Schefter said multiple picks including a 1st rounder and a likely suspension... you can't even be honest in watch you watched
He said "Considering a high draft pick, possibly as high as a first rounder". Nonetheless, 1 and 3, or whatever...that's pretty much what I have been saying.The equivalent of signing a restricted free agent player. As for a suspension, possible. I think the Pats will survive.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/09/13/belichick/index.html NFL weighs Belichick suspension Patriots likely to lose first-day draft pick for spying Posted: Thursday September 13, 2007 5:46PM; Updated: Thursday September 13, 2007 5:56PM The Patriots' resiliency will be tested if the NFL forces coach Bill Belichick to leave the sideline for the next few weeks. AP By Don Banks and Peter King, SI.com One of the disciplinary options that the NFL is considering against Patriots head coach Bill Belichick for New England's illegal videotaping of New York Jets defensive coaches on Sunday includes both the stripping of a first-day 2008 draft pick from the Patriots -- perhaps a first rounder -- and a suspension of either two or three games for Belichick, SI.com has learned. NFL sources said league commissioner Roger Goodell has not yet decided Belichick's punishment, and that there are still several options, varying in severity, under consideration. Goodell is still expected to announce his decision on Friday, sources said. One disciplinary option ruled out by Goodell is the forfeiture of the Patriots' 38-14 win over the Jets on Sunday at Giants Stadium, a source said. An NFL-assigned security official stopped Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella during the first half of the game and confiscated the camera he allegedly used to film the signals of the Jets defensive coaches. According to a source, the league will definitely take a first-day draft pick away from the Patriots, perhaps a first-round selection, the most valuable annual commodity any team owns in terms of replenishing its roster. In addition, Goodell is seriously considering a multiple-game suspension for Belichick, which would bar him from attending New England's games or practices, and force him to stay way from the Patriots' team complex in Foxboro, Mass., for the duration of the suspension. In addition, Belichick would forfeit any paychecks he was due while the suspension was in effect. The NFL is said to be trying to balance out the punishment equitably between the Patriots as an organization and Belichick personally. The league's rationale behind not just stripping New England of multiple draft picks and foregoing a suspension is the recognition that Belichick could leave the organization at some point in the near future, and thus not suffer the full consequences of the penalty as much as the franchise and the next Patriots coach would. By suspending Belichick, the NFL would ensure that he pays a heavy toll as well for the finding that he oversaw the illegal filming of opposing coaches' signals. Any suspension that Belichick would receive would likely not begin immediately, and thus wouldn't jeopardize his presence at the Patriots' game Sunday night against visiting San Diego -- a rematch of New England's AFC divisional round upset of the Chargers in January. The Patriots next week will be preparing for a Week 3 visit from Buffalo. New England plays at Cincinnati in Week 4, and home against Cleveland in Week 5. In his first year on the job as commissioner, Goodell has built a reputation for meting out stiff disciplinary measures, and for his oft-stated sensitivity toward anything that challenges the integrity of the game and the league. The Patriots' history in matters dealing with video-taped subterfuge for purposes of gaining a competitive edge likely will increase the severity of any potential punishment handed down by Goodell. New England last year was reportedly the impetus of a sternly written memo from the league office to all teams, reminding them that it was illegal for any club official to bring a video recording device into the press box, video box, or onto the field for the purposes of taping an opponent's signals or play-calling gestures from the sideline. In addition, Green Bay officials have said that before a Packers-Patriots game last November at Lambeau Field, they removed Estrella from the sideline after he was seen carrying a video camera and shooting footage of the Packers defensive coaches. The Packers, however, did not confiscate the camera.
