As a fan of the NFL the last thing you want is a REAL cheating scandal, even if it attacks New England and hurts their legacy.
Because it de-legitimizes the entire sport in the public's eyes. Whenever anyone wins in cycling it's automatic in terms of perception that the person cheated, they just didn't get caught. OR it's just a matter of time. You can't just enjoy the sport for what it is.
IF New England really had to pay a real price for their cheating then the last 20 years of NFL football are tainted. Regardless of how you feel about that then it calls into question everything else. Did Peyton Manning cheat? Do Mahomes and Andy Reid cheat? After all, how does a team go from 24-0 to winning the same game by 20?
If the Bills win a Super Bowl do you want to hear about how it's illegitimate? Josh Allen cheated somehow? McDermott knew the offenses and called the defense accordingly?
Everything the greats accomplish gets called into question if you drop the hammer on NE. That's why it won't happen.
At the end of the day, if Shanahan runs the ball and stops passing up 28-3 and the Seahawks hand off to Lynch 4 times inside the 5 Brady and Belichick are 4-4 in the Super Bowl with 1 blowout loss. Those are decisions OTHER teams made that had nothing at all to do with cheating.