New Details Emerge On Patriots Videotaping Investigation

The New England Patriots were involved in a serious scandal in December after a member of the organization was caught videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals’ sideline in Cleveland. The NFL launched an investigation, and they are close to wrapping it up.

Ben Volin of the Boston Globe reported that the NFL security team completed the final interview with a Patriots employee. They will write a report and pass it on to Commissioner Roger Goodell.

We don’t have much information regarding the revelation of the findings from this investigation. We also don’t know whether the team will face any consequences.

Members of the Patriots production staff filmed the Bengals coaches during the December 8 loss at the Cleveland Browns. The Patriots played Cincinnati at Paul Brown Stadium the following week.

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer got the video of the incident. In this video, a Patriots staffer told Bengals security he could delete the footage if that was their wish.

The Patriots aren’t guilty of the videotaping scandal.

The Patriots released a statement right after the scandal broke. According to it, the footage was made for the needs of the Do Your Job docuseries they post on the Patriots official website.

Ian Rapoport from NFL Network reported that the Patriots may be disciplined as a result of the incident for committing a game-day violation.

Mark Maske of the Washington Post shared similar examples of NFL teams being disciplined for game-day violations. The Atlanta Falcons received a $350,000 fine and lost a 2016 fifth-round draft pick for pumping fake crowd noise into the home stadium in 2013 and 2014.

In 2007, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick recorded the New York Jets’ sideline and got a $500,000 fine. The Patriots received a $250,000 fine and lost a first-round draft pick in 2008.

The team may see similar fines this time. Although coach Belichick claimed that his players have nothing to do with the filming crew, he may receive a similar fine to the one he had in 2007. Let’s see what happens in the next few weeks. Belichick has other major problems to solve at the moment. Tom Brady’s pending free agency and the offseason.