"scandal" I can recall.  The fact is there was a cop on the beat, aka the football officials.  They are there to officiate the "fairness" of the games.  At least one official handles the ball every single play.  If the Patriots are guilty, so are the officials and they need to be dealt with appropriately as well.

Every team plays to the letter of the law based on what the officials allow.  Take hand checking in basketball.  It is illegal.  Some officials call it, some don't or at the minimum allow a certain amount to take place before they call it.  In games where the foul is not called, you get more hand checking than if the officials were calling the foul. The same holds true for holding in football.  It is not legal but as we all know, some crews call it more than others.  Is it immoral or cheating for players to do it as much as the officials allow?  You judge for yourself.  Personally, I thinks it's all a bunch of hooey, further proof to me that we're not happy unless there is some type of controversy taking place.