NFL Picks of the Week: Week 2 - Cameragate

As a fan of the New York Jets, I cannot be happier at the accusations of cheating surround the New England Patriots. With most of the media fawning all over New England these past few seasons, not to count the numerous Super Bowls and the calls of Dynasty, any little bit of negativity surrounding the Patriots helps.

The league is currently investigating New England for cameragate, but thanks to the power of the Internet, rumors of numerous past infractions are sprouting by the second. Their defensive leader, Rodney Harrison has already been suspended by the league for four games due toHGH use. The Packers have previously reported New England for attempting to steal signals. There are also reports that New England had an irregular radio communication's setup at past Sunday's game as well, and there is speculation that New England may have purposefully blocked the opposing teams radio communication to the quarterback in the past. The laundry list just keeps growing.

Now if we try to look at this a bit objectively, the rumors mean next to nothing. The league can only act on what has been reported and what has been proved. The only instances that have been reported are this Sunday'scameragate incident and a previous one last season against Green Bay. I believe the league is also looking into the irregular radio setup for last week as well.

Punishment-wise, you can immediately disregard changing anything in the past. New England is not getting an asterisk next to their Super Bowl wins and last Sunday's games is not getting overturned. Those games were played and if there was any cheating, it needed to be discovered prior to the games, not afterward.

The likely punishment will be some combination of lost draft picks and a fine. The real question will be which draft picks and how much of a fine.

The Patriot's owner, Robert Kraft, is very close to the commissioner and if the penalty is too light that will send the message that the commissioner plays favorites. This would be especially true after the severity of penalties that was handed out this past season to players for all types of offenses and even to a coach for taking a legal, doctor prescribed drug that was banned by the league.

For the punishment to fit the crime, the Patriot's must lose at least a first day draft pick and a seven figure fine. There is talk of suspending BillBelichick , but that won't happen because this attempt at cheating was not orchestrated by just him alone. Approval must have come from someone in the front office to assign the employee to record the signals. Punishing one coach does not fit the crime.

By the way, you gotta love this non-statement, statement made by Bill Belichick over cameragate:

Earlier this week, I spoke with Commissioner Goodell about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my interpretation of the rules. At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling. Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment.

Tell us what you really mean...

Cheerleader of the Week

In honor of the Patriots and cameragate, I felt it fitting to throw them a bit of a bone and name Alysha Castonguay cheerleader of the week.

Alysha, age 20, is from Woonsocket, RI and has been a veteran of the Patriot's cheerleaders for two years and cheerleading in general for eleven. She attends the University of Rhode Island and dreams of being a Victoria's Secret Angel. Guys, she's currently single and her favorite food is Lasagna with Strawberry Cheesecake for dessert (hint hint).

Find out more about Alysha at her bio on patriots.com.

Houston (+6½) over CAROLINA

Matt Schaub comes out of his shell. Jake Delhomme goes back in his.

JACKSONVILLE over Atlanta (+10½)

Atlanta is ten point underdog bad. Jacksonville is not ten point favorite good. Was Maurice Jones-Drew a one year flash in the pan?

Indianapolis (-7½) over TENNESSEE

This is exactly the type of game that the loss of Pacman Jones for the season due to suspension will hurt. With him in the secondary there is the chance of picking off Manning once or twice and getting the upset. Without, Tennessee's defense will be picked apart with precision. The only variable will be whether Indianapolis's defensive intensity was a one game affair or can they carry it throughout the season.

ST. LOUIS (-3½) over San Francisco

Frank Gore vs. Steven Jackson.

NEW YORK GIANTS (+3½) over Green Bay

This game will not hinge on how many yards or touchdowns that Manning the lesser will throw, but how many interceptions and incompletions that he doesn't. He can not try to out gun Favre. With all things being equal, he probably could at this point in their careers. But all things are not equal and Eli has to face a pretty damn solid Green Bay defense, while Favre gets to face a Giant's defense that made Tony Romo look like Peyton Manning.

