Raptor, just to clarify:

The Pats were caught cheating in week one against the Jets...within the first 10 minutes of the game. The video taping had NOTHING to do with their record/performance this season. They clearly deserved to be in SB-XLII.

Breaking the rules is breaking the rules. The punishment needs to be based on those rules:
* If an O-lineman is caught holding, the team loses 10 yards and then THE GAME CONTINUES.
* If a player is caught using performance enhancing drugs, he is suspended for four games, and then HIS CAREER CONTINUES
* The Pats were caught videotaping, so they lost their 1st Round draft pick, the team was fined $250,000 and Belichick was fined $500,000...the stiffest penalty EVER doled out in the NFL. And then you know what happened? THEIR SEASON CONTINUED.

As an unabashed Pats fan, I was sickened by the videotaping scandal (as I was with Rodney Harrison's use of HGH). And if more details come to light regarding Spygate from the latest allegations, I'll back the league 100% with whatever they hand out.

But the punishment for any violation must be determined by the governing body and within the standards of the league. So unless the league starts banning players for the rest of the season for breaking the rules, they can't exclude an undefeated team from the playoffs.

Frankly, to continue to try to diminish the Pats' accomplishment this year based on something that had no bearing on the results of the season is ridiculous.

Peter