ESPN.com: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets

[Holt's Cat]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3012989&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines

Sources: Camera confiscated after claims of Pats spying on Jets

By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
Updated: September 10, 2007, 6:39 PM ET

NFL security confiscated a video camera and its tape from a New England Patriots employee on the team's sideline during Sunday's game against the Jets in a suspected spying incident, sources said.

The camera and its tape were placed in a sealed box and forwarded to the league office for investigation, the sources said.

"The rule is that no video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game," the league said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited.

"We are looking into whether the Patriots violated this rule."

The Patriots' cameraman was suspected of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches who were sending signals to their unit on the field, the sources said. The league also is investigating some radio frequency issues that occurred during the game.

The league's competition committee could conduct a conference call about the incident, which violates NFL policy, and ultimately recommend a penalty that could cost the Patriots a future draft pick or picks if it verifies that the team was spying on the Jets."It's not their first time," a member of the committee, who did not wish to be identified, said.

In fact, Green Bay Packers president Bob Harlan confirmed a similar incident that occurred when the Patriots played at Lambeau Field last Nov. 19. The same cameraman who was questioned by NFL security on Sunday was also the one whom the Packers removed from the sideline and escorted from the field during their 2006 game, according to Packers security official Doug Collins.

"From what I can remember, he had quite a fit when we took him out," Harlan said. "We had gotten word before the game that they [the Patriots] did this sort of thing, so we were looking for it."

A Jets official declined comment Monday, directing an inquiry to the league office. The Patriots also did not have immediate comment.

"With anything along those lines, those are all league-related matters, and anything that deals with an issue like this or anything on a team-by-team basis, those all go to the league," coach Eric Mangini said in his news conference Monday.

New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs said he was unaware of the controversy, and unwilling to believe his team had cheated.

"We put too many hours in as individuals and a team to have to go out and cheat," he said. "If it's true, obviously, we're in the wrong. But I'm standing behind my team, my coaches. I don't think we do that stuff."

Chris Mortensen covers the NFL for ESPN. Information from The Associated Press contributed to this story.

[exstatic]

As stated, it was not a first offense. It was even the same coach.

Take the draft pick, Roger.

[mardigan]

http://spurstalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=77410

[scott]

Pats are turning out to be a bunch of cheating whores, too bad.

[tlongII]

If you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin.

[SpursFanFirst]

This story is awesome! :clap

[J.T.]

Goodell should suspend the entire NE coaching staff for 6 games. Oddly enough they'd still probably go 5-1 in those games.

[Fillmoe]

cheating ass bitches.... give the draft pick to the niners

[J.T.]

cheating ass bitches.... give the draft pick to the niners

It should go to the Jets since they got caught doing it against the Jets.

[Trainwreck2100]

If you ain't cheatin you ain't tryin.


If you get caught you ain't trying hard enough.

[leemajors]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014677


NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the New England Patriots violated league rules Sunday when they videotaped defensive signals by the New York Jets' coaches, league sources have told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

NFL security officials confiscated a camera and videotape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the New England sidelines when it was suspected he was recording the Jets' defensive signals. Sources say the visual evidence confirmed the suspicion.

Goodell is considering severe sanctions, including the possibility of docking the Patriots "multiple draft picks" because it is the competitive violation in the wake of a stern warning to all teams since he became commissioner, the sources said. The Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents.

The Patriots will be allowed an opportunity to present their case by Friday, sources said, most likely via the telephone.

The league also was reviewing a possible violation into the number of radio frequencies the Patriots were using during Sunday's game, sources said. The team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.

Goodell is expected to have a decision no later than Friday but that is not set in stone.

The league refused comment but did confirm Monday that they were reviewing a possible violation by the Patriots.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Take their 08 draft picks.

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3014677




Punish Randy Moss.

[Fillmoe]

Does this mean the 1st round pick we traded to them goes back to us?

[Mr.Bottomtooth]

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/football/patriots/view.bg?articleid=1030745

LOL:


LT: I’m not surprised
By John Tomase
Tuesday, September 11, 2007 - Updated 12h ago

Count Chargers star running back LaDainian Tomlinson among those not surprised by allegations the Patriots [team stats] used a camera to steal signs.

