What Actually Happened in Spygate? Did the NFL Punish Patriots & Bill Belichick For ‘Cheating’?

The New England Patriots are facing fresh scrutiny with Apple TV+ docuseries “The Dynasty: New England Patriots” re-opening old wounds around their cheating allegations.

The two-decade dominance of the Patriots had its share of controversies. They have been accused of cheating multiple times – most noteworthy being the Spygate and Deflategate scandals. Episode 3 of the docuseries shined a bright light on the events surrounding Spygate and what was happening in the team around that time.

The Spygate controversy accused the Patriots of bending NFL rules that prohibited any form of videotaping on and off the field. Owing to Spygate  Patriots’ video assistant Matt Estrella gave rise to the controversy by filming New York Jets’ signals during a game on September 9, 2007. 

Since Belichick was in charge of the Patriots he was assumed to be enlightened about this action. Talking about the former coach’s role behind the illegal action, the Patriots CEO, Robert Kraft commented, “I said to him, ‘Than you’re a real schmuck.’”

Besides Belichick, the former quarterback Tom Brady too got dragged into the scandal. However, it was the former coach that protected the players including Brady as the quarterback claimed, “‘Just shut your mouth, focus on what your job is. None of you guys know anything about it. None of you guys have any information about it. I’ll deal with it how I need to deal with it, and you guys focus on your job.’” Even though Belichick took responsibility for the wrong-doing he failed to escape the consequences.

Belichick’s take on his role unveiled

For the injustice caused by the Jets, the team along with the coach had to pay heavily. As per the reports, on 13th September 2007, the NFL fined the then Patriots coach, Belichick and the remuneration amounted to $500,000. Not only the coach but the Patriots as a team too was fined $250,000. The accusation did not cease since in the very next year the Patriots were held responsible for destroying the tapes, two days before Super Bowl XLII. 

Read More: Spygate Scandal: Scott Pioli Opens Up on the Patriots’ Growing ‘Addiction’ That Led Them Towards the Controversial Episode

However, as the conversation progressed, it was then, that the coach justified himself by claiming that the filming of the opponents had no impact on their victory or loss whatsoever. He confidently asserted, “Again you can get those same signals sitting up in the press box and writing down what the signal is and what the play was and doing it that way. Those signals are available to anybody who wants to see them.” 

As time passes by, fans are left with new threads to untangle evolving as standards of fair play. With the Steelers bringing in new allegations by further opening the scrutiny of the Spygate controversy, it is now to be seen how Bill Belichick takes his stand this time. 

Also Read: Terry Bradshaw Attests Travis Kelce ‘Bumped Accidentally’ on Andy Reid at Super Bowl LVIII: “Didn’t Push Him”