MMQB Mail: Patriots cheated in the truest sense of the word and more

Like it or not, the Patriots are likely going to have to live with people casting the cheating label upon their recent dynasty. Damian Strohmeyer/SI Peter King's Mailbag Peter King will answer your questions each week in Monday Morning Quarterback: Tuesday Edition. Name: Email: Hometown: Question: SEND

I've been in Manhattan all day, following the Matt Walsh-Roger Goodell circus, so this column will serve as the top to my weekly mailbag.

Now onto your questions.

• STOP CALLING THE PATRIOTS "CHEATERS.'' From Mark Jantzen, of Boston: "The Patriots clearly violated a league rule and were punished for it. But the continued use of the term 'cheat' is something I simply don't get. Does that mean an offensive lineman who is flagged for holding cheated?''

There's more.

• STOP CALLING THE PATRIOTS "CHEATERS'' II. From Rich, of Memphis: "Why do you continue the fraud of labeling the illegal taping by the Patriots as 'cheating' when you or the rest of the media never use that term to refer to salary-cap violations, early contact of free agents or other rule infractions? Seems like a term that is both hyperbolic and unnecessary, used in a rather lazy manner to provoke. I thought that perhaps someone of your experience would see through the charade.''

I got a dozen or so similar emails, and they stun me. The Patriots violated a clearly written statute in the NFL policy manual, apparently consistently (if not weekly) over a seven-year period. And after the policy was re-emphasized in a crystal-clear, well-publicized memo from the league to all teams in September 2006, the Patriots continued to videotape opposing teams' coaching signals. They were caught. If that isn't cheating, what is? Bill Belichick was given the harshest sanction ever given to a coach in the history of the NFL. What exactly should I call it?

Now, as for all the other "everybody does it'' rules violations: When teams get caught cheating and are sanctioned by the league for said violations, we in the media will report that. I have no problem with calling teams found guilty of competitive offenses cheaters. Yes, an offensive lineman who gets called for holding cheated, in the literal sense of the word. He got caught and penalized 15 yards. Yes, we in the media have called other league infractions "cheating.'' When the 49ers were docked a draft choice for illegal contact with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs, columnist Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote a column headlined: "If you're going to cheat, do it right.''

Do other teams cheat? Yes. But it's like pass-interference in the NFL. It's only cheating if you're caught, or if you're flagged. Maybe you think that's fair, and maybe you think it isn't. But that's the way the world works.

The inference of your letter is that we in the media are picking on the Patriots, which is something I've heard a lot; believe me, I've been attacked quite a bit about it. I don't see it that way, but I understand from Patriots supporters that they want this whole episode to be over. In my opinion, it was never going to be over until Matt Walsh came clean with what he knew, or at least what he alleged. And who knows? It may not be over now. I've never believed Belichick's explanation that he "misinterpreted'' a rule that the rest of the league seemed to know.

• THERE'S NOT MUCH THE NFL CAN DO -- NOW. From Fraser Moore, of Montreal: "Peter, I would like to know your thoughts on rookie salaries. It makes zero sense that Jake Long is the highest paid offensive lineman in the league without playing a down. What really worries me is that every time someone mentions a rookie salary cap, the players union is opposed. If there is a salary cap then veteran players should be uniformly in favor of a rookie salary scale, because otherwise one hotshot rookie can take up a big chunk of a team's cap. Do you think the opposition to a rookie salary scale is a sign that the union and the players are going to fight hard to eliminate the cap during the next CBA negotiations? If there is no cap then there is much less incentive to current players to want a rookie salary scale.''

Good points, Fraser. I did a little research to buttress your argument. On April 23, Jake Long signed a contract with the Dolphins that guarantees him $30 million no matter how much or how little he plays. In the five seasons from 2004 to 2008, the Patriots paid Matt Light $18.9 million in salary and bonuses to be an above-average to Pro Bowl-level left tackle. You'd think the Dolphins would be happy with Long if he produced at the same level as Light. Of all the things this league needs to do in the next collective bargaining negotiations -- when the owners, presumably, opt out of the current labor deal in November -- the imposition of a rookie wage scale has to be on the top five of the priority list.

• YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU CAN DELIVER IN TODAY'S NFL. From Kenny H., of Springfield, Mo.: "You neglected the juiciest part of the Torry Holt story that you quoted on Monday! Holt is ticked because the Rams put Isaac Bruce out to pasture after breaking the bank for the incomparable Drew Bennett. How do you rate Bruce's Hall of Fame credentials? He was second best in the NFL (to Jerry Rice) at one time, and then took a step back so that he and Holt could help the Rams reach the top. Ask Marshall Faulk and Torry if he's a Hall of Famer.''

