The NFL has come down hard on the Patriots once again, for their videotaping incident in Cincinnati last season.
This time the NFL fined the Patriots $1.1 million, and took away their third-round pick in 2021. They will also not allow Kraft Sports Productions to shoot any games in 2020 as well as have senior club officials take training on league operations and game policies.
Although it may have seemed minor, the Patriots brought this one upon themselves by being careless. The Patriots should have used extreme caution when filming anything. The good news is Bill Belichick has already found a way to make up for the missing draft pick by signing Cam Newton. If he has a successful season and leaves as a free agent that pick would be replaced with a compensatory pick. Belichick is always 3 steps ahead of the rest of the league.
Developing news story: The NFL has handed down the following penalties to the Patriots for their television crew filming the field and Cincinnati sideline during a December game between the Bengals and Browns, per sources: pic.twitter.com/Co8kvuofR6
— Mike Reiss (@MikeReiss) June 29, 2020
This is very New England: Now if Cam Newton plays well in 2020, and leaves as a free agent, the Patriots could get back a compensatory 2022 third-round pick to help make up for 2021 third-round pick the NFL is taking away from New England for its videotape violation.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) June 29, 2020