cheating brings a clever sanction

for the patriots and bill belichick: he's been fined $500,000 and the team $250,000. but here's the part i like: the team loses a first round draft pick next year [assuming they make the playoffs, which they invariably will. if not, they lose a second- and third- round guy. this is a quite clever way to punish a team for any advantage they received.]

It was the biggest fine ever for a coach and the first time in NFL history a first-round draft pick has been confiscated as a penalty.

more here.