This is an exerpt from the Jets sideline reporter examining the evidence of the Jet fans photos sent to the commissioner.
These are quotes fror rorjets, who is the official JI photographer, so his posts carry some weight here....
Quote:
Originally Posted by rorjets
Interesting quotes from Kraft - there is NO flat out denial in any of his comments from that story, or from any Patriot officials that I have read. If this is just a bunch of bull do-do, why not come out and say so. This is a classic CYA approach that Kraft has taken.
As far as the photos that Fish provided, let me just add what I know for sure as a sideline phtographer. All still photographers are required to wear the red vests that you see in the photos. The only other video/film people allowed on the sidelines during the game, as far as I know, are the network people covering the game, and the NFL film crew. You can clearly see the NFL crew cameraman in Fish 's JPEG 147; he is near the 30 yard marker in the orange vest kneeling and shooting towards the coaches. The network guys are on the big camera dollies that move up and down the sidelines. I don't remember a network guy hand-holding a camera on the sideline, that is usually done when there is sideline reporters working the game. So who is that guy with the brown shirt? His credential is too small to be network. Now, there is the possibility he works for the local affiliate, which would be CBS in NYC, as I believe they are also granted access during the game. However, the sound guy with the boom is a mystery, as they mostly use those for interviews. Otherwise they use the parabolic booms along the sidelines.
The question arose as to why they would be on the Jets sideline as opposed to the Patriots. One reason is that the area between the 30 yard lines is off limits to all but team members, so it would require a very powerful telephoto lense to shoot hand signals with enough clarity of image from across the field and beyond the 30 yard marker. It doesn't appear to me that the camera he is holding would deliver that kind of imagery. And remember, you are allowed to move from sideline to sideline during commercial breaks, so they could have moved around abit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rorjets
IMO that camera, with the lens it has on it, would probably not provide a sharp enough image from across the field to easily discern hand signals. The image quality from that distance (60 -70 yards, maybe?) wouldn't be much better then what the coaches along the opposing sideline could see with the naked eye.
However, from the Jets sideline, where they are positioned in Fish's photos, they could get excellent image quality, and could probably focus in on just the mid-torso with the arms & hands promenently displayed. This would allow quick analysis of the hand signals.
I still haven't heard a definitive report as to where they (or he) was caught on the field.
Quote:
Originally Posted by rorjets
I just heard on ESPN that the cameraman was caught on the Jets side. I would say that Fish's photos are the SMOKING GUN Evidence, with the cameraman obviously focusing on the defensive coaches
