The Patriots last week suspended Dave Mondillo, the "producer who oversaw the filming of the Bengals sideline in Cleveland last week," according to a source cited by Volin & McInerney of the BOSTON GLOBE. Mondillo, is a "longtime full-time employee of Kraft Sports and Entertainment." The NFL "prohibits teams from filming opponents’ sidelines during games." The Patriots "admitted their film crew violated NFL rules but claimed the crew was unaware of the rule." Mondillo in a statement reiterated that his assignment had "nothing to do with the scouting of the Bengals." He said that he "left the area, then returned to find an NFL official, two Bengals officials, and an NFL security person in the area." Mondillo’s team was asked to "stop shooting video and complied." He said that he "gave the memory card with the video to NFL security." Volin & McInerney note the league investigation into the matter is "still pending, but the Patriots could reportedly receive a fine in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and the loss of a low-level draft pick once it culminates" (BOSTON GLOBE, 12/16).
STILL WARMING UP: PRO FOOTBALL TALK's Mike Florio cited sources as saying that the NFL's investigation has "yet to get rolling." One source said that the league office will "turn its attention to the matter" either today or tomorrow. Another source said that the Patriots have "heard little from the league so far" (PROFOOTBALLTALK.com, 12/15). CBS' Jason La Canfora noted the investigation "will ramp up this week." Breaking game-day rules typically has resulted in losing draft picks, but the Patriots are "repeat offenders, which also works against them" ("The NFL Today," CBS, 12/15). Fox' Jay Glazer, who aired a portion of the video yesterday on "Fox NFL Sunday," noted the NFL wants to "act very swiftly here." Glazer: "The league's looking to see who this goes back to (in) deciding what kind of punishment that will be levied. There will be a punishment as a result of this regardless" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 12/15).
POSSIBLE PUNISHMENTS: In DC, Mark Maske cited sources as saying that the NFL's likely discipline toward the Patriots will be "in line with those imposed on teams in recent seasons for infractions of game-day rules." That could mean a "fine in the hundreds of thousands of dollars and potentially the loss or reduction in value of a draft choice, typically a lower-level pick." The Giants were fined $150,000 in '16 for then-coach Ben McAdoo’s "improper use of a walkie-talkie on the sideline during a game," while the Falcons were given a $350,000 penalty in '15 for "pumping artificial crowd noise into their stadium during games." Most other fines for game-day violations fall between that (WASHINGTON POST, 12/15). NBC SPORTS' Peter King notes there "wasn't much angst from club officials over the taping" at last week's NFL league meetings. However, some "sticklers ... think the Patriots should get the book thrown at them." Meanwhile, King writes the footage shown during "Fox NFL Sunday" yesterday "didn't change the story much ... except it ratcheted up the anger from many team people who are convinced the Patriots are guilty" (NBCSPORTS.com, 12/16).
CAN'T FOOL THE EYES: YAHOO SPORTS' Charles Robinson writes Fox' footage made it "crystal clear" that someone on the Patriots’ payroll filmed the Bengals’ sideline "as deliberately as possible." The footage "pans left to right" and "trails player groupings and substitutions." It "settles on a wide-angle shot of the sideline, with the Bengals’ coaching staff in full frame." There is "no escaping that someone working for the team did the one thing that seemed like it couldn’t happen again" with the Patriots. Now the question is how hard the NFL can hit Patriots Owner Robert Kraft to "make a point, but avoid triggering another fistfight with the Patriots." A source said that part of the "labored and deliberate nature of the investigation was because it involved Kraft’s team." Robinson writes between Spygate, Deflategate and Kraft’s recent legal issues, "no owner in history has been caught up in the middle of so many things while simultaneously building the greatest dynasty in NFL history." In turn, "few team owners have done more to help advance the business success and infrastructure in the league, either" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 12/16).
GETTING THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT? The Patriots lost a first-round draft pick and coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 in '07 after the initial Spygate situation, and Fox’ Howie Long said, “I find it hard to believe that Bill Belichick or anyone on that staff would be this dumb to do something this blatant with someone in a New England Patriots’ jersey shooting the sideline and the substitutions. It's shocking." Fox' Terry Bradshaw added, "I can't fathom that ever being the case where (Belichick) is actively involved.” Fox’ Jimmy Johnson: "I just don't believe that they -- any of them -- would have approved of this type of video” ("Fox NFL Sunday," 12/15). CBSSN's Amy Trask said, "I don’t believe that New England did anything malicious. I believe New England did something extraordinarily dumb.” CBSSN’s Jonathan Jones noted many teams are "expanding their digital departments,” and it is possible these new employees “don’t necessarily know the NFL rules.” Jones: “As these NFL teams are trying to grow their businesses outside of what is on the football field, you’re going to get moments like this. All of that said though, the Patriots still have to be punished” ("That Other Pregame Show,” CBSSN, 12/15).
NOT A GOOD LOOK FOR PATS: Fox’ Michael Strahan noted the situation "doesn‘t look good" for the Patriots based on the past. Strahan: "When you think about the Patriots, you think about the history over the last few years of some of the other incidents that they have been involved in" ("Fox NFL Sunday," 12/15). ESPN’s Randy Moss, who played more than three seasons with the Patriots, called it "another black eye" for the franchise. ESPN's Tedy Bruschi, who played his entire 13-year career with the Pats, asked, "Who thought this was a good idea?” Bruschi: “All it does is open up that wound and open up that scab so everybody can just say, ‘They’re cheaters once again.’ What were we thinking? ... That reopens all of this stuff and gives you an easy opportunity to call the New England Patriots cheaters because of all their success, because the way it looks is terrible” ("Sunday NFL Countdown," ESPN, 12/15).
MAKE IT A SPECTACLE: In Boston, Tom Keegan writes the NFL "should conduct a live hearing, followed by a live press conference that includes the Patriots’ videographers and others taking the stand to answer questions from the league and then from reporters." That "might draw a nice audience for the NFL Network." Also, the NFL "should seize the rights to the 'Do Your Job' episode featuring the advance scout, sell ads for it and air it on the NFL Network." It would "enhance the integrity of the league and of the Patriots." Keegan: "Otherwise, we’re all left to guess, all left to take the word of the Patriots and/or league investigators" (BOSTON HERALD, 12/16).
