Repeat offender Falcons get less punishment than 49ers for clerical salary-cap error

When pointing out that, if the Patriots had done what the Falcons had done the Patriots would have suffered a far greater punishment, some will respond by saying the Patriots are repeat offenders.Well, the Falcons are, too. However, both times they've broken the rules in the past decade, they've gotten a slap on the wrist.In 2015, they lost only a 2016 fifth-round pick for getting caught using fake crowd noise at home games. They also were fined $350,000, and Rich McKay was suspended from the Competition Committee for three months.This time around, it was a 2025 fifth-round pick and a $250,000 fine - along with a $50,000 fine for G.M. Terry Fontenot - for tampering with three different players during the 52-hour negotiation window.Meanwhile, the 49ers had a clerical error in their salary cap accounting. And they suffered a greater punishment than either of Atlanta's infractions. For the $75,000 mistake, the 49ers lost a 2025 fifth-round pick and had their 2024 fourth-round pick downgraded by four spots.The 49ers' violation had no competitive impact. They remained under the cap, and the league found no ill intent in the making of the accounting mistake.I know, I know. The Falcons...