Report: NFL expected to discipline Pats within 2 weeks for video incident
The New England Patriots are expected to receive discipline from the NFL within the next two weeks for illegally videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals' sideline from the press box, league sources told ESPN's Adam Schefter.
However, the NFL released a statement that called Schefter's report "pure speculation."
"The investigation is ongoing and there has been no discussion of any potential discipline," said the league, per Schefter. "Any suggestion of potential discipline or a timeline on an announcement is pure speculation."
The incident took place one week before the Patriots and Bengals squared off in December. It's still unclear whether there was a link between the camera crew at fault and the Patriots' football operations department, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
The Patriots admitted to the infraction after it took place but insisted their employees were credentialed and obtaining footage for their "Do Your Job" documentary series.
A basis for Pats’ discipline.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 4, 2020
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.
In 2007, the Patriots were stripped of a first-round pick and fined $250,000 for the Spygate scandal, during which New England was discovered to have illegally filmed opponents' signals. Head coach Bill Belichick was penalized $500,000 for his role in the incident.