NFL investigating possible Broncos filming violation

[Slainte]

NFL investigating possible Broncos filming violation

In an echo of the New England Patriots' "Spygate" scandal, the NFL is investigating whether a Broncos employee videotaped a San Francisco 49ers walk-through at London's Wembley Stadium four weeks ago.


Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis confirmed Friday that Steve Scarnecchia, the team's director of video operations, is on a "personal leave of absence" while team and league officials investigate the matter, but he declined to comment further. Scarnecchia did not travel with the team to San Diego last weekend and has not been at the team's Dove Valley complex this week.


The Broncos are actively working with the NFL on the investigation, according to team sources. Reached at his home Friday, Scarnecchia declined to comment. League spokesman Greg Aiello also declined to comment. Broncos coach Josh McDaniels could not reached for comment Friday afternoon.

McDaniels and Scarnecchia both previously worked for the Patriots, Scarnecchia between 2001 and 2005 and McDaniels between 2001 and 2009 before being hired by the Broncos. In 2007, the Patriots were found to have videotaped New York Jets coaches sending in signals during a game between the two teams, which is against league rules.
Following a league investigation, commissioner Roger Goodell stripped the Patriots of their first-round pick in the 2008 draft. He also fined the Patriots $250,000 and fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000.
McDaniels hired Scarnecchia to run the Broncos' video operations shortly after he accepted the job in January 2009.


Upon his formal introduction as the team's 12th head coach, McDaniels was asked about the effect of "Spygate" on his candidacy for the job, as well as whether either Broncos owner Pat Bowlen or Ellis asked him about Spygate during either of his two interviews with team officials.


At that time McDaniels said: "That situation was something that happened. I was not aware of that. I wasn't aware of it and all the things that did happen in terms of that whole scenario. It really didn't affect us, to tell you the truth. It was all about preparation and trying to do whatever we felt was best that week. It really didn't have anything to do with that.
"I don't think it is good. To have that kind of attention was a distraction, and I think that is how we all treated it. We tried to do the best we could to limit those distractions every week, and it will be no different here. Certainly we are never looking to do anything that is not within the rules established by the National Football League. They determined the punishment on that, and it was what it was and we moved on."


The NFL's current investigation revolves around practices held by the Broncos and the 49ers on Saturday, Oct. 30, in Wembley Stadium. Both teams were allotted time to hold walk-through practices at the stadium that day. It was the only time while the two teams were in England that they would have used the same facility to practice on the same day. Teams normally bar anyone not associated with the team from watching practice. Taping another team's practice could result in a severe penalty from the NFL.


The next day the 49ers defeated the Broncos, 24-16. Denver enters Sunday's game against St. Louis at 3-7.


Scarnecchia continued to perform his usual day-to-day duties after the team's return from London but was not on the team's chartered flight to San Diego last Sunday and has not been seen on the practice field this week.


U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter, in a statement on the Senate floor dated May 14, 2008, made specific references to Scarnecchia regarding what he termed "extensive videotaping of opponents' offensive and defensive signals" by the Patriots between 2000 and 2007. Specter was relating interviews he had with a former Patriots employee, Matt Walsh.


The NFL punished the Patriots only for the specific videos made against the Jets.


Jeff Legwold: 303-954-2359 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 303-954-2359 end_of_the_skype_highlighting or jlegwold@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/broncos/ci_16720519

[WebGem]

Didn't the 49ers win that game?

[Dante84]

In on 1st page of what's sure to be a great thread.

Holy shit.

[Dante84]

Also...

Todd Haley is vindicated: "There's a lot of shit being talked about you"

[WebGem]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Also...

Todd Haley is vindicated: "There's a lot of shit being talked about you"

Any way he had some sort of clue about this before saying that?

[Pushead2]

who gives a shit, they beat the **** out of us...

[Dante84]

Originally Posted by Pushead2

who gives a shit, they beat the **** out of us...

Their coach might get fired, they may get stripped of draft picks, and they are in our division.

