NFL Investigating Patriots Over Video Crew at Bengals-Browns Game
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NFL Investigating Patriots Over Video Crew at Bengals-Browns Game
"I'm aware that there was an incident. But I know the league is investigating it, so I've got no comment on it,” said Bengals coach Zac Taylor on Monday during his press conference.
According to Schefter, the crew was credentialed by the Browns to shoot video for a feature in the press box.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThis incident comes as the Patriots are set to play the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday.
Emerging Details
According to Schefter, the incident involved a Patriots advance scout who was being filmed while working for a team feature called “Do Your Job.”
A Bengals official saw a member of the video crew wearing a Patriots shirt and told the league, which then confiscated the video.
According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, "Do Your Job" focuses on members of the training staff, equipment and other behind the scenes personnel.
Late Monday night, the Patriots issued the following statement:
For the past year, the New England Patriots content team has produced a series of behind-the scenes features on various departments within the organization. The seven previous “Do Your Job” episodes are archived on patriots.com. On Sunday, Dec. 8, the content team sent a three-person video crew to the Bengals-Browns game at FirstEnergy Stadium in order to capture one part of a longer feature on the Patriots scouting department, in this case a Patriots pro personnel scout while he was working in the press box.
While we sought and were granted credentialed access from the Cleveland Browns for the video crew, our failure to inform the Bengals and the League was an unintended oversight. In addition to filming the scout, the production crew – without specific knowledge of League rules – inappropriately filmed the field from the press box. The sole purpose of the filming was to provide an illustration of an advance scout at work on the road. There was no intention of using the footage for any other purpose. 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. When questioned, the crew immediately turned over all footage to the league and cooperated fully.
The production crew is independent of our football operation. While aware that one of the scouts was being profiled for a “Do Your Job” episode, our football staff had no other involvement whatsoever in the planning, filming or creative decisions made during the production of these features.
We accept full responsibility for the actions of our production crew at the Browns-Bengals game.
Spygate
Back in 2007, the Patriots were punished by the league for videotaping the New York Jets defensive play calls during a game at Giants Stadium.
As part of the punishment, New England forfeited its first-round draft pick in 2008 and head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000.
The Patriots were also fined $250,000.