Patriots SpyGate II Video Released And It's Bad for New England
New England Patriots SpyGate II Video Released And Its Bad for the Pats
4:13 PM PT -- Longtime Patriots videographer David Mondillo -- who has reportedly been suspended as a result of the allegations -- released a statement explaining his side of things and says he had NO intentions of handing the footage over to the team.
Mondillo adds he has fully cooperated with the investigation and gave all the recordings to the NFL.
Statement from David Mondillo, Supervising Producer, Kraft Sports and Entertainment. #Patriots pic.twitter.com/0gWGRoErgb
— Tom Leyden (@TomLeyden) December 15, 2019 @TomLeyden
Here it is ... a KEY piece of the video at the center of the Patriots SpyGate II scandal -- and it's reallllllly bad for the Pats.
The footage, obtained by "NFL on FOX" reporter Jay Glazer, shows the moments the Patriots video crew is confronted by Cincinnati Bengals' security last weekend over concerns the crew was illegally shooting video of their sidelines.
During the exchange, you can hear Bengals security express major concerns over the video -- since it REALLY looks like the videographer was SPYING!!
Remember, the Patriots say the video team was tasked to shoot a behind-the-scenes segment on an advanced scout for a show on the Pats website called "Do Your Job."
But, as the Bengals security official points out to the video crew, there's a large chunk of the video where you don't see the scout ... only the Bengals sidelines.
FOX SPORTS EXCLUSIVE: @JayGlazer reveals footage of Patriots filming Bengals. pic.twitter.com/C7U7mopaEm
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) December 15, 2019 @FOXSports
Here's an exchange from the video ...
Bengals Security: "And, this is a piece your filming on your advanced scout?
Pat's video crew: "Yeah."
Bengals Security: "Yeah? C'mon guys! I don't see the advanced scout in this footage!"
Patriots video crew: "No, that's not. We were trying to get some field perspective. That's my bad."
The Patriots crew offered to delete the video but the Bengals security told him, "The damage is done my friend!"
The Bengals immediately referred the matter to NFL security and the league has launched an investigation.
The Patriots have admitted the video team broke league rules -- but they insist the video team was NOT tasked to spy, claiming the whole thing was an accident.
For his part, Glazer says there WILL be a punishment -- but it's unclear what it will be at this point.
Bill Belichick has denied involvement -- claiming the video team does not report to him.
During the "NFL On FOX" pregame show on Sunday, both Michael Strahan and Curt Menefee expressed how BAD of a look it is on the team.
Especially since the Patriots were caught in a video cheating scandal back in 2007 and were punished heavily for it.
The Patriots actually play the Bengals SUNDAY -- a team they're expected to murder, with or without spy video.