Many National Football League fans weren't aware that the league allowed evidence of the New England Patriots' cheating scandal to be destroyed. The league was wrong for destroying the evidence, even though punishment was meted out and, for all intents and purposes, the case was thought to be closed.

The league no doubt has within its "vaults" information related to other less-notable problems the NFL has encountered during its existence. The significance of the Patriots' scandal should have dictated that evidence stemming from it be safeguarded in case any kind of questions arose in the future.

That's exactly what's happening now. U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, the top Republican on the Senate Judicary Committee, wants the NFL to explain why it let evidence of the cheating scandal be destroyed. Specter and NFLfans deserve an answer, however unacceptable.

"The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game," Specter said in a telephone interview with the New York Times. "It's analogous to the CIA destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed."

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell fined Patriots' coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick in the scandal, which erupted during undefeated New England's 38-14 victory over the New York Jets. NFLsecurity confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee, who was accused of aiming the camera at the Jets' defensive coaches as they signaled to players on the field.

In addition to the penalties imposed, Belichick should have been handed a year's suspension, as a lesson and deterrent to other coaches. Instead, Belichick, despite the sleazy matter, basked in the Patriots' spotlight as the American Football Conference's representative in the past weekend's Super Bowl XLII.

Specter should keep the heat on the NFL. The scandal will remain more than a minor blemish on what otherwise was a stellar season for the team.

During the course of this season, no doubt many NFL players pondered what their fate would have been if they had engaged in a prohibited activity of such seriousness.

Such reflections were justified, especially after hearing of Goodell's action.

Despite the scope of the Goodell-imposed penalty, Belichick received a better deal than what most players could have expected under circumstances of equal seriousness.

More people should join Specter in not letting the destruction-of-evidence issue be put to rest.