Report: Patriots’ Illicit Videotaping Prompts NFL Disciplinary Action

Controversy surrounds the recording of a Bengals/Browns game

Bill Belichick
A new report from ESPN suggests that the NFL is set to discipline the New England Patriots for illicitly filming a Bengals/Browns game.
Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Since last month, the New England Patriots have been in hot water for illicitly recording footage of a Cincinnati Bengals/Cleveland Browns game. This was not the first time the Patriots have been accused of using video in ways not permitted by the NFL’s rules: the first instance of this took place in 2007 and was dubbed “Spygate.”

In that case, the punishment for the team was severe, including a loss of their first-round draft pick and a massive fine for coach Bill Belichick. A new report at ESPN suggests that we’ll soon learn what the punishment will be for the Patriots’ transgression this time around.

That’s what ESPN’s Adam Schefter was told by sources within the league. “The discipline from the league is likely to come in the next two weeks, but not all security reports are back to the NFL yet, sources told Schefter,” the report adds.

The Patriots have admitted that the recording of the game — ostensibly for a web series called Do Your Job, to demonstrate the work an advance scout does — was not conducted properly.

“We understand and acknowledge that our video crew, which included independent contractors who shot the video, unknowingly violated a league policy by filming the field and sideline from the press box,” the team’s statement read in part.

ESPN’s report doesn’t contain any information about what to expect from the league in terms of disciplinary measures. Will this be an echo of Spygate in more ways than one? Stay tuned.

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