We heard word earlier this morning that the Patriots had suspended videographer David Mondillo, and now he is speaking out. Mondillo issued a lengthy statement Sunday, via Ben Volin of the Boston Globe (Twitter link).
“On December 8th I was doing what I have done for more than 18 years – working to produce high quality content that tells the unique, behind-the-scenes stories of people, players and the organization. It never occurred to me that my actions and the actions of my crew would be misconstrued,” he begins by saying. “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.”
The exchange Mondillo references is the one that can be seen in the footage obtained by FOX earlier this morning. In that video someone from New England’s crew says “I can delete this right here for you,” before the Bengals rep replies, “the damage is done.” Importantly, Mondillo repeated the company line that the football side of the organization was never going to receive his footage. “I had no intention to provide footage to football operations, I did not provide any footage, and I was never asked to do so,” he said in the statement.
Overall, it certainly doesn’t sound like Mondillo plans on flipping on his employer. He tried to explain why there was extensive footage of the Bengals’ sideline by saying they “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.” The last we heard was that the Patriots were likely to face some type of punishment from the league, and this statement probably doesn’t do anything to change that.
Correct. The statement will do nothing to curb the jealous haters and their thirst for excuses.
So, they needed 8 minutes exclusively of the Bengals sideline to “show what a scout sees looking through binoculars”, but there was no scout in the footage. Seems legit.
The scout wouldn’t see himself through the scouts binoculars, they would get the scout with a separate shot. 8 minutes of b roll isn’t a lot at all either.
I think this guy is trying to save his ass and I’m not saying this dudes statement is true, but as a cameraman I wanted to try and explain it’s pretty legit from his stand point. Also, as someone in the line of work, I think this dude throwing his crew under the bus is really weak of him.
It was the bengals. A pop warner team wouldn’t need to cheat to beat them. This is a bs story. And this is from someone that doesn’t like the Patriots. If you think this had anything to do with football you are looking for a reason to hate the Patriots.
Seriously. 8 minutes of b roll is literally nothing, and b roll is b roll because the scout wasn’t in it lol. Not points to be argued
Xactly, the haters just out for blood.
TIL that enforcing the rules = being ‘out for blood’. You’re a joke.
Rules are for haters.
Well, since the footage was so super sensitive and unbelievably valuable the NFL let FOX air the whole f@#king thing. Hard to take all you pearl clutching haters seriously when what you’ve worked yourself into a froth about isn’t worth even being vetted by NFL officials before release.
Exactly. