Cafe Home
Fantasy Baseball
Fantasy Basketball
Fantasy Hockey
by gang green51 » Wed Sep 12, 2007 2:00 pm Belichick speaks with Goodell, apologizes for videotape flap
Associated Press
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick apologized to his team on Wednesday and confirmed that he has spoken to NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about his "interpretation" of league rules that ban videotaping of the opposing sideline.
Patriots under investigation for following rules, guidelines violations ...
1. Page 105 of the Game Operations manual says: "No video recording devices of any kind are permitted to be in use in the coaches' booth, on the field, or in the locker room during the game." It later says: "All video shooting locations must be enclosed on all sides with a roof overhead."
2. And, a memo from Ray Anderson, NFL head of football operations, to head coaches and GMs on Sept. 6, 2006 said: "Video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."It was not clear what Belichick was apologizing for, and the coach repeatedly refused to elaborate on a one-paragraph statement issued 10 minutes before a regularly scheduled news conference to discuss Sunday night's game against the San Diego Chargers.
"At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling," Belichick said in a statement. "Although it remains a league matter, I want to apologize to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players. Following the league's decision, I will have further comment."
The statement said Belichick spoke with Goodell this week about a "videotaping procedure" during last Sunday's game and "my interpretation of the rules."
After about 15 minutes discussing Sunday's game, Belichick was pressed harder on his "interpretation of the rules," and the coach walked out of the room.
NFL security confiscated a video camera and tape from a Patriots employee during New England's 38-14 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday. The employee was accused of aiming his camera at the Jets' defensive coaches as they signaled to players on the field.
The NFL Network's Adam Schefter reported on Tuesday night that Goodell has determined the Patriots violated league rules that ban videotaping of defensive signals. The report also said that the NFL would like to meet with Belichick sooner rather than later to discuss the situation.
Schefter also reported that the league could be considering fines, suspensions, loss of draft picks and possibly all three together as punishment for the Patriots.
Asked repeatedly to elaborate on the statement and the effect it might have on his team, Belichick was left begging for football questions. But few in the media workroom had come to hear about San Diego.
"Any questions about the Chargers?" he pleaded in his standard other-things-to-do monotone. "Want to talk about the football game? If not, I think that statement pretty much covers it."
It appeared that he might find no takers, before one reporter asked about defending against Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson.
The coach smiled.
"Whatever happens out there Sunday night, out there on the field, that's where everybody will make their statement," he said.
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d ... nfirm=true
Why is he apologizing to his team? They knew what he was doing. Apologize to the Jets you F'n cheating bastard.
Hanging is to good for him. He's the Nixon of the NFL.