Bruce is one of a group of current-era receivers -- Cris Carter, Tim Brown, Marvin Harrison, Torry Holt, Andre Reed and, to some degree, Jimmy Smith -- who played in pass-happy offenses, built tremendous résumés and will stand on the doorstep of Canton with cases for immortality. I'm not sure how I'll rank them, though I am on record as being pro-Carter because he was not only a great producer but also had great hands and was the best sideline catcher I've ever seen. As far as asking Faulk and Holt ... In my years as a Hall voter, I've never asked a player if a teammate belongs in the Hall and heard him say no.

• MIAMI WASN'T TRADING JASON TAYLOR FOR A TWO. From Scott, of Springfield, Pa.: "I was hoping you could shed some light on a part of the draft that just doesn't make sense. Why are teams unwilling to trade their first-round or even second-round picks for proven talent? Case in point: Jacksonville probably could have gotten Jason Taylor for a second-round pick and surely for a first-round pick. Instead of taking this approach for winning now, they trade up and select Derrick Harvey then get Quentin Groves in the second round. Instead of those two players they could have had Taylor and their choice of any of the receivers at their spot in the first round, or traded down and still gotten one of those wide receivers."

Whoa, Scott. Bill Parcells was not trading Taylor for a low second-round pick; I doubt he was trading Taylor for the 26th pick in the draft, which Jacksonville held before trading it for Harvey. Plus, Jacksonville did not want solely a short-timer like Taylor. Harvey fills their need for a young pass-rusher Jack Del Rio has never had with the Jags. Your larger point is a good one. I'd like to see teams trade for veteran solutions using high draft choices, the way the Saints tried to with the Giants for Jeremy Shockey.

• DID YOU WATCH ALEXANDER THE PAST TWO YEARS? From Joel, of Delaware, Ohio: "I saw last week that the Bengals were taking a look at Shaun Alexander but have since backed away from him. After Rudi Johnson, the Bengals have Chris Perry, Kenny Watson and DeDe Dorsey, not necessarily backs that will scare many defensive coordinators. My question is this: What gives with everyone backing away from Alexander, a guy who two seasons ago rushed for 1,880 yards and had 28 TD's (27 rushing). Could he have gotten that bad in two years?"

It sure looks like it. Alexander had a great line blocking for him in Seattle, and he fell apart due to the combination of the loss of Steve Hutchinson at guard and a spate of injuries. I think Alexander is worth taking a shot with, but only if he's willing to accept a heavily incentivize-laden contract. I'd rather see Perry with a solid chance -- if he's truly healthy -- than Alexander. The Bengals reached to make Perry a first-round pick four years ago, but they've never gotten to see what he can do.

• WHITHER KOREN ROBINSON? From Michael Stadtmueller, of Fort Collins, Colo.: "The Dolphins need a receiver to go over the middle, someone to keep the safeties honest for Ted Ginn. Is Koren Robinson our man?''

If Robinson still had great speed, Green Bay woudn't have cut him in May. I suppose he's worth a training-camp roster spot, but I wouldn't be pinning much hope on him.

• WHITHER THE BILLS? From Bill Beldham, of Cambridge, Ontario: "Peter. long-time fan, always loved the column. I have noticed over the years that you have a wee soft spot for the Buffalo Bills. I am a Canadian long-time season Bills ticket holder. I can see the Buffalo and the Canadian perspective of the Bills' Toronto games. Personally, I don't like it, BUT understand that there is too much money for the Bills to ignore. In your opinion will this be a long term Green Bay/Milwaukee scenario or are the Bills slowly heading north?

Great question, Bill, and thanks for the kind words. I raised the specter a long time ago of a Green Bay-Milwaukee combo franchise for the Bills, because I think it makes the most sense if the Bill wants to retain a foothold in western New York. It's hard for me to imagine the Bills staying full-time in Buffalo whenever Ralph Wilson or his heirs cede ownership. Would the fans in either city accept and support a franchise playing four regular-season home games, for instance, in each place annually? I think that would be the toughest thing about a shared franchise.

• THANK YOU, STEVE. From Steve Hutsal, of Brooklyn: "Your 'splainin' for gas prices: New Jersey has one of the lowest gas taxes in the country. Combine that with the four in-state refineries as well as the Port in Newark and you have the state with the lowest gas prices in the country. California gas prices are higher due to a much higher gas tax and a lack of refineries. The gas must be shipped over a longer distance and is then taxed much more heavily. Be thankful you fill up in N.J."

This is a full-service column, just like my gas stations in Montclair, N.J. Thanks a lot.

• YOU JUST GAVE ME A GREAT IDEA, DAN. From Dan, of Morrisville, N.C.: "Will you conclude your commencement speech with 10 Things You Think You Think?''

I always say I have the best readers in 'netdom. You even help me write my Ohio University commencement speech. Next week, how about a few ideas for advice for 21-year-olds going out into this cold, cruel world right now? I'm open to all ideas. Send some of them along.