NFL Investigating Patriots After Suspicion Of Cheating; Film Crew Caught Filming Bengals Plays

The NFL is investigating the New England Patriots after emerging allegations that suspect an employee for the team was videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals’ play calls during their game against the Cleveland Browns, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.

The Bengals notified the NFL of the incident after seeing the Patriots film crew.

Since reports have emerged, however, the Patriots have come out and said the whole situation is a misunderstanding.

Adam Schefter of ESPN claims that the team’s advance scout was being filmed for a “Do Your Job” video feature. Schefter also claims that the Browns approved the filming before the game started.

“We are aware of the incident, and we are aware it is being investigated by NFL Security,” the Bengals said in a statement. “We will have no further comment.”

Russini claims that a Bengals employee kept an eye on the cameraman from the Patriots during the game and that he was shooting the Bengals staff on the sidelines during the first quarter.

Sources also revealed to Russini that, “The cameraman asked if they could just delete the footage and it all be forgotten.”

Head coach of the Patriots Bill Belichick addressed the incident denying an involvement or responsibility with WEEI’s Ryan Hannable stating, “I heard about this, and evidently this is our production people on the TV show that were there, and I have absolutely nothing to do, we have absolutely nothing to do with anything that they produce or direct or shoot. I have never seen any of their tapes or anything else. This is something that we 100 percent have zero involvement with. This is something that you’d have to talk to the production people about and what they were doing, or whatever it was. We have never seen anything that they’ve shot, other than what has come down on TV,” he concluded.

This isn’t the first time the Patriots have been caught breaking similar rules. The organization was caught videotaping defensive signals of the New York Jets in 2007. As a result of the incident, the Patriots forfeited its 2008 first-round pick and received a $250,000 fine, while Belichick was required to pay $500,000.

After being caught the first time Belichick claimed he misinterpreted league rules and said, “Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff, and players.”

It was also later reported in 2015 per Don Van Natta Jr. and Seth Wickersham of ESPN that the Patriots videotaped a total of 40 games before they were caught. Other teams such as the Rams, Panthers, and Eagles all confessed to the Patriots stealing signals before the Patriots Super Bowl victories against their teams.

Right now, the Patriots are 10-3 and could possibly achieve winning their fourth Superbowl in the last six years, while the Bengals are currently 1-12.

Currently, the Patriots have turned in all of their footage to the NFL league and are cooperating with the investigation, according to Doug Kyed from NESN.

The #Bengals will host the #Patriots in the Paul Brown Stadium on Sunday during the Week 15 matchup.