Posted on 09/11/2007 4:12:17 PM PDT by jmc813
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, according to league sources.
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.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said on Tuesday that no official decision has been made and that the club has not been notified.
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.
ping
Glad they finally got caught.
Just strip them of all their SuperBowls.
Next we'll have the dreaded "foreign object" hidden in the tights.
Perhaps they should just strip them of all TV revenue for the year.
Stealing signals is not illegal in MLB, correct?
hmmmmmmmm lets see New England? must be libs who use any tactic to get where they want to be and see nothing wrong with it until something is done to them. Waiting on the denials and excuses.
I would not be shocked to see the Patriots lose thier first round pick and 2 0r 3 lower rounds picks over this.
Bellichick has been accused of underhanded moves for years, and that reputation is now being borne out.
Please do not misconstrue that as an indictment of the Pats success though. It may give Bellichick and the team an advantage, but Tom Brady and company are so talented they would be successful no matter what. In the end it comes down to execution on the field, EVEN IF YOU KNOW THE DEFENSE, and the Patriots have executed better than any other team for the last 5 years.
I’ll have to yield to a major league baseball fan for that question. I’ve been to a total 3 major league games.
I think the the commish should just rule that the Pats are to forfiet the uese of their sideline\pressbox communication system for the rest of the season.
In MLB it is considered an art form.
Belechik is a known cheater. He has his players fake injuries that become mysteriously healed at gametime (Randy Moss). He does not allow medical personel from rival teams to tend to his injured players on the road. He also fakes the injury reports published before games.
Boston? Cheating? No!
It’s a town where the rules don’t matter, unless of course, you aren’t from Boston, and then any rule that can be brought to bear, no matter how petty, will be.
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In addition, he dresses like a slob.
Everyone says Goodell is tough. I don’t see it. Draft picks? Wooooo! If they are caught cheating they are out of pro football. Step UP!
No, not illegal.
I notice that head coaches usually cover their mouths when speaking on the sidelines. Clearly they are afraid of lip-readers.
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