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Sep 14, 2007 2:30 pm US/Eastern
Belichick, Patriots Fined $750K For Spying
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
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Coach Bill Belichick was aware of the situation during the game, according to reports.
Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images
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The man at the center of all this controversy is Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella, who is in his fourth season with the Pats.
CBS
The NFL has fined New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and the team a total of $750,000 for videotaping an opponent's signals.
The team has also been told to forfeit draft choices.
The Pats were caught videotaping the New York Jets' defensive signals during last Sunday's 38-14 win at the Meadowlands.
Belichick was fined the NFL maximum of $500,000 and the Patriots were ordered to pay $250,000.
Commissioner Roger Goodell ordered the team to give up next year's first-round draft choice if it reaches the playoffs and second- and third-round picks if it doesn't.
In a letter to the Patriots, Goodell says the episode represents a "calculated and deliberate attempt" to avoid long-standing rules designed to encourage fair play and promote honest competition.
Belichick released a written statement Thursday night.
"I accept full responsibility for the actions that led to tonight's ruling. Once again, I apologize to the Kraft family and every person directly or indirectly associated with the New England Patriots for the embarrassment, distraction and penalty my mistake caused," he said.
Belichick added that, "Our use of sideline video had no impact on the outcome of last week's game. We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress."
He went on to say that his "interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect."
Patriots owner Robert Kraft issued a statement Friday.
"I believe that Coach Belichick always tries to do what is best for the team and he is always accountable for his decisions," Kraft said. "He has been a very important part of what our organization has accomplished over the last seven years. In this case, one of his decisions has resulted in a severe penalty for our franchise. He has paid a heavy price and so has our organization. He has apologized for his actions. I accept his apology and look forward to working with him as we move forward."
The incident isn't the first time the Pats have gotten caught up in this kind of situation. Former Houston Texans general manager Charlie Casserly brought it up on "The NFL Today" last December. "The Patriots now, got caught doing something earlier in the year that they weren't supposed to be doing. They had a man on their sideline, dressed in coaching attire, with a video camera, who was presumably videotaping the other team's signals. You can't do that. They were warned… happens again, they're going to be disciplined."
According to a SurveyUSA poll, 38 percent of pro football fans thought Belichick's punishment was too harsh, and 39 percent said it was just right. The survey polled 413 professional football fans in the Boston area.
Click here to see the results.The same poll also found that 84 percent of the fans believe the team should not have to forfeit last week's game. Some 94 percent of those polled said they believe the Patriots are not the only team that has spied on another team, but that they are just the only team that has been caught.
(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