“I think the Patriots actually live by the saying, ‘If you’re not cheatin, you’re not trying,’ ” Tomlinson told reporters with a hearty laugh in San Diego yesterday. “I mean, I think that’s the way they live off that statement. You keep hearing the different stories of people complaining about stuff that they do. So I’m not surprised.”

Tomlinson mentioned the Dolphins and Jets and how “they got a hold of a playbook or something.”

“There are just different things that happen you keep hearing about. Anything for an edge.”

[stretch]

Taking draft picks? Thats bullshit. They should have to forfeit the win. A fine or losing a draft pick or two isn't that severe. A loss will make sure that no one pulls shit like that anymore. And they really deserve it, since in the past, they have been accused of cheating in the same ways.

Fuck the Patriots.

[monosylab1k]

the Patriots only mistake is hiring somebody stupid enough to get caught. twice.

if you don't think every team has somebody doing the exact same shit, you're living in a dream world.

[monosylab1k]

Looks like LT is still butthurt about getting owned last year.

[Whisky Dog]

They just need to allow the middle linebacker to wear a communication helmet like the QB so the D coordinator can call the signal directly without having to use hand signals. That would clear the problem immediately for all teams.

[SAtown]

http://i18.tinypic.com/6hentqe.jpg

[OldDirtMcGirt]

the Patriots only mistake is hiring somebody stupid enough to get caught. twice.

if you don't think every team has somebody doing the exact same shit, you're living in a dream world.

So all the other teams are doing this for the 200+ games each season, but the Patriots (an organization none for being very disciplined and deliberate) gets caught no once BUT TWICE. Either the Patriots are complete retards to get caught, or they're doing something that nobody else is doing.

[Dirk Nowitzki]

Taking draft picks? Thats bullshit. They should have to forfeit the win. A fine or losing a draft pick or two isn't that severe. A loss will make sure that no one pulls shit like that anymore. And they really deserve it, since in the past, they have been accused of cheating in the same ways.

Fuck the Patriots.


Huh? I thought you were a Patriots fans?

[monosylab1k]

So all the other teams are doing this for the 200+ games each season, but the Patriots (an organization none for being very disciplined and deliberate) gets caught no once BUT TWICE. Either the Patriots are complete retards to get caught, or they're doing something that nobody else is doing.

Yeah, and Oklahoma is the only major NCAA football program that's cheated recently as well, since they're the only ones to get caught... :rolleyes

[OldDirtMcGirt]

Yeah, and Oklahoma is the only major NCAA football program that's cheated recently as well, since they're the only ones to get caught... :rolleyes

How many NFL teams in the history of the game have been caught videotaping the signals and jamming radio signals?

[samikeyp]

They should have to forfeit the win.

bingo.

[monosylab1k]

How many NFL teams in the history of the game have been caught videotaping the signals and jamming radio signals?
Miami basically stole a playbook last year. Against the Patriots of all teams. Didn't shit happen to them either.

This is just the typical anti-Patriots bias that exists everywhere except Bill Simmons' articles.

Funny how nobody gave a shit about that guy last year, because nobody viewed New England as a real threat to win it all. Now that they're the favorites, EVERYBODY is all up in fuckin arms over something that every team does every game.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Miami basically stole a playbook last year. You were asked how many teams in the History of the NFL have been caught doing this...............you've provided one. Either back up your statements or shut the fuck up.

[monosylab1k]

You were asked how many teams in the History of the NFL have been caught doing this...............you've provided one. Either back up your statements or shut the fuck up.
so....not getting caught = doesn't happen?

So Texas doesn't pay players but Oklahoma does? Texas hasn't been caught so they must not.

Reggie Bush must be the only college player to receive a house too :rolleyes

Merriman must have been the only Pro Bowler playing on the juice last season as well.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Still can't answer the question can you.

[monosylab1k]

Still can't answer the question can you.
I'm not interested in answering such a stupid, shortsighted question.

