BOSTON -- New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady has broken his silence on the spying scandal that enveloped his team after a Patriots cameraman was caught videotaping a New York Jets coach's signals during last weekend's season-opening game.

In a conference call Wednesday, Brady told reporters the team isn't even thinking about the flap, saying, "I don't think it's a concern of anybody. It's certainly not a concern of mine. I don't think anybody cares too much about what people say or what they do."

Brady's comments followed Patriots coach Bill Belichick's brief statement Wednesday where he issued a terse written statement before his regular weekly team news conference saying, "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."

Belichick indicated he may have misinterpreted the National Football League's rules regarding recording games.

"Earlier this week, I spoke with Commissioner (Roger) Goodell about a videotaping procedure during last Sunday's game and my interpretation of the rules. At this point, we have not been notified of the league's ruling," Belichick said.

After that, Belichick brushed off repeated attempts by reporters to get him to talk about the scandal, saying his team is focusing on the San Diego Chargers game on Sunday. The Patriots were accused of spying during Sunday's game against the New York Jets by Jets coach Eric Mangini. NFL security officials confiscated a video camera from Patriots video assistant Matt Estrella on the sideline Sunday.

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

"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."

Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher, a co-chairman of the NFL's competition committee, said the league is trying to keep technology from overtaking the game.

"If they are in fact found guilty of this, it only shows that the steps the league has taken are good steps," Fisher said. "There's no place for it. Everybody clearly understands the rules. The competition committee's responsibility is to protect the integrity of the game. With technology the way it is right now, things could get out of hand in a matter of weeks if we don't protect the integrity of the game."

Patriots players also tried to focus on their upcoming game.

"I'm the last person in the world to know any of that stuff, anyway," offensive lineman Matt Light said. "I could care less what happens outside of my little world."

The NFL commissioner, however, has a lot to care about.

In a busy year for his misbehaving minions, the commissioner has already banned Tennessee cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones for the entire season after repeated run-ins with police. Atlanta quarterback Michael Vick has been suspended indefinitely while he faces a likely jail term for his role in a dogfighting ring.

The Bengals had 10 players charged with crimes during a 14-month span, and both receiver Chris Henry and linebacker Odell Thurman are currently suspended. Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer wants Goodell to be consistent with his punishment, whether the offender is wearing a uniform or not.

"Hopefully there's a harsh enough penalty that it's not worth it to try to cheat and try to get any advantage that you're not allowed to get," Palmer said. "I hope the commissioner is just as harsh on them as he's been on individual players for making mistakes."

Other players reacted strongly. Giants defensive end Michael Strahan compared the situation to "the cheating ref in basketball."

The Patriots were caught once before. Last November, during their 35-0 victory in Green Bay, the Packers caught Estrella shooting unauthorized video told him to stop.

"When you look back, it's scary," Packers cornerback Al Harris said. "I think highly of their coaching staff and their personnel, but if that's the case, that's not right. I would consider it cheating."

"It's really hard to say (they should) forfeit games," Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward said. "Draft picks would hurt a lot of teams; take away their first or second-round pick - that would be a stiff penalty to make sure nobody does it again.

"You would hope that, during their run, when they were winning all their Super Bowls, all that stuff wasn't going on. You look back ... it seemed like they were a step ahead of us at all times."

Also at stake is the legacy of the NFL's latest dynasty, one that memorably rejected individual on-field introductions before its first Super Bowl victory, instead "choosing to be introduced as a team."

Stressing individual discipline and salary cap selflessness in a league where they tend to be in short supply, the Patriots won three NFL titles in four years and held themselves up as a model organization.

Now, they're being accused of cheating.

"That's not going to tarnish this team," running back Kevin Faulk said. "We know what we do and how hard we work."

Linebacker Chad Brown, who re-signed for a second stint with the team this week and landed in the middle of the tumult, acknowledged it would be embarrassing if the allegations turn out to be true. But he also said the videotaping is an offshoot of the gamesmanship all teams indulge in.

"I think that all the facts should come out before people judge this organization," Brown said. "I think we do things the right way."