The NFL fined the New England Patriots $ 1.1 million and took a third-round pick in the 2021 draft among the penalties for filming their television team on the field and on the bench during a Dec. 8 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, league sources said.
Additionally, the Patriots’ television production teams will not be allowed to film any games during the 2020 season, and top club officials will receive the required training on league operation and game policies.
The NFL also banned David Mondillo, who was suspended by the team at the time of the NFL investigation, from NFL facilities until further notice. Before league discipline, Mondillo was fired by the Patriots.
The Patriots admitted that their production team inappropriately filmed the field and margin. The crew received the Browns’ badge to record a video for a Patriots web series called “Do Your Job,” but the Patriots did not report to the Bengals or the NFL what they called an “unintentional oversight.”
“The sole purpose of the filming was to provide an illustration of an advanced explorer at work on the road,” said a statement by the Patriots at the time. “There was no intention to use images for any other purpose.”
The Patriots also said the production team, which included independent contractors who filmed the video, is not part of the New England soccer operation.
A Patriots spokesman confirmed that the team will not contest the sanctions.
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