[TheSanityAnnex]

I'm not interested in answering such a stupid, shortsighted question.
At least back your shit up.



if you don't think every team has somebody doing the exact same shit, you're living in a dream world.

[monosylab1k]

At least back your shit up.
why? if you seriously think the Patriots are the only team doing this, you've got your head in the sand.

Although maybe it's nice to know that Merriman was the only Pro Bowler on steroids last year since he was the only one caught.

[TheSanityAnnex]

why? if you seriously think the Patriots are the only team doing this, you've got your head in the sand.

Although maybe it's nice to know that Merriman was the only Pro Bowler on steroids last year since he was the only one caught.What proof do you have the Patriots aren't the only team doing this? Again, back your shit up.


And to the Merriman jab..............it wasn't steroids stupid fuck, get your facts straight.

[monosylab1k]

And to the Merriman jab..............it wasn't steroids stupid fuck, get your facts straight.
yeah, i forgot, it was a "tainted supplement" LMAO!

[monosylab1k]

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/1776/kcchargersne267167x1190qb6.png (http://imageshack.us)

[TheSanityAnnex]

When you can't answer the question, resort to last year smack.

[monosylab1k]

It's a dumb question. No answer needed.

[TheSanityAnnex]

You claimed every team was doing it. Back up your claim.

[J.T.]

Somebody said owned?

http://www.colts.com/images/news_photos/29_addai%5C2007_0121_ne_0634_macht.jpg

[monosylab1k]

Somebody said owned?

http://www.colts.com/images/news_photos/29_addai%5C2007_0121_ne_0634_macht.jpg
I could make many, many replies to this, but unfortunately at this point they would be almost 3 years old :depressed

[J.T.]

This one is like half a year old

http://msnbcmedia4.msn.com/j/msnbc/Components/Photos/070121/070121_manning_hmed9p.h2.jpg

[monosylab1k]

Goddammit I fuckin hate that little rat bastard traitor. He didn't have to re-sign with New England but he could have shown a little loyalty and gone to Green Bay or Dallas instead. Fuck Vinatieri.

[J.T.]

Goddammit I fuckin hate that little rat bastard traitor. He didn't have to re-sign with New England but he could have shown a little loyalty and gone to Green Bay or Dallas instead. Fuck Vinatieri.

I've heard that somewhere before...oh yeah, when Spurs fans talk about AJ. :lmao

It's cool mono, I hate Vinatieri too. That "little rat bastard" cost me the halftime square in the SB when he missed that FG. Fucking rain.

[monosylab1k]

I've heard that somewhere before...oh yeah, when Spurs fans talk about AJ. :lmao

It's cool mono, I hate Vinatieri too. That "little rat bastard" cost me the halftime square in the SB when he missed that FG. Fucking rain.

haha anytime Vinatieri's name is ever brought up I just start seething.

my brother pisses me off the most when he starts talking about how the Patriots would never have had a dynasty without him.

[leemajors]

anyone have a .gif of will clark saying "you got caught, buddy" when they interviewed him about raffy?

[Findog]

haha anytime Vinatieri's name is ever brought up I just start seething.

my brother pisses me off the most when he starts talking about how the Patriots would never have had a dynasty without him.

You can't be a fan of both the Cowboys and the Patriots. One is your team and the other is your mistress. When they play each other this year, who will you be rooting for?

[Findog]

Miami basically stole a playbook last year. Against the Patriots of all teams. Didn't shit happen to them either.

This is just the typical anti-Patriots bias that exists everywhere except Bill Simmons' articles.

Funny how nobody gave a shit about that guy last year, because nobody viewed New England as a real threat to win it all. Now that they're the favorites, EVERYBODY is all up in fuckin arms over something that every team does every game.

If your point is that every NFL team bends the rules or breaks them in order to gain a competitive advantage, then I'd agree. If your point is that every NFL team specifically tapes the other team sending out defensive signals just like New England, I don't know how you can verify that or not.

[monosylab1k]

You can't be a fan of both the Cowboys and the Patriots. One is your team and the other is your mistress. When they play each other this year, who will you be rooting for?
Yes, true.

