of the whole program. If this air pressure situation is found to be true, punishment needs to be harsh for Belicheck and other involved. Harsh enough that the next time The New England Patriots, or any team, want to get an advantage on their opponent, they will go back and watch more game film instead of thinking about cheating.

MAYDAY JAY JAY

Twitter @MayDayJJSports