"“Video taping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent’s offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches’ booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game.”"
Are you following along? I said show me the rule that says videotaping is cheating, or that it gives teams unfair advantage, or heck even that it breaks the bounds of fairplay. This rule only addresses using cameras from certain locations and the type of masonry that surrounds them.
Mind you, I'm more than willing to assume these rules were put in place in order to insure fair play, and that even though they don't state this explicitly, they are there to prevent teams from cheating. I am more than willing to accept that. I'm also more than willing to accept that breaking this rule constitutes cheating.
But then the NFL on multiple occasions made it clear that this rule has nothing to do with stealing signal, cheating, fair play, etc.
1. Steve Alic after the Dolphins game last year said stealing signals from a tape you make on the field is OK.
2. Goodell's statement said the Patriots didn't cheat but somehow they violated fairplay. Nice hedge and contradiction, lawyer.
3. Goodell told Bob Costas on national television that the NFL has no intention of policing secretive videotapes, and that the Patriots were doing it in the open, and therefore hurting the league's public relations.
4. When apprised that the Jets were filming without authorization, the NFL said it was legal.
5. The NFL obviously doesn't mind it when this so-called sacrosanct rule above is violated, as they have made clear.
As I said, I'm more than willing to accept that violating the rule above is a form of cheating, and I've already admitted that the Patriots obviously were using the film to gain advantage in future games. But then the NFL says, well, it's OK to steal signals. so what am I left to conclude? I'm left to conclude that the implied intent behind this rule doesn't have anything to do with fair play, etc. It has nothing to do with cheating. The NFL is clear about this. I guess I can only assume that the rule should be taken literally (no filming from the sideline) even though other teams are allowed to violate the rule, literally.
I agree the Patriots used the videotape to their advantage. This is legal in the NFL. There is no rule against it. Next time, the Patriots should steal signals secretly from the stands. That way, the league won't care.
