BOSTON -- The squeaky clean image of the New England Patriots has been tarnished by a report that there is evidence the team engaged in a serious violation of NFL rules.

ESPN.com reported Tuesday that commissioner Roger Goodell has come to the conclusion that the Patriots violated league rules when they used a camera to tape defensive signals by the New York Jets.

If Goodell decision's becomes final, it could lead to severe sanctions against the team.

It was former Patriots defensive coordinator and now Jets head coach Eric Mangini who blew the whistle on the team. ESPN reported that Mangini alerted NFL security officials who confiscated a camera and tape from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the sideline Sunday.

SportsCenter 5's Mike Dowling reported that Mangini recognized Estrella from his work when he was with the Patriots.

Sources told ESPN that the evidence on the tape confirmed Mangini's suspicion that Estrella was videotaping Jets' defensive coordinator Bob Sutton's hand signals, apparently to relay onto the field.

ESPN reported that Goodell is considering taking away "multiple draft picks" from the Patriots, because it is a serious competitive violation.

The Patriots have been suspected in previous incidents, including a game against the Packers in Green Bay last November.

The Patriots will be allowed to make its case with the NFL this week at a meeting that has been scheduled for Friday. Patriots coach Bill Belichick is expected to participate in a teleconference.

"There is an investigation going on now, and perhaps an adjudication of it, and I think it would be inappropriate at this time to make any comment," team owner Robert Kraft said Tuesday.

"When you're successful in anything, a lot of people like to try to take you down and do different things. We understand that," said Kraft.

Belichick had no comment, saying it was a league matter. Dowling reported Belichick could be fined by the league.

"The rule is that 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," the league said in a statement from spokesman Greg Aiello. "Clubs have specifically been reminded in the past that the videotaping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals on the sidelines is prohibited."

Mangini claimed he saw the spying, but he was remaining mum about the investigation.

"Those are all league-related matters and anything that deals with an issue like this or anything on a team-by-team basis, they all go to the league," Mangini said.

Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs said he's offended by the accusation.

"We take pride in what we do. We know the rules of the game. By no facet or shape or form have we ever tried to cheat or anything like that because we don't need to," Hobbs said in a statement.

• September 10, 2007: NFL Investigates Claim Patriots Spied On Jets