Belichick Should Not Be in the NFL Hall Of Fame

In September 2007, Bill Belichick - head coach of the NFL New England Patriots, was found guilty of videotaping signal of opposing teams, a practice which he admitted to being engaged in since becoming the head coach of the Patriots in 2000. Belichick issued a statement in which he apologized for what he called a "mistake" in his interpretation of the rules. The rule, shown on page 105 of the 2007 NFL Game Operations Manual clearly states, "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game". Although only 8 videotapes were released and later destroyed by the NFL front office, it is rumored that this was a common practice during the regular season games from 2000-2007, which also included playoff and even Super Bowl games.

Belichick was fined $500,000, the most an NFL coach has ever been fined in the leagues 87-year history. The NFL has since downplayed the incident and has blitzed the media even using the word "genius" to describe his successful head coaching tenure with Patriots. Prior to the New England Patriots head-coaching position, Belichick was the head coach of the NFL’s Cleveland Browns for 5 seasons and compiled a record of 36 wins and 44 loses, making the playoffs in only one season.

In 1951, Alex Groza was banned for life from the NBA for point shaving.
In 1989, Pete Rose was banned for life from MLB for gambling.
In 1993, Ben Johnson was banned for life from the (IAAF) International Association of Athletics Federations for doping.
In 1994. Tonya Harding was banned for life from the USFSA for her knowledge in the Nancy Kerrigan attack.
In 2006, Shane Hmiel was banned for life from NASCAR for failing drug tests.
In 2006, Umakant Sharma was banned for 10 years from the World Chess Federation for using a bluetooth device & a computer chess program.

I haven’t mentioned Barry Bonds because he has yet to admit to his use of steroids but we all know what his situation has done to MLB; it’s prompted a nationwide outcry for asterisks on all of his records and even his homerun record 756th ball will be in the MLB Hall of Fame (with an asterisk stitched into it). The MLB Commish announced that, once the Giants slugger retires, his name in the official MLB record books will be forever accompanied by an asterisk. According to The Commish, the asterisk "will always be associated with Barry Bonds."

What makes Bill Belichick so special that he can cheat and not suffer the same consequences as these other professional sports athletes? What message does this send to the up & comers of the sport?

Now maybe the NFL doesn’t want to open that can of worms while he is still involved in the game but he certainly should not be rewarded with an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.