The signing of Cam Newton was not the only news from the New England Patriots that came out on Sunday night.
According to a report by ESPN’s Mike Reiss, the Patriots have been fined $ 1.1 million and robbed in a third-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for illegally registering the Cincinnati Bengals bench prior to the Week 15 matchup. of the teams last December.
In addition, the NFL reportedly banned Patriots production teams from shooting any game during the 2020 NFL season, requiring “top club officials” to undergo “training on how the league works and game policies “and banned David Mondillo, the Kraft Sports and Entertainment cameraman caught filming the Cincinnati sideline as part of a role in a Patriots preview:” from NFL facilities until further notice. ”
The Patriots also fired Montillo before the NFL gave his punishment, according to the Reiss report.
News in development: The NFL has imposed the following penalties on the Patriots for its television team filming the Cincinnati field and sideline during a December game between the Bengals and the Browns, according to sources: pic.twitter.com/ Co8kvuofR6
– Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 29, 2020
In 2016, the Deflategate investigation resulted in the loss of first- and fourth-round Patriots draft picks, a $ 1 million fine, and a four-game suspension for quarterback Tom Brady. After Spygate, the Patriots were fined $ 250,000, head coach Bill Belichick was fined $ 500,000, and New England lost its first-round pick in 2008.
This latest incident occurred during a Bengals-Cleveland Browns game on December 8. The NFL’s subsequent investigation spanned nearly seven months.
In a team statement released Dec. 9, the Patriots said they “accept full responsibility” for the breach, describing it as an honest mistake by a member of their production team, who, Belichick says quickly, has “zero participation.” in New England. Soccer operation.
Minutes before news of the Patriots’ punishment hit social media, multiple media reported that the team had signed Newton, the former Carolina Panthers quarterback, with a one-year contract laden with incentives.
Thumbnail photo via Joe Maiorana / USA TODAY Sports Images
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