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I never thought I’d say this, but Dean Barnett should stick to political commentary.

Writing on Townhall today, Barnett had the gall to defend the New England Patriots, who are embroiled in a cheating scandal. In less than 300 words, he managed to dismiss cheating in sports (”Who cares?” he asks) and claim the episode will be a good motivator for the Pats.

The big concern with the Patriots this year was that they’re so good and so loaded, how would they maintain their motivation and edge with three titles already in the bag this decade. With one ill-advised blow, the Jets and the NFL have removed those concerns.

Meanwhile, just hours after coach Bill Belichick decided to engage in some damage control, Barnett brushed aside the Pats’ cheating.

As to the substance of the charges, who cares? NFL teams have been trying to steal each other’s signals since Red Grange was in diapers. It’s as much a part of the game as New York fans cheering when their own quarterback gets injured.

What’s next? A defense of Rodney Harrison’s use of human growth hormone? Or maybe Tom Brady’s fathering a child with a woman he won’t marry?

UPDATE — 10:44 p.m.: My father told me to check out the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, which quotes former Steelers running backs coach Dick Hoak.

Dick Hoak, a former longtime Steelers assistant coach, said the Steelers once received a video from another team by mistake in their exchange with them. The video focused on an opposing coach using hand signals along the sideline. Hoak could not remember the team, but said the Steelers did not file a complaint.

Although Hoak wouldn’t identify the team, head coach Mike Tomlin said it’s hardly a secret that the Patriots engage in such cheating regularly.

Tomlin, at his press conference yesterday, responded to the allegations that the Patriots have used cameras illegally to focus on opposing coaches along the sideline in order to steal their signals.

“You hear rumors of things of that nature. It’s nothing new. In terms of confirming it, it’s never been confirmed in any instance to my knowledge. But usually where there is smoke, there’s fire. Those rumors are founded on something. So it’s not totally shocking, no.”

But the most damaging comments today were made by Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who said the Pats were cheating back in 2002 AFC championship game — a game I remember like it was yesterday. (How could I forget? I was devastated for at least a week afterward.)

Ward is certain the Patriots, while known for the thoroughness of their scouting under coach Bill Belichick, had some kind of unusual help before their 24-17 upset victory in Pittsburgh in the January 2002 AFC championship game. The Patriots went on to win the first of their three Super Bowls.

“Oh, they knew,” Ward said Wednesday. “They were calling our stuff out. They knew, especially that first championship game here at Heinz Field. They knew a lot of our calls. There’s no question some of their players were calling out some of our stuff.”

Here’s my recommendation for NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell: Strip the Pats of every single draft pick next year.

UPDATE — Sept. 13, 11:22 p.m.: I only get to pay attention to sports at night, so I’m a little late reacting to the news that Belichick was fined $500,000 and the Pats will lose a first-round draft pick (or a second- and third-round pick if they miss the playoffs) and must pay the NFL $250,000. I agree with the punishment, but I’m disappointed Belichick wasn’t suspended. This cheating clearly went beyond Sunday’s videotaping incident.