I’m a little confused by what the infraction is. While the article doesn’t say it, I presume this occured during Sunday’s game. But the game was televised so any defensive signals could have been televised as well. How exactly is videotaping a televised game an infraction of the rules? Are these signals aural or signals like in baseball? In anyone can clairify I would appreciate it.
The TV feed only catches the signals every now and then — the patriots had a cameraman on the sideline with his camera directed right at the Jets Signal callers. he was also most likely in direct ommunication with the Coach or coordinators, and was tipping them to the defence or blitz package etc -— if they were successful at that, it could lead to many big gains, blitz pickups, etc etc
I believe in today's digital world, that signals captured via a zoom lens on a video camera could be instantly transmitted to the coaches calling plays in the booth. It could give quite an advantage.
It’s illegal for teams to use electronic means to record from the coaches box, the sidelines, or (one other place - the locker-room, I think). Apparently one can use Polaroids, or do it from a place other than one of the three proscribed locations, or with personnel not employed by the teams.
I know a couple of years ago there was an issue with one team apparently having gotten film of signals from one of the broadcasters - including footage not broadcast.