NFL clampdown after spying scandal

NEW YORK
(AP) — The NFL is continuing to
monitor spying devices following the penalties levied by commissioner Roger
Goodell this week against the New England Patriots.

New England
coach Belichick was fined $500,000 by NFL
commissioner Goodell over a ‘spying’ scandal.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday that
new memos on both videotaping and electronic surveillance of signals have gone
out to all 32 teams reminding them of bans on the various types of
surveillance.

“We
just want to remind people how the rules work,” Aiello said.

In his
first public comments about the incident, Goodell said before Sunday night’s
Chargers-Patriots game on NBC that he reserved the right to expand the
punishment if he were to learn additional or different information.

He added
that he believed
New England owner Robert Kraft,
who said he was not aware of the spying.

Goodell
said he trusted that the Patriots would turn over all the information to the
league that was requested.

“I’m
very confident the Patriots are going to abide by the rules,” he said.
“They understand that the consequences could increase.”

Goodell
fined
New England coach Bill Belichick
$500,000 and fined the team $250,000 following the confiscation of a video
camera from a Patriots representative on the field during the season opener at
the Jets.

Videotaping
on the field is forbidden during games.

New England
also will forfeit its first-round draft choice if
it makes the playoffs this season, or its second and third-round choices if it
doesn’t.