McDaniels, Scarnecchia Punished In New 'Spygate'
BOSTON (CBS/AP) – There's a sequel to "Spygate" and the people involved were once associated with the New England Patriots.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell fined the Denver Broncos and coach Josh McDaniels $50,000 each Saturday because the team's video operations director broke league rules by filming a San Francisco 49ers practice in London last month.
The NFL investigation determined that Steve Scarnecchia took the six-minute video of the walkthrough and presented it that day to McDaniels. The coach declined to view it.
But the NFL fined both the coach and team because the matter was not reported, as required by league policy.
"We certainly did not view or do anything with the footage, and he was made aware that it was something we didn't condone in our organization," McDaniels said Saturday. "I failed to follow through and report it to the proper individuals in our organization and with the league."
Scarnecchia was fired by the Broncos.
Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis said the team was aware Scarnecchia had been involved in Spygate, but not the specifics, when hired.
"He knew full well coming in what was expected of him in terms of the type of behavior we expect out of him," Ellis said on a conference call.
Goodell has notified Scarnecchia that as a repeat violator of league rules regarding integrity, he will have a hearing to determine if he is banned from the NFL.
NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said there was no evidence McDaniels was involved with the videotaping in New England.
McDaniels was Bill Belichick's offensive coordinator during the original "Spygate" involving the Patriots in 2007.
Scarnecchia worked in the Patriots video department from 2000-to-2005.
His father, Dante, is the Patriots assistant head coach and longtime offensive line coach.
McDaniels hired Steve Scarnecchia in Denver shortly after he became the Broncos' coach 22 months ago.
(TM and © Copyright 2010 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
