NFL Punishes Patriots For Videotaping Sideline Last Season

If you're an NFL fan, then you probably remember the incident in December of 2019, when a New England Patriots videographer was caught videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals sideline during a Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns game. The Patriots played the Bengals the following game.

The Patriots acknowledged that they broke NFL rules by videotaping the Bengals sideline and that it was part of a team website video series they were conducting. They had gotten permission to be in the press box from the Browns but not the Bengals and the league.

Now, the NFL has completed their investigation and handed out punishment.

According to ESPN NFL Nation reporter Mike Reiss, the NFL has handed down the following punishments to New England:

• $1.1 million in team fines.
• Loss of a third-round draft pick in 2021.
• The Patriots TV production crews will be barred from shooting any game day footage in 2020.
• Senior club officials will have required training on league operation and game day policies.

The videographer was let go by the Patriots before the league's punishment but is also banned from NFL facilities until further notice.

This is the third time New England has been given league punishment for cheating scandals. They first were fined and docked a draft pick in 2007 after what is knows as "Spygate." Then they were fined and docked draft picks in 2015 when game-used footballs had air taken out of them by Patriots employees, known as "Deflategate."

In other Patriots news, they signed former NFL MVP and 10-year NFL veteran quarterback Cam Newton to a 1-year contract.