Easterbrook does a great job explaining the history and problems with the story from the beginning. The NFL, and Roger Goodell have put themselves into a huge hole that threatens to shake the foundation of the league. The team of the decade has had its reputation tarnished, and its commission stands accused of hiding the evidence of further cheating.

What the Patriots did probably isn’t unique, even if we haven’t seen the full scope yet. Stealing signals is common. We’ve all heard stories of teams spying on one another prior to big games, or a coaches paranoia in trying to prevent it. I can’t fully explain the extent to which this is growing. A large part of it may just be the day and age we live in. A lot of it stems from the obvious fact that the Pats have been so wildly successful. It’s a combination of factors. The Patriots may be the biggest cheaters in the league, but they aren’t alone. There’s some truth in the inane ramblings of the kool-aid drinking Pats homers. Yet, none of that will save the Pats if there is video evidence of their cheating.

Goodell has been made to look like a fool at best, a conniving scoundrel at worst. ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio is already reporting that if there is actual video evidence of Pats taping the Rams walkthrough in 2002 that Belichick will be banished from the game for a year. I think the Pats are in store for some more league punishment if Walsh has anything of substance to provide. Goodell may have been prepared to hide the Pats cheating at one point, but now this has become personal for him. His reputation is at stake as well as that of the league. This is no longer the ramblings of a rare conspiracy theorist on an internet message board. His legacy could be irreversibly tarnished after this, and he’s not going to let Belichick go quietly.

I would argue that Goodell deserves this for his poor ethics and crummy decision making. The NFL apparently did a poor job investigating this whole issue. Did they not realize that a guy like Walsh was out there, and this story could very well grow new legs down the road? They dropped the ball here, and they are going to pay big time. Goodell rushed to destroy the evidence of what the Pats were doing to bury the story without considering the long-term implications. In the end, it was the cover-up that did them all in. It isn’t the first time we’ve seen this.

For the Patriots, we could be seeing the destruction of the dynasty just as it is about to win its crowning achievement. Belichick goes into this game with the hangman’s noose tightening around his neck. Patriots fans are struggling to deal with this criticism on the eve of a 19-0 season. What should have been the ultimate experience for a franchise and a fan base is becoming a nightmare. People have spent a season joking about that asterisk, but it is becoming very real.

As a fan of the game as well as the Steelers, I’m conflicted. I saw the Steelers drop two AFCC games to this team at home. Fans have already hashed over the implications in each game. It’s hard to get into the what-ifs involved here. No one can ever say for sure what extent this all played in these games, but it will leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouth.

I will forever regret the Steelers not being able to take down this Patriots team, if it comes to that. To know that they could lose Belichick for a year (I know, I may be jumping the gun here) leaves me conflicted. The Patriots will have left an entire era of the game up for debate. No team will have gotten to take them down. The Colts were able to inflict some semblance of revenge on the Pats last season, but the Steelers have yet to get that opportunity.

The Patriots cheating will leave everyone with some regrets. An entire chapter in league history will close, and there will be nothing but debate when it comes up. Even if they somehow come out unscathed, their legacy will have been forever tarnished. That’s tragic in my book. None of this may have even been necessary for the Pats to win, but we’ll never know. The NFL won’t be the same after this.