Goodell's Spygate "punishment" a joke

First of all, way to go 49ers. Way to finish 5-11 knowing that your first round draft pick belongs to, who else, the Patriots. When that draft pick was crappy offensive tackle Joe Staley, not even Defensive Rookie of the Year Patrick Willis. Second of all, way to make an example, Roger Goodell. Goodell's "punishment" for the Patriots years and years of blatant cheating was the Patriots losing their first-round pick "if they reached the postseason". That is laughable. What's more laughable is that Goodell figured it would sound harsh but knew all along New England would get a higher pick because of San Francisco's ineptitude as an organization. Docking less than a million dollars from one of the league's richest owners was merely a slap on the wrist.

The 15-plus screen passes the Patriots called against the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX, the Patriots' third* title in four years, should've sent up a red flag. Then again, no one seems to flag the Patriots. Least of all Goodell.

So while the new, stern commissioner is busy setting up ridiculous regular-season games in London and suspending players for going to too many strip clubs, the Patriots are continuing to ruin the integrity of the game. Maybe South Park put it best. In a recent episode chronicling Bill Beli-cheat, Cartman explains to a group of students, "If you cheat and win, you're a success... and when caught redhanded, say what all middle-aged white male cheaters say: 'I misinterpreted the rules'".

Belichick didn't misinterpret anything, except maybe Goodell. Even he couldn't have thought the commish would be so easy on him. Heck, Goodell even did the coach a favor by destroying all of the evidence.

Pete Rozelle must be spinning in his grave.