The Nation - Videotaping by Patriots catches the NFL's eye - The team is accused of recording an opponent's coaches to steal signals.
The New England Patriots won three Super Bowl titles in four years, building an NFL dynasty in what otherwise was an era of unparalleled competitive balance.
But did a franchise long considered a model of success and efficiency cheat to do it?
That's the pressing question as details emerge about the Patriots' breaking league rules by secretly videotaping the defensive signals of the rival New York Jets on Sunday.
In the National Football League, information is relayed to the field from the sideline in much the same way a hitter gets signs from the third base coach in baseball. And, just like in baseball, most football teams use accepted methods -- the naked eye from across the field -- in attempting to break the signal code and steal the signs.
But videotaping coaches on the sideline takes such gamesmanship "to a new low," said a source from another NFL team who participates in sign stealing. "The way New England is doing it," he added, "is clearly cheating."
Deciphering the code -- typically conveyed through a series of hand and body motions -- would allow the Patriots to give valuable information to their offense. New England's Tom Brady, like every other starting quarterback in the league, wears a radio earpiece to get plays and information from coaches.
On Wednesday, before his regular news conference to discuss the upcoming game against the San Diego Chargers, Patriots Coach Bill Belichick issued a statement on the videotaping matter. He apologized to his team -- although not specifying what he was apologizing for -- and confirmed he has spoken to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the coach's "interpretation" of rules that ban videotaping of the opposing sideline.
The situation came to light Sunday when NFL security confiscated a video camera from a Patriots employee during Sunday's game against the Jets, which New England won, 38-14. Matt Estrella, employed by the team as a video assistant, was accused of aiming his camera at Jets defensive coaches as they signaled to players on the field.
Bob Harlan, chairman of the Green Bay Packers, told ESPN that his team's security guards identified Estrella as the same cameraman who was removed from the sidelines of a game in November against the Patriots at Green Bay's Lambeau Field. The Patriots won that game, 35-0.
A rival coach, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Patriots quarterback Brady would be at a "huge advantage" if he were to know the coverage scheme called by an opposing defense.
