Patriots To Turn Over Additional Tapes, Notes To NFL

Belichick Says Patriots Will Hand Over Requested Materials To NFL

The Patriots are “preparing to hand over requested materials to NFL officials as the league continues its investigation into the team's signal-stealing tactics," according to Mark Maske of the WASHINGTON POST. Patriots coach Bill Belichick yesterday said the team will comply with the request. A source said, “Everyone is coming out of the woodwork right now with a story that [Belichick] has done this or done that. Who knows if any of it is true. And even if any of it is true, who knows if there’s any proof to be had” (WASHINGTON POST, 9/18). In Boston, Christopher Gasper reports Belichick was “forthcoming when asked if he planned to turn over any additional tapes.” When asked if the league had received any additional footage, NFL Senior VP/PR Greg Aiello said, “We don’t have anything else to report on the matter right now.” Aiello added that the airing of the Patriots’ video taken during the Jets’ game September 9 “will not have an impact on any investigation, but the fact that the video was aired disturbed the NFL.” He said of Fox showing the footage, “(We’re) very concerned. It should not have happened” (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/18).  ESPN’s Chris Mortensen reported if any material the Patriots hand over shows other violations, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell "will be prepared to hand down more sanctions.” If the team is not compliant, Belichick “is probably going to be banished for the year, in my opinion” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 9/17).

ATTENTION GETTER: Disney VP/Sports Attractions Reggie Williams, on the penalty imposed on Belichick and the Patriots: "I definitely know that Commissioner Goodell has gotten the attention of all 32 teams with this action. In isolation, it certainly is unprecedented to take away a first-round draft choice, or even a second or third. It definitely impacts a whole franchise."  But Williams added, "In light of all the other discipline issues, one can question whether it was harsh enough” (BLOOMBERG TV, 9/17).

YOU MADE THE CALL: The majority of the 234 respondents to an unscientific SportsBusinessDaily.com poll felt Goodell was too lenient in the penalties he imposed upon Belichick and the Patriots.  Here are the results from that poll.

Brady Feels Rumors Taking Away From Patriots' Legacy

BRADY PLAYS DEFENSE: Patriots QB Tom Brady said on WEEI-AM, “By no means am I sitting here getting plays and getting defenses and checking plays based on defenses that I’m getting. That’s completely absurd. ... I hear other players, based on what I’ve heard on television, [say] that ‘Brady’s getting defenses.’ I’m saying, ‘That’s just ridiculous.’ That part does take away from what we have accomplished” (BOSTON HERALD, 9/18).

STRANGE TIMING: NFL Network has been running a promo for several months as part of its “This Is NFL Network” campaign featuring two members of the Patriots’ equipment staff holding up Belichick’s hooded sweatshirt saying, “This is the absolute, genuine article.” In San Jose, John Ryan wrote “absolute” and “genius” are not words one would “expect to see associated with Belichick in a league-issued press release these days.” NFL Network spokesperson Krista Ostensen said, “It’s not to imply that he is the genuine article or anything else. It’s just that the NFL Network carries genuine articles. It is the hoodie that we’re referring to, not him” (MERCURYNEWS.com, 9/17).

DAMAGE TO MANGINI? In N.Y., Selena Roberts writes Jets coach Eric Mangini “didn’t just flip on Belichick” by alerting the league to the taping that went on, he “also humiliated the respected Patriots owner and league power player" Robert Kraft. Roberts: “That sin has left Mangini toxic to some team executives. After all, would you trust him? Is there anyone ... that he wouldn’t betray in a pinch?” (N.Y. TIMES, 9/18).