Jordan Larimore: Roger Goodell finally went ahead and replaced the replacements with the real deal. Football is back to the game we know and love. But it’s too little too late for Patriots’ Head Coach Bill Belichick, who will soon have to pony up $50,000 just for trying to get an explanation on a blown call from the new guys. Ludicrous.

Nathan Mills: Here’s the deal, dude. “Trying to get an explanation” is one thing, but you never ever ever ever ever put your hands on an official. That rule isn’t just in the NFL. It’s everywhere. You touch an umpire in baseball, and you’re tossed and suspended another game or two. Belichick should have known better, but since he’s apparently an idiot who thinks he’s above the rules, he should be penalized in a harsh enough fashion to let him know that the rules apply to him too. He isn’t special.

‘More: And $50,000 isn’t enough to send that message? I know it’s chump change to these guys, but when was the last time a fine like that was handed down? If you watch the footage, the ref was basically running off the field. Literally running into the tunnel to get away. Shouting obviously wasn’t going to work, and it’s not like Belichick disrespected him; he was trying to get his attention. Give him a slap on the wrist, if you have to. That is the rule and he broke it, but $50,000? No way that’s justified.  

Mills: You said it yourself: that kind of money is chump change to these guys. Sure, that kind of money would be an insurmountable total for us regular folks, but Belichick is one of the highest paid coaches in professional sports. Call me crazy (or is it maybe?), but I’m sure he won’t be hurting for money after losing that little bit.

‘More: That’s not the point. No fine ever given to a professional athlete or coach has ever broken him or her. Because that’s not the reason they give fines. If the intent is to make a dent in their pocketbooks, we’d see millions in fines. It’s all relative, but not to how much money the fine-ee makes. It’s relative to the precedence of fines before. A $50,000 fine just doesn’t happen for on-field behavior and this shouldn’t have been the first.    

Mills: First of all, $50,000 fines do happen for on-field behavior. Just ask James Harrison. As for the precedence with previous fines, maybe we should ask ol’ Belichick about the $500,000 fine he had to pay for being a cheater. Come on, dude. It apparently takes a lot of money to get this guy to learn his lesson, which is what the fines are intended to do.

‘More: You’re really going to compare a linebacker maliciously attempting to remove a quarterback’s head from his shoulders or a team taping another’s practices to Belichick’s proverbial tap on the shoulder? There’s no way this fine is justified; that’s the bottom line. I go back to respect. You mentioned other leagues and their rules for official interaction. How many times did we see Lou Piniella spit, cuss and kick dirt on an umpire? How many times did he get fined $50,000? Maybe I’m crazy, but I’d much prefer a coach try to get my attention by grabbing my shoulder than giving aggressive eskimo kisses. 

Mills: My answer to your Piniella comparison is just this: inflation. But seriously, if you put your hands on a cop in anger, you go to jail. If I put my hands on Bruce Speck out of anger, what do you think would happen? My guess is I wouldn’t be here anymore. Stop it.