New England Patriots Suspend Videographer Who Illegally Filmed The Cincinnati Bengals Sideline, Team Faces Steep Penalties

In the wake of an NFL investigation over the illegal filming of Cincinnati Bengals sideline staff during Week 14, the New England Patriots have now suspended their videographer, Dave Mondillo. According to the Boston Globe, Mondillo, a longtime employee of Kraft Sports + Entertainment ran by Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his family, was suspended last week. 

The Patriots initially admitted to “inappropriately filming the field” ahead of this week’s game against the Bengals, but also said their video team consisted of independent contract videographers who shot eight-minute B-roll footage of Cincinnati coaches without the team’s consent and “without specific knowledge of league rules.”

New England claimed the footage was for the team’s “Do Your Job” miniseries about Patriots employees. However, regardless of what it was for, CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported that the team is also facing steep penalties, to include losing at least one draft pick, heavy fines, and the possibility of an upper-management or ownership suspension, for their admitted violations.

Leaked footage from @JayGlazer where a #Patriots staffer claimed he “didn’t know” he was filming the #Bengals sideline and that it was an “honest mistake”. pic.twitter.com/tVTTu2Ugev

— Chiefs Central (@ChiefsCentral) December 15, 2019