I ****ing hate the Broncos, so I give a shit.

[WebGem]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Their coach might get fired, they may get stripped of draft picks, and they are in our division.

I ****ing hate the Broncos, so I give a shit.

Unfortunately I can't find a way to give this man rep from Tapatalk. Someone got me covered? Goodnight planet. And **** the Broncos.

[58kcfan89]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Their coach might get fired, they may get stripped of draft picks, and they are in our division.

I ****ing hate the Broncos, so I give a shit.

This + we get them in Arrowhead in 7 days. I say keep the starters in & run the score up on those ****os(assuming we come out & act like we want to play, unlike the game in Incestco).

[Dante84]

Also, if I may pat myself on the back, I believe I will:

http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showpost....&postcount=400

Originally Posted by Dante84

I think its fair that Haley wasn't upset about the score differential in regards to McDwarf.... He understands how the game works.

There MUST have been other issues at hand: McDwarf and Co. laughing when Moeaki was hurt, The replay equipment being faulty, McDwarf talking shit to Chiefs players, or even underground league situations that the public isn't privy to.

You have to assume there was some other issue.

ALSO:

Haley's audio was recorded during the incident, and he said: "There's a lot of shit being said about you!"

Now that doesn't sound like a quote derived from a man pissed about a score differential.

http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showpost....&postcount=405

Originally Posted by Dante84

Well, the unfortunate thing is we won't know until someone decides to talk about it; at which point the issue will probably be old and moot.

It is a fair assumption that something happened; there was plenty of smoke - there was a fire somewhere.

[Dante84]

And finally:

http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showpost....&postcount=434

Arrowhead Pride article:


The "Snub".

From a YahooSports article:

Audio of the brief exchange between the two was provided to The Associated Press by WDAF-TV in Kansas City. McDaniels does not speak but Haley can clearly be heard saying as he pointed at the Denver coach and turned to walk away, "There’s a lot of (expletive) being talked about you."

The incident inflamed Broncos fans and is certain to be front and center among Chiefs followers when the Broncos visit Arrowhead Stadium on Dec. 5.

Now why would Haley say that there is a lot of #$@% being talked about you? Why would a coach that has NEVER not shock the hand of the opposing coach suddenly do that on Sunday? Didn't this seem VERY out of character? There had to be more behind this.

Ready to take a trip into the past? Let's go back a couple years and head over to the city of Boston.

There was a team called the New England Patriots that were just shredding teams up. But there became some wonder why this was happening. One word: spygate.

It was known that the Patriots were involved in filming and stealing signs from the other team. This allowed for them to know every play that was going on before the ball was even snapped.

Fast Forward to Sunday: The KC Chiefs dominated the Broncos last year. The Broncos sat at 30th against the run while the Chiefs sat at the top of the league. The Chiefs D has been playing middle of the pack but looked like a high school team out there on Sunday. Didn't it seem like things were going almost too well for the Broncos?

Go back to the past: Does anyone know the QB coach during the spygate? You guessed it: Mr. McDaniels. It makes sense as to why Haley would not say something like... "You are mine" or "Watch it boy". No, he said "There’s a lot of (expletive) being talked about you." What is being said? I guess you can be the judge of that... but something stinks. Stinks real bad.

In the words of Nick Wright: "I'm not saying, I'm just saying."

http://www.arrowheadpride.com/2010/1...aniels-and-why

This sounds like a reach to me.... but an interesting angle regardless.

Either way, **** McD.

[Al Bundy]

Originally Posted by Dante84

Also, if I may pat myself on the back, I believe I will:

http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showpost....&postcount=400




http://chiefsplanet.com/BB/showpost....&postcount=405

Don't separate your shoulder.

[Al Bundy]

Ohhhh and Donk douchebaggery is in full force.

[cdcox]

Couldn't happen to a better team than the Broncos*.

*Violated the salary cap during their Super Bowl seasons.

[greg63]

Can't say that I'm surprised.