It's a lame cop-out, I know, but the Cowboys are my NFC team and the Patriots are my AFC team. But I was a fan of the Patriots first, so they get top billing.

I've got tickets to the game and I will be wearing the Brady jersey. The D-Ware jersey will be sitting at home.

So while I root for the Cowboys, if they win the SB this year, I'll be happy as hell but I won't count it as a championship for one of "my" teams. They're the misstress.

I think everyone deserves a misstress. Mavs, Patriots, Rangers are my teams, but the Hawks, Cowboys and Padres are my misstresses.

[Melmart1]

Yes, true.

It's a lame cop-out, I know, but the Cowboys are my NFC team and the Patriots are my AFC team. But I was a fan of the Patriots first, so they get top billing.

I've got tickets to the game and I will be wearing the Brady jersey. The D-Ware jersey will be sitting at home.

So while I root for the Cowboys, if they win the SB this year, I'll be happy as hell but I won't count it as a championship for one of "my" teams. They're the misstress.

I think everyone deserves a misstress. Mavs, Patriots, Rangers are my teams, but the Hawks, Cowboys and Padres are my misstresses.
According to the guy in the Yankees last place thread, you are a bandwagoner then. :rolleyes

[Findog]

Yes, true.

It's a lame cop-out, I know, but the Cowboys are my NFC team and the Patriots are my AFC team. But I was a fan of the Patriots first, so they get top billing.

I've got tickets to the game and I will be wearing the Brady jersey. The D-Ware jersey will be sitting at home.

So while I root for the Cowboys, if they win the SB this year, I'll be happy as hell but I won't count it as a championship for one of "my" teams. They're the misstress.

I think everyone deserves a misstress. Mavs, Patriots, Rangers are my teams, but the Hawks, Cowboys and Padres are my misstresses.

Mavericks, Cowboys, Texas Rangers and UT athletics are my teams, although it's a beating to root for the Rangers during the Fulgencio Batista..er Tom Hicks regime.

Mistresses are as follows:

NBA - Sonics. When the Mavericks were busy being fucking awful for 11 years, I had to adopt a mistress to follow pro hoops. The Sonics had a bevy of former Mavs (Ellis, Detlef and Perkins) and I liked their unis. If it doesn't hurt Dallas, I'll root for them. That's just intensified now that the best player to ever put on the burnt orange is their franchise savior. But I fucking hate Clay Bennett and his plans to take them to OKC. If that happens, I hope Durant gets the fuck out of there after his rookie contract is up.

NFL - Titans, or any team that Black Jesus will play for.

MLB - I was attracted to the F. Scott Fitzgerald tragedy that was the Boston Red Sox until they finally won it in 2004. Now they're just like the Yankees to me. I usually go for superficial criteria. I'm currently auditioning potential mistresses out, and I'm sure the need for one will continue as long as Hicks owns the Rangers.

College - UNC and TCU. I grew up in FTW, so I was a Horned Frogs fan until I got accepted to UT, at which point my allegiances changed forever. My dad's family is from North Carolina, so I grew up on Tar Heels basketball.

[Melmart1]

My teams are Spurs, Cowboys and Rangers.

Mistresses: I don't have any in the NBA, really. For football, I would say Pats because my best friend is from Boston and is trying to get me to convert to all the Boston teams. :lol Baseball is where I have the most mistresses. I like the Brewers, Padres, Twins and Red Sox. Yeah, I watch entirely too much baseball. But, the Rangers are my only true love.

[monosylab1k]

According to the guy in the Yankees last place thread, you are a bandwagoner then. :rolleyes
yeah that's dumb.

IMO, you've got to have "your" teams, but you can always have a side team that you have an interest in for whatever reason.

I've been a Mavericks fan all my life, but since I also follow UofArkansas sports, I was a big Joe Johnson fan. I could never root for the Suns ever, but now that he's in Atlanta, I think it's fair for me to have some sort of rooting interest in the Hawks now that he's there. When Dallas and Atlanta play each other, I ALWAYS root for the Mavericks, and if Atlanta ever wins a title, I could never claim that as a title for "my" team.

