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Tapes Show Patriots Stole Offensive Signals

ESPN Reports Evidence Shows New England Taped Offensive Signals, Too

POSTED: 12:54 pm EDT May 9, 2008
UPDATED: 1:39 pm EDT May 9, 2008

Video tapes sent to the NFL from a former Patriots video assistant included a tape of the team taping their opponents' offensive signals, ESPN reported Friday.

The team was previously punished for videotaping opponents' defensive signals.

The tape, which was included in a shipment of eight tapes sent by Matt Walsh, was reportedly labeled "OFF Signals" and was from New England's game against the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 7, 2001. According to ESPN, it was the only tape labeled as such on the list of tapes the network obtained.

Walsh's attorney, Michael Levy, confirmed to ESPN that it was the only footage in the former employee's possession of offensive coaches' signaling from the sidelines.

"(It) contains shots of Miami's offensive coaches signaling Miami's offensive players, followed by a shot from the end zone camera of Miami's offensive play, followed by a shot of Miami's offensive coaches signaling Miami's offensive players for the next play, then edited to be followed by a shot of the subsequent Miami offensive play," Levy told ESPN. "And that pattern repeats throughout the entire tape, with occasional cuts to the scoreboard."

The NFL told ESPN on Thursday that it hadn't yet looked at the tapes.

"We don't know (about attempts to steal offensive signals) yet because we haven't looked at the tapes," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told ESPN on Thursday.

"All we have is the list supplied last night (by Walsh's attorney). One of them is labeled 'OFF signals.' None of the others are listed that way. Let us look at the tapes and we'll have more to say about that.

"The rule which the Patriots violated was the policy that prohibits use of equipment for the taping of offensive or defense signals. I know there've been references to defensive signals, which is more logical. But let us look at the tapes and verify what is on there."

Not included in Walsh's shipment to the NFL was a tape of a practice before the 2002 Super Bowl. It was previously rumored that the Patriots taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough the day before the league's championship game.

Walsh is scheduled to meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Tuesday.

The Patriots were punished by the NFL after it was discovered they illegally taped the New York Jets in the season opener. Head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, while the team lost a first-round draft pick and was fined $250,000.


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