The New England Patriots are preparing for next Thursday’s virtual NFL draft with 12 picks to choose from. Or it could be less.
That is the scenario hovering over the team as it awaits the punishment the NFL might deliver for a rules violation — taping the Bengals sideline without permission in a game on Dec. 8. Because the Patriots have been involved in other scandals such as Spygate and Deflategate, the NFL could theoretically hand out penalties from a large fine or even take away picks from this year’s draft.
Yet no one knows what the NFL’s decision will be, especially not the Patriots and head coach Bill Belichick.