As of today, the NFL has determined that the New England Patriots did in fact cheat on Sunday, illegally videotaping the defensive signals being sent into the huddle.

The New England Patriots will provide their defense (not videotaped) via the phone before the end of business on Friday.

It will be very interesting to see how they defend themselves on this issue, as well as explaining why they were using more radio frequencies than allowed.

Let’s put aside the conversation swirling around the radio talk shows about if they cheated when they won championships. Or whether or not this will taint Coach Bill Belichick’s hall of fame credentials.

Let’s instead focus on the immediate punishment that will be handed down to Mr. Bill (Play-doh bobblehead due out soon?) and his Hollywood production staff.

There has been talk of them losing draft picks next year as a consequence. Possibly a #2 and #5 (if more severe), or a #7 (if less). Something significant but not the #1 pick.

My question to the commissioner is this: If it is proven that they cheated, why don’t they have to forfeit the game? Why slap them on the wrist when you can make a statement? You are making statements rather than wrist-slaps with the players, why not the coaches and owners?

Taking away future draft picks is similar to when the NCAA takes away future scholarships as a penalty for a school who cheated years before. Typically the coaches involved are long gone (usually being paid millions to coach elsewhere with a full allotment of scholarships or in the NFL) and the only people suffering are those trying to right the ship.

Unlike in the NCAA, this cheating didn’t take months or years to discover (credit Eric Mangini for not being scared of Mr. Bill). To the NFL’s credit, it was investigaged and apparently proven immediately. So why not make the punishment fit the crime and send a stern message to the rest of the NFL ~ if you cheat, you lose. It’s that simple.

Proof?

My guess is Mr. Bill will either claim he knew nothing about it or that he felt what they were doing was within the rules of the game. Sorry Mr. Bill, you’re too smart a man for us to believe either.

One thing is for sure, the cameraman should never receive another NFL paycheck.  And if Mr. Bill claims he knew nothing about it, he needs to fire those that did, regardless of how high up in the organization they sit.

My guess is there will be a stiff fine (that billionaire owner Bob Kraft will pay), a meaningless pick taken away and a stern warning to the rest of the teams that the next guilty party will receive an even harsher punishment. But why wait until then if they can prove without a doubt the Patriots cheated?

If justice is served, by Sunday’s kickoff the Jets will be undefeated! Ohh Noooo!!!!

Jon Buzby is a nationally-syndicated columnist. He can be reached through his website at www.jonbuzby.com.