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The New England Patriots video producer released a statement Sunday detailing his involvement with his crew filming the Cincinnati Bengals sideline earlier this month for a web series, apparently unbeknownst to the organization.
According to Pro Football Talk, the statement was released “without the knowledge or involvement of the team.”
It’s the same notion that Patriots coach Bill Belichick insisted upon last week – that the football side of the franchise had no knowledge the entertainment side was filming the Bengals.
David Mondillo, the supervising producer for Kraft Sports and Entertainment, was suspended before the Patriots’ game against the Bengals, according to the Boston Globe.
Mondillo, an 18-year veteran producer, said: “It never occurred to me that my actions and the actions of my crew would be misconstrued.”
New England Patriots wide receiver N'Keal Harry (15) celebrates his touchdown with quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Gary Landers)
Mondillo said he and the production crew received the proper permission, credentials and a parking pass for the Bengals’ Dec. 8 game against the Cleveland Browns. He said the crew started recording on Dec. 6 following the pro scout and his day-to-day work.
“The final element needed to complete the story was to shoot from the press box at [FirstEnergy Stadium] to show the audience what his responsibilities are on game day,” Mondillo said.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUSPEND VIDEOGRAPHER INVOLVED IN FILMING CINCINNATI BENGALS SIDELINE: REPORT
“We went directly to the press box and set up our camera to get the footage we needed. We interviewed and shot the Patriots scout sitting in a chair watching the action and panned back and forth from him to what he was seeing on the sidelines. We also took footage of the field as the intent was to show what he was looking at when he looked through his binoculars watching the game.
New England Patriots running back Brandon Bolden (38) is tackled by Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Darius Phillips, center left, in the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Cincinnati. (AP)
“At that point, I went to the restroom and when I came back, my cameraman was told to stop shooting by someone from the NFL and he was joined by two others from the Bengals organization and an additional NFL security person. We stopped shooting immediately when asked to do so and cooperated fully. We had a detailed exchange about who we were and why we were there and what they wanted us to do. I gave the Sony SXS card to NFL security and we complied at their request, packed up and went home. I had no intention to provide footage to football operations, I did not provide any footage and I was never asked to do so.”
Earlier Sunday, FOX Sports NFL insider Jay Glazer revealed video showing the Bengals security guard confronting the Patriots’ videographers over the sideline filming. The videographer said he didn’t know he wasn’t allowed to film the sideline and asked the security guard if he could delete the footage.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS COULD FACE HARSH PUNISHMENT IN LATEST FILMING CONTROVERSY: REPORT
Glazer reported that the Bengals security brought over NFL security who confiscated the video and gave it to the league.
The Patriots could be facing a loss of a draft pick and a hefty fine over the footage, CBS Sports reported.
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Pro Football Talk reported that the investigation has yet to really “begin rolling.”
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