Posted at 12:49 p.m., Monday, September 10, 2007
NFL: Patriots accused of spying on Jets' signals
Associated Press
NEW YORK — The NFL is looking into claims a New England Patriots employee was videotaping signals by Jets coaches on New York's sideline during the season opener, according to ESPN.com.ESPN.com reported today that NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England's 38-14 victory yesterday. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches, who were sending signals out to the players, sources told the Web site.
The league was also investigating radio frequency issues that occurred during the game, the sources told ESPN.com. According to the report, the camera and tape were forwarded to the league offices.
The story was first reported on the Web site of Jets Confidential, which said the Jets chief of security alerted NFL security about the issue during the game.
The NFL had no comment, and neither did the teams. Teams are not allowed to videotape on the field during games.
"With anything along those lines, those are all league-related matters, and anything that deals with an issue like this or anything on a team-by-team basis, those all go to the league," coach Eric Mangini said in his news conference Monday.
When asked if the Jets had in fact notified the league, he said: "It's all a league matter."
Patriots spokesman Stacey James declined comment. New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs said he was unaware of the controversy, and unwilling to believe his team had cheated.
"We put too many hours in as individuals and a team to have to go out and cheat," he said. "If it's true, obviously, we're in the wrong. But I'm standing behind my team, my coaches. I don't think we do that stuff."
