According to sources NFL Security confiscated a video camera and tape used by a New England Patriots employee after Sunday’s game with the New York Jets because he was suspected of stealing signals from the Jets defensive coaches.
The NFL as well as the Jets and Patriots had no comment.
According to the source the camera and tape were placed in a sealed box and taken to NFL heaquarters for review. The incident is a violation of league regulations and if the Patriots were found by the NFL Competition Commitee to have stolen the Jets signals the league could strip them of a draft pick or picks.
This isn’t the first rodeo in these allegations for the Patriots either. Last season, the same employee was removed and escorted from the sideline in Green Bay in a game against the Packers by Green Bay security. The Packers had heard from others that the Patriots were inclined to try to steal signs and were watching for it. No disciplinary action ever stemmed from the incident.
“From what I can remember, he had quite a fit when we took him out,” Packers President Bob Harlan said on Monday.
If the Patriots did this they deserve whatever penalty they get but you also have to realize they just played the Jets and kicked their ass all over the field. The two teams are heated rivals and have been for nearly 50 years. There is also more than a little bit of drama between the two franchises. Former Patriots coach Bill Parcells resigned to coach the Jets and took pretty much the entire staff with him after Super Bowl XXXI. Then a few years later Bill Belichick resigned after one day as Jets head coach to take the Patriots job. Last year the Jets hired defensive coordinator Eric Mangini from the Patriots to be their head coach despite attempts by New England to keep him from taking the job. The two teams frequently battle over free agents as well and one or the other will always call in a recent cut to try to get information on their rival for the next game.
So is this a case of the videographer turned spy or the Jets trying to stick one to the Patriots?
UPDATE Tuesday, September 11 6:30 p.m.
According to sources within the league, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has determined that the Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella did indeed tape Jets coaches on Sunday in the Meadowlands breaking NFL rules. Goodell is expected to rule on the sanctions the Patriots will receive after hearing from the team. The sanctions could be known by Friday. Reports are Goodell will strip the team of mulitple draft choices.
The Patriots are also under fire for apparently using too many radio frequencies during Sundays game as well. According to sources the team did not have a satisfactory explanation when asked about possible irregularities in its communication setup during the game.