Same with the Patriots being my #1 team, but since I live in Dallas I can't help but have some sort of rooting interest in the Cowboys as well. I don't think either of those things makes me a bandwagoner in any way.

but those are just my personal "fan ethics" :lol

[Findog]

but since I also follow UofArkansas sports, I was a big Joe Johnson fan.

Did you ever file a FOIA request for Nolan Richardson's cell phone records?

Oliver Miller went to my high school in FTW. We had "Oliver Miller Day" my sophomore year to celebrate him and the Suns losing to the Bulls in the Finals.

[monosylab1k]

Did you ever file a FOIA request for Nolan Richardson's cell phone records?

LOL, no but I DO know Thomas McAfee, the guy who did it to Houston Nutt. Friend of a friend. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw his name in the news story.

[J.T.]

IMO, you've got to have "your" teams, but you can always have a side team that you have an interest in for whatever reason.

I think that takes some of the fun out of fandom. I play fantasy football and pick 'em, but I'd never ever root for another team. If I'm ever rooting for another team alongside the Colts (because I never pick against them even when it's sensible to do so), it's probably because I picked them or have money on them. I'll still wear the blue and white after Manning and friends are gone.

[monosylab1k]

I think that takes some of the fun out of fandom. I play fantasy football and pick 'em, but I'd never ever root for another team. If I'm ever rooting for another team alongside the Colts (because I never pick against them even when it's sensible to do so), it's probably because I picked them or have money on them. I'll still wear the blue and white after Manning and friends are gone.
I can see that too. I dunno, hearing all-Cowboys all the time in Dallas has warped me in this way.

But I never really get mad about the Cowboys losing. After Romo fumbled the snap, I said "Shit, that really sucks" and went on with my night.

Meanwhile, I am PISSED when the Patriots lose. After they lost to the Colts last season, I cussed out everybody in the house (especially anybody who rooted for the Colts) and went on an overnight drunk. I was depressed for a couple of weeks. I'll always be a Patriots fan, I still have old emails sent to fellow Pats fans bitching about how horrible Pete Carroll was, and even a few unfortunate ones back in 01-02 talking about how the Pats were screwed without Bledsoe and how Brady was "an NFL Europe QB at best". That opinion changed rather quickly.

[Findog]

LOL, no but I DO know Thomas McAfee, the guy who did it to Houston Nutt. Friend of a friend. My jaw dropped to the floor when I saw his name in the news story.

How bout Pork Rind Jimmy? Do you know him?

[TheSanityAnnex]

:lol

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80248769

[J.T.]

Meanwhile, I am PISSED when the Patriots lose. After they lost to the Colts last season, I cussed out everybody in the house (especially anybody who rooted for the Colts) and went on an overnight drunk. I was depressed for a couple of weeks. I'll always be a Patriots fan, I still have old emails sent to fellow Pats fans bitching about how horrible Pete Carroll was, and even a few unfortunate ones back in 01-02 talking about how the Pats were screwed without Bledsoe and how Brady was "an NFL Europe QB at best". That opinion changed rather quickly.

:lmao

The euphoria released when the Colts won that game was hands down better than any drug I've ever done. Wish you could bottle that shit up and but it at Wallgreens. At halftime of that game, my roommate (Pats fan) goes to his room and says that the game is over, but drops some kind of ass kissing comment like "but the Colts can tie it up real quick with how great their offense is". I just shoot back a "Yeah well fuck you too" look at him and go to 7-11 to get some shit for the 2nd half. I get back and after they tied it on the 2-pt conversion, I am screaming louder than a virgin after her first penetration and he comes out of his room to ask what's going on and takes one look at the score. All he says is "SON OF A BITCH!" and sits right back down to watch the game with me.

It was a prophetic postseason for our apartment because I predicted Colquitt's FG attempt after Ty Law picked Manning would bang off the uprights and it did.

[TheSanityAnnex]

Does anyone think Mangini will be suspended because he's known about this for so long? Will any past players from the SuperBowl squads come forward or is that an unwritten code among players?