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Earlier this week that the NFL decided not to take any action against the Green Bay Packers after some defensive backs offered cash rewards to the defensive line for shutting down opposing running backs.

The NFL did, however, remind the Packers that such rewards are against the NFL's rules, which prohibit any form of "bounties." To repeat, the rule in question states: "Clubs and players are prohibited from offering or accepting bonuses to a player for his or his team's performance against a particular team, a particular opposing player, or players or a particular group of an opposing team."

Now Jarrett Bell of USA Today is reporting that the Patriots are violating the same rule.

According to Bell, the Patriots have a system in place -- instituted by the players, not the coaches -- in which players can be fined for infractions ranging from tardiness to missing assignments.

The money is then put into a pot, and the cash goes to a player who makes a big play in the following game. For defensive players, it's usually the first player to force a turnover.

That was cornerback Asante Samuel in Sunday's game against the Eagles, and defensive end Richard Seymour told Bell, "Asante got a nice little stash."

As Bell notes, that's a violation of league rules. Given the precedent set with the Packers, the Patriots most likely won't face any sort of league discipline, but they will be told to knock it off.

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