NFL Wire Notes | Belichick, Pats fined $750,000, could lose No. 1

NEW YORK — Bill Belichick should be able to read this signal clearly:

Spy on your opponents, and it will cost you.

The New England coach was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 Thursday, and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000 for stealing an opponent's defensive signals.

Commissioner Roger Goodell also ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.

The videotaping came to light after a camera was confiscated from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella while he was on the New York Jets' sideline during New England's 38-14 win Sunday at Giants Stadium.

The NFL said the camera was seized before the end of the first quarter and had no impact on the game.

"This episode represents a calculated and deliberate attempt to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition on the playing field," Goodell said in a letter to the Patriots.

He said he considered suspending Belichick but didn't "largely because I believe that the discipline I am imposing of a maximum fine and forfeiture of a first-round draft choice, or multiple draft choices, is in fact more significant and long-lasting, and therefore more effective, than a suspension."

Belichick responded to the ruling with a statement that read, in part: "I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused. I also apologize to Patriots fans and would like to thank them for their support during the past few days and throughout my career.

"As the Commissioner acknowledged, our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress.

"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect.

"With tonight's resolution, I will not be offering any further comments on this matter."

Goodell visits Everett

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Goodell visited injured Bills tight end Kevin Everett, spending 90 minutes with the tight end who sustained a severe spinal-cord injury.

Goodell flew from New York City to Buffalo to meet with Everett and his mother, Patricia Dugas, in the player's room at Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital, hospital spokesman Mike Hughes said.

Bills general manager Marv Levy also was in the room.

Hughes said Goodell requested permission to make the visit Wednesday, hours after Everett's doctors expressed "cautious optimism" that the player might be able to walk again. Everett sustained a life-threatening spinal-cord injury in Buffalo's season opener against Denver on Sunday.

"He just wanted to go up to see him," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Notes

• According to a few published reports, citing unnamed sources, the Jets have already decided that second-year QB Kellen Clemens will start against the Ravens on Sunday in place of Chad Pennington (ankle). The team hasn't made any official decision public.

• The Dallas Cowboys wrested the title of the NFL's most valuable franchise from the Redskins, knocking Washington off the top of the list for the first time in eight years, according to Forbes magazine's annual survey.

Thanks to a new $1 billion stadium set to open in 2009, the Cowboys' value increased by 28 percent — by far the largest jump among NFL teams this year — to $1.5 billion. They climbed from third to first in the rankings, leapfrogging the Redskins ($1.467 billion) and the Patriots ($1.199 billion).

The Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles again round out the top five and remain the only other franchises worth more than $1 billion.

• Cowboys WR Terry Glenn is still hopeful of playing this season after having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee for the second time in six weeks.

"This gives Terry a chance to play this season," team spokesman Rich Dalrymple said. "He will do everything he can to get on the field this year."

• The Bills placed starting CB Jason Webster (broken forearm) on injured reserve, ending his season.

• RB Frank Gore missed the 49ers' practice after the death of his mother.

Gore's mother, Liz, died Wednesday, and he briefly visited the 49ers' training complex Thursday before leaving to be with relatives. He still intends to play in San Francisco's game at St. Louis on Sunday, but probably will head home to Miami afterward.

• Giants QB Eli Manning said his shoulder felt better than it did Tuesday or Wednesday, but said he would have to wait until the weekend to make his decision on playing Sunday.