Disclaimer: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick broke an NFL rule and will be duly punished, probably today. I don't condone illegal acts.

OK, there, I said it and I truly believe it.

In case you are wondering, though, the women and children of the household don't have to leave the room, and you don't have to hide the newspaper after reading this column.

While I don't know the facts of the case - can you believe, I called it a case - I don't think I need to. Belichick and the Patriots tried to pull a fast one and got caught. Last week they tried to steal the New York Jets' defensive signals via a video camera, something they've apparently done to several other teams over the last few years.

They will pay a penalty, probably losing a third round pick (my guess), and be fined at least $100,000. They will pay the price, probably steeper than most because of their place among pro football's elite and the fact that few people like Bill Belichick.

Big deal.

I would bet big money - if I had it - that somebody has figured out/stolen the Patriots' defensive signs, too, be it with eyesight, video or ex-players who were cut or traded.

Big deal, again.

One thing working against Belichick and the Patriots is their place in the game. This is a story because they are a dynasty, littered with several Hall of Fame candidates, with arguably the best team in the NFL today.

The fact that Belichick is probably the toughest interview in professional sports, doesn't help his or the Patriots' case. Hundreds of writers and media personalities have been waiting in the grass for a Belichick gaffe.

Rather than the eventual 5-11 season, which is probably about half-dozen years away, they got this.

Did Belichick need to have a video guy to beat the Jets last Sunday?

You saw the game. It's not worth answering. The Jets couldn't have beaten the Patriots with Jets personnel having cameras in the Patriots huddles.

I don't know why Belichick does what he does, but it works for him. Somehow this Patriots franchise gets better in an era when it is absolutely supposed to get worse.

Many fans have been sickened by this recent news. They should not be. Embarrassed? You bet. This is more stupid than anything else. And the Patriots rarely look stupid.

A lot of things take place inside a football locker room that would make most of us squirm, from pain killers to 350-pound men barely able to walk on Mondays.

Heck, ex-Patriot Ted Johnson's story about concussion syndrome is about 100 times worse.

Did I mention human growth hormones or steroids? Do you think only a handful of players in the NFL are doing one or the other, or both?

If you are concerned about what to tell the children, tell them the truth. Belichick did something really stupid and the Patriots are going to have to pay for it. Sometimes, because humans are obsessed with winning, smart people do dumb things.

Also, tell them that there was a more important story in Buffalo yesterday. Bills tight end Kevin Everett is probably going to walk again. He will probably lead a normal life. Now that's great news.

Is this Patriots "videogate" transgression worse than the 49ers circumventing the salary cap during their last Super Bowl season in 1994? Or how about Jason Giambi hitting two homers off Pedro Martinez in the 2003 ALCS, later admitting he was on steroids?

As for the Patriots, they will survive. My guess is that this won't affect them one iota. Other hurdles have appeared, like Terry Glenn going AWOL or Lawyer Milloy being traded five days before the opener or Johnson walking out ... and the Patriots somehow move on.

My guess is they will beat the Chargers on Sunday and win most of them in 2007. Yes, they are that good.

Let's be honest, the Patriots and the NFL are like sausages.

They taste really good on Sunday. That's all we need to know.



Bill Burt is executive sports editor of Eagle-Tribune Publishing. You can e-mail him at bburt@eagletribune.com.