It's just business for the Pats

"Commissioner Roger Goodell took away a first-rounder, so the Patriots will take away your firstborn."--JOHN CLAYTON, ESPN

If you are not a Patriots fan, put your opinion aside for a second.

The Tuesday class immediately following Week 1 NFL games, we were asked if the entire "spygate" scandal would effect the Patriots organization. I was among less than a handful of others who did not raise our hands, and I warned that coining the Patriots cheaters was the worst thing that any body could ever do.

I just want to say that I wish I raised my hand with the rest of class, this spy gate scandal is going to be one of the greatest things that ever happened to the organization.I knew what the repercussions would be, I just did not realize how obvious Billy B. was going to make them and why he had to do so.

Forget the personnel that the team acquired in the offseason. I repeat, the worst thing that you could do was call the Patriots cheaters. To accuse an organization over an individual as cheaters puts a huge chip on a shoulder. That is what will drive this team in the end to winning as many games as it is in their capacity to. As long as any player for the team is on the field, they will fighton every play to force a punt or turnover on defense and to put points on the board on offense.

Why no mercy from Bill?

It's Business.

He's half a mill and a first round pick short next year, plus the Pats themselves got fined $250 k. How is he going to make it up to the organization? He's going to show how easy it is to put together a devastating team. He has to. The success of the season will bring in endorsements for years to come based alone on the performance---both for the organization and individuals.

Losing a first round pick? Forget it, the smarter free agents this year will realize what type of opportunity it is to play under this guy for just a couple years. You hear Moss talking about the team now, he turned around Corey Dillon, guys take pay cuts to play for him. Some opted out after their superbowls and moved onto bigger contracts where they achieved less on the individual level.

Bill used to show mercy, I've watched him since he became the head coach in 2000. He could have ran up the score on several other games. It's understandable if you hate a team because they succeed. Has anyone cried to strip any MLB teams of their world series titles because of steroid use? Maybe the pitchers and losing teams.

To start saying that they don't deserve any of their three titles because of a taping that was allegedly a frequent practice through the league is just bad.

Nobody wants to play for the "cheating team", its bad for the brand image that the team gives off. If the Patriots kept this image, who the hell would want to play for them next year? Whether or not they actually cheated, who would want to play for a team that is merely thought of as cheaters?

Call it rebuilding a brand, a brand that was so strong a year ago that people used to refer to this team as a "class act group of professionals." Listen to Tom Brady after Washington, saying that there is "still a lot of room for improvement..." Moss using "we" and "us" instead of "me" and "I". They are still that class act team, but now their public image damaged.

Bill will make up the financial loss to Robert Kraft. As far as the players, think of it as recruitment. Hey, nobody really ever bitches about college football teams running up the score in games---there's reasoning, the school is trying to make a name for itself as well as boost itself in the BCS standings (which brings in more $ and recruiting power).

The Patriots organization is making a statement, not to prove to everybody that they do not "cheat", but that they are who they are--the leading business franchise in the NFL***with a salary cap in place*** Last time I checked, the best Wall Street firms don't throw in "fourth string" traders because the other guys already cashed out enough money and the guy at the other company needs to make a few bucks at the end of the day. The Patriots have money to make back and a brand to that they must quickly rebuild before it is lost.

This is the professional world, there's no mercy for the competition when it comes to profit--it's just business.