PITTSBURGH (-9½) over Buffalo

Big Ben is back. Santonio Holmes is looking like a stud. Many of the experts consider the AFC elite to be a trinity between San Diego, New England and Indianapolis. I think Pittsburgh will be joining or replacing one of those teams very soon.

CLEVELAND (+6½) over Cincinnati

If Cleveland plans to start Brady Quinn sometime before their bye week, this would be the week to do so. He may not be fully prepared, but Cincinnati is the weakest defense by far that they'll face in the next few weeks. If they want to get him some experience before facing tougher competition, they should give him an abridged version of the offense and see what he can do.

New Orleans (-3½) over TAMPA BAY

Look for New Orleans' offense to strike back after embarrassing themselves last week in front of a national television audience. I almost feel sorry for Tampa Bay, as their once dominant defense will have zero answers to contain Reggie Bush, DrewBrees and company.

Minnesota (+3½) over DETROIT

I still love Minnesota's defense. I still love their running game. I may even slightly like their passing game against Detroit's complete lack of a secondary. But don't expect anything too crazy, BradChildress will still protect Jackson and won't let him get over confident.

Dallas (-3½) over MIAMI

I guess Tony Romo got over that holding snafu from the playoffs. I don't think Miami's aging defense is all that much better than the Giants at this point, but I doubt he'll put up those numbers again.

Seattle (-2½) over ARIZONA

I like the idea of Arizona throwing for a ton of yards against Seattle's depleted secondary. I like the idea of Arizona doing little else of significance.

New York Jets (+7½) over BALTIMORE

Upset of the Week

Let's see how the Jets defense can stack up against an offense not stealing its signals. An offense that fumbled thrice and was intercepted twice last week. I have a feeling the difference will be light and day.

CHICAGO over Kansas City (+12½)

Rex Grossman will be Rex Grossman, but Damon Huard's not all that much better. At least Grossman faces the gift of Kansas City's defense rather than facing the gauntlet of his own.

DENVER (-9½) over Oakland

Lock of the Week

I still worry about Jay Cutler, but he'll always have a solid running game to fall back on. Denver will also enjoy the best home field advantage in the league as they trounce Oakland. I wonder if the calls for recently signedJamarcus Russell will start this week...

San Diego (+3½) over NEW ENGLAND

Game of the Week

San Diego - 20 over New England - 17

Can New England beet a good team without cheating? C'mon, you must have known that was coming... ;-)

PHILADELPHIA (-6½) over Washington

Philadelphia - 24 over Washington - 10

Philadelphia has already cut JR Reed, the lead culprit from last week's punt fumbling jamboree. While it is always important to have strong special teams, the real reason for last week's loss was a complete lack of offense. Look for DonovanMcNabb to put some points on the board this week against a questionable Redskins' defense.

Hi-Lo Picks of the Week

• HI: New Orleans
• LO: Baltimore

A Blast from the Past

• Straight Up: 7-9 last week, 7-9 for the season
• Vs. Spread: 6-10 last week, 91-79-6 for the season
• Game of the Week: 0-1
• Lock of the Week: 0-1
• Upset of the Week 0-1
• Hi-Lo: 38 out of 42 possible points last week, 38 out of 42 possible points for the season

NFL Pick'Em Challenge

1. richardlfarmer - 13
2. Mydree's NFL Picks - 12
3. vicaxp - 12
4. Appsters - 11
5. Eyes - 10
6. Black & Blue - 10
7. Billspicks - 9
8. Adam - 7

Think you can pick better? Join me and your fellow newsviners in an NFL Pick'Em Challenge and put your money picks where your mouth is.

You can join the group here, and then just enter in the Group ID of "63694" and the password of "sweetfennel".

The Ground Rules

Home team in CAPS, spread in ( paren ). If the spread is listed after the victor, then they will cover. If the spread is listed after the loser, then it will not be covered.

Spreads are taken from ESPN.com. I don't do lines.

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