Not Good Enough

New England Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick is getting off too easy. The half a million dollar personal fine, coupled with the franchise being fined a quarter million dollars and the loss of some combination of draft picks, is apparently a near maximum penalty, under the National Football League rules. Belichick has issued two tightly written statements. In the last one he wrote: “I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling.” but then goes on to describe the sideline videotaping as his “mistake”. Publicly he said: “We’re moving on.”

I find it incredible that he thinks it’s sufficient to leave it at that and “move on”. What’s even more incredible is that it seems to be working.

He should have gotten out in front of it all. He should have stood up in front of the cameras and microphones and said: “We videotaped the opposing team’s signals. It was wrong . It was stupid. It was shameful. I got caught up in a win at any cost mentality and I crossed a line - big time. I apologize to the team, the owners and the fans who rejoiced in our victories. Those victories are now unnecessarily called into question and I apologize.” That would have been the right thing to do.

But Belichick has already moved on...