The NFL's already screwed the pooch on precedent here with various other teams but they should just give the Pats the $25,000 fine multiplied by however many balls were tampered with and move on.
I will also accept this, since the public outrage resulting from Goodell taking a marginal cheating effort more seriously than blasting one's wife in the face would be solid gold.
I think at worst, they get fined and lose a draft pick
I would wager that these Patriots are not the first team to pull this stunt, however the NFL needs to set an example here and also modify its rules about what happens with game balls, from after the inspection process until when they are used.
