Deflategate.

First of all let me preface this by saying that I am not a Patriots lover or hater. I could care less if they are in the Super Bowl or not. I haven't rooted for them ever. Not because they cheat or not, but because I like the other team better. This year is no different. The perception of cheating will haunt the Patriots if they win the SB. They brought it on themselves. Let us look at the facts.

They have a pattern of trying very clever ways to gain an advantage. This begs the question; if they are a dynasty like everyone says, then why do they need an advantage unfair or otherwise. This is the third time they have been caught. All of the other times apart aren't a pattern, but together they are. So now with a pattern established. How does the NFL punish the Patriots?

There are different forms of punishment. They could be disqualify the Patriots from the Super Bowl. , Then they would have to designate another team as the SB participant from the AFC. That won't happen because no team would go in there to play. They can't DQ them then they will not play a game and the NFL can't have the loss of revenue. Fining them and losing draft picks hasn't worked in the past so that is moot. The only recourse the NFL has is to suspend Bellichik to send a message. 

Bellichik, should be fined and suspended for the entire year. He keeps pushing the envelope when it comes to the rules. This diminishes the fans faith that what they see on field, and thus the tickets at the gate. He says he didn't know anything about the underinflated balls. Well if he didn't know then he is either incompetent, or he is a crook, there is no third choice. Same with Brady.

They are the leaders, one in the side line and the other where it counts on the field, and are ultimately responsible for what goes on. The NFL needs to make an example of Bellichik, and Brady, but the NFL needs to do it after the SB. They could invoke the personal responsibility clause in Brady's contract. Do they have such a thing for the coaches? If they don't then they should, because Bellichik is a poster boy for bad behavior by a coach.

And one last observation. What if Bellichik looked at the weather forecast, and it said rain. He expects rain, thinks how we can push the envelope of the rules. Figures his team can practice with under inflated balls in case. So when game day comes and it starts raining, he then either does it himself or has a minion under inflate the balls. Now BOTH teams have to deal with the rain, cold, and whatever else, but the Pats have an unfair advantage, by virtue they have already practiced with the underinflated balls. That is what I would have done looking for an edge.

I understand Bellichik and Brady's competitiveness. I have that same drive, to the point of being obsessive. There comes a time when the NFL has to punish Bellichik, and this time Brady, not the entire Patriots organization.

The outcome of the game may or may not have been decided by the air in the balls. No one will ever be able to tell.  That part of the argument is moot. The fact that the Patriots underinflated the balls to gain an unfair advantage in a crucial game is the issue here. It is the issue because they have done it twice before and been fined and it has cost them draft picks. I believe progressive punishment is needed here until they get the point. The next logical step, is to suspend Bellichik and Brady for a year without pay, for violation the personal responsibility or behavior clause in their contracts.