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5 Ways the NFL Could Punish New England Patriots for DeflateGate

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By @JosephMCrevier

5 Ways the NFL Could Punish New England Patriots for DeflateGate

New England Patriots
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The New England Patriots, again, brought shame down upon a league already struggling with image issues. Domestic abuse, child abuse and blatant cheating have plagued the league this season, overshadowing the truly great display of football put together. This shameful "DeflateGate" will undoubtedly result in harsh penalties, especially considering this organization has been punished in the past for cheating.

5. Suspend Tom Brady

AFC Championship - Indianapolis Colts v New England Patriots
Al Bello-Getty Images

5. Suspend Tom Brady

New England Patriots
Al Bello-Getty Images

Somehow, the public has seized to dish out blame to the golden boy, Tom Brady. Being the quarterback and face of this iconic franchise, Brady clearly had knowledge of the deflated footballs primarily because he handles it on nearly every single play. If Brady had the integrity as fans believed he did, Brady should have put a stop to this cheating before the game even began. A minor suspension is definitely not out of the question.

4. Heavily Fine Bill Belichick

New England Patriots
Jim Rogash-Getty Images

4. Heavily Fine Bill Belichick

New England Patriots
Jim Rogash-Getty Images

Head coach Bill Belichick has been subject to the majority of the blame, and rightfully so. He always seems to be the mastermind behind the operations, so there is simply no possible way he did not conduct such acts. Expect a major fine to be dished out by the league to Belichick, starting at a minimum of $500,000 or the amount he was fined for SpyGate in 2007.

3. Fine The Organization

New England Patriots
Christian Petersen-Getty Images

3. Fine The Organization

New England Patriots
Christian Petersen-Getty Images

Nobody is accusing owner Robert Kraft of having involvement in DeflateGate, but it is highly unlikely he dodges a hefty fine. The league is most certainly obligated to fine the Patriots organization, a notion that will surely not go over lightly with Kraft. New England was notably fined $250,000 for SpyGate.

2. Revoke The Team's First-Round Draft Pick

New England Patriots
Elsa-Getty Images

2. Revoke The Team's First-Round Draft Pick

New England Patriots
Elsa-Getty Images

Deflated footballs did not impede the result of Sunday's game. If it had been a close game, though, this unfair advantage could have cost Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts an opportunity to compete in the Super Bowl. Therefore, the harshest of punishments must be handed out and revoking the team's first-round draft choice seems like the most realistic consequence.

1. Give Belichick the Sean Payton Treatment

New England Patriots
Elsa-Getty Images

1. Give Belichick the Sean Payton Treatment

New England Patriots
Elsa-Getty Images

Where does Roger Goodell draw the line with Belichick? One instance of hindering the integrity of the game is unforgivable in itself, but two? Goodell has no other choice but to suspend Belichick for the entire 2015-16 season as the Sean Payton suspension set a precedent for all severe cases. A lengthy suspension may finally drill the point into Belichick's stubborn brain that cheating will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

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