Bill Belichick has shared all that he’d like to share about the NFL’s investigation into the New England Patriots videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals sideline in Week 14.
The Patriots coach spoke with the media on Monday and Tuesday. The Patriots released a statement on Tuesday. His openness on the topic ended during during a press conference on Wednesday.
Belichick fielded additional questions about the incident, where a Patriots.com production team filmed the Bengals’ sideline in — what the Patriots are saying — was a video feature on the day-to-day life of an advance scout, whose job is to go to an upcoming opponents’ game to view the team’s opposing sideline. The Patriots have admitted to accidental wrongdoing. They said the production team didn’t know the rules, and therefore broke them unintentionally.
But if there was a scout in the press box with the production team, what was he doing while the production team broke the rules?
“He was doing his job,” Belichick said. “That’s what we all try to do. … I just answered the question. That’s it. We have no involvement in it.”
A reporter followed up to ask if he’d reached out to Bengals coach Zac Taylor. Belichick interrupted: “Do not have anything to add. Do not have anything to add.”
The Patriots are awaiting a punishment from the NFL. The league is inclined to believe New England, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. But of course, the Patriots’ history — which includes Spygate, a videotaping scandal — may complicate the NFL’s investigation and New England’s punishment.
