Report: Patriots Under Investigation for Allegedly Videotaping Bengals' Play Calls

The New England Patriots are under league investigation for allegedly videotaping the Cincinnati Bengals' play calls during their Week 14 game against the Cleveland Browns, according to Dianna Russini of ESPN.

The NFL league office is investigating per sources. https://t.co/t8H4gkCIBA
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 9, 2019

The incident was brought up during a press conference today with Bengals head coach Zac Taylor when a reporter asked Taylor if he could confirm that a Patriots employee was videotaping their play calls. Taylor said "No comment and we are aware," according to Russini.

Russini also reached out to the Bengals organization for further comment on the situation, but a spokesperson said they have no further comment.

I reached out to the Bengals to get more information and a statement on the situation involving this alleged videotaping. Spokesperson says for right now they are aware of the situation, the league office is aware, and they have no further comment.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 9, 2019

ESPN Insider Adam Schefter shared not long after that New England was reportedly filming an advance scout who was not filming. He was being filmed for a feature the team produces called "Do Your Job." According to Schefter, the video crew was credentialed by the Browns to shoot video in the press box and their PR person was aware.

Patriots’ advance scout was not filming but being filmed, per a league source. He was being filmed for a feature the team produced called, "Do Your Job." The video crew was credentialed by the Browns to shoot video in the press box and their PR person was aware, per the source
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2019

Schefter said that a Bengals official saw a member of the video crew wearing a Patriots shirt and alerted the league. The league then confiscated the video.

An official for the Bengals, who were playing at Cleveland Sunday, saw a member of the video crew wearing a Patriots’ shirt and alerted the league, which confiscated the video, according to the source. NFL has video; Patriots say video is a press-box feature of the advance scout.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 9, 2019

Russini reached out to the Patriots organization regarding the incident, and New England said that this a very big misunderstanding and lack of communication with Cincinnati.

Just spoke to New England about the situation. Apparently this was a very BIG misunderstanding and lack of communication with the Bengals.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) December 9, 2019