I disagree with the sentence handed down from the NFL. They should have done more with less.

Recall that this incident occurred during a playoff game. A single elimination playoff game. One-game-and-your-out playoff game. The Pats were trying to gain an advantage at the most important time of the season - the playoffs.

So why didn't the punishment be imposed during the playoffs!? Imposing it during the regular season makes no sense. Tom should have been suspended for the next two Pat's playoffs games. If they fail to make the playoffs next year, take away a first round draft choice. And drop one game. The sentence would carry over to the next year so that he would be suspended their next playoff game. If they again failed to make the playoffs, take away another first round draft choice. Once that's done, the punishment is over.

My basic point is that cheating during the playoffs should be penalized during the playoffs, NOT during the regular season. In some respects, the proposed punishment could be an INCENTIVE to cheat during the playoffs, particularly if the punishment is served during the regular season, against potentially weak teams, and could become relatively meaningless.

I find it supremely ironic that if the four game suspension is upheld, Tom's first game back will be against....... the Colts.