Report: NFL Investigators Made Decision On Patriots Videotape Scandal

“Spygate 2.0” is the hottest issue on the season. The New England Patriots were caught in a huge videotape scandal. The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t like the idea of seeing the Patriots cameraman recording their sideline in Cleveland. The incident happened on Dec., and it took an unexpected turn.

New England said a member of the “Do Your Job” production crew violated the league rules on videotaping. However, they say this has nothing to do with the players. The cameraman wasn’t aware of the rules, and he was suspended immediately.

The NFL opened an investigation into the case, and it looks like they are about to make a conclusion. ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Patriots are expected to be punished for this activity.

Schefter reported that the Patriots will be disciplined in the next two weeks. Rapoport wrote that the Patriots committed a game-day violation. However, the NFL has yet to confirm whether there’s a link back to football operations “as not all security reports are back to the NFL offices.”

Patriots are expected to be disciplined for acknowledged gameday video violations in Cincinnati, per league sources. Discipline likely to come in the next two weeks, but not all security reports back to NFL yet.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2020

Sources: The #Patriots did, in fact, commit a game-day violation and they are expected to be disciplined for taping the #Bengals sidelines.. What’s not clear is if there is a link back to football operations, as not all security reports are back to the NFL offices.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 4, 2020

What will the Patriots “get” this time?

According to Schefter, former Cleveland GM Ray Farmer was suspended for games without pay and the team was fined $250K for in-game texting.

Atlanta lost 5^th-round pick, the Falcons were fined $250K, and President Rich McKay was suspended from competition committee for piping in crowd noise.

A basis for Pats’ discipline.

Former Cleveland GM Ray Farmer was suspended four games without pay and Browns fined $250K for in-game texting.

ATL loses 5th-round pick, Falcons fined $350k, President Rich McKay suspended from competition committee for piping in crowd noise.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2020

Schefter and Rapoport say there’s a possibility for investigators to find more evidence. However, all reports thus far indicate the NFL hasn’t found a connection between this action and the Patriots’ football operations.

New England is getting ready for their wild-card weekend. They will play the Tennessee Titans at Gillette Stadium. The team hasn’t played a wild-card round game since 2009, but everything is under control.

The defense is really strong, and the offense showed improvement in the last few weeks. How will the Patriots handle the wild-card game? It’s a big matchup for the champions, and they will do their best to win it. Head coach Bill Belichick always has a plan for his team. He has a winning plan now.