In ESPN’s boffo piece of journalism that exposes the rampant cheating of the New England Patriots, there is a telling anecdote from former Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter about the power of The Shield.

In his 2012 book, “Life Among the Cannibals,” Specter wrote that a powerful friend — he wouldn’t name the person — told him that if he “laid off the Patriots,” there could be a lot of money for him in Palm Beach. Specter told the friend, “I couldn’t care less.”

If the NFL is willing to go that far, how far would even bigger businesses be willing to go?

Makes you so glad Citizens United was decided the way it was.