Belichick: Patriots '100% in compliance' with filming rules
Bill Belichick defended the New England Patriots on Monday against accusations of a potential Spygate sequel involving the Cincinnati Bengals.
"Yeah, I heard about this, and evidently this is our production people on the TV show that were there and I have absolutely nothing to do - we have absolutely nothing to do - with anything that they produce or direct or shoot," the head coach said during WEEI's "Ordway, Merloni, and Fauria" radio show.
"I have never even seen any of their tapes or anything else," Belichick continued. "This is something that we 100% have zero involvement with. This is something you'd have to talk to the production people about and what they were doing, or whatever it was. We have never seen anything that they've shot, other than what has come down on TV."
The Bengals grew suspicious Sunday after reportedly noticing a Patriots film crew was videotaping their sideline from the press box during their Week 14 game against the Cleveland Browns. The NFL apparently confiscated the tape and is investigating the matter.
Those working for the Patriots apparently received credentials from the Browns. They said they were obtaining footage for their popular "Do Your Job" video series.
"Again, from a football standpoint, we absolutely know what the rules are and we are 100% in compliance, to the best of my knowledge, of every single rule that we're responsible for," Belichick said. "What another part of the organization does or doesn't do as part of their - whether it is game presentation or TV shows - I have no idea what that is."
In 2007, the Patriots were fined $250,000 and stripped of a first-round pick after the NFL found the team had been illegally videotaping opponents' signals since at least 2000. Belichick was fined $500,000 for his role in the scandal.
In a statement Monday evening, the Patriots acknowledged a three-person crew "inappropriately filmed the field from the press box" and accepted "full responsibility for the actions of our production crew."
The Bengals and Patriots will face each other in Week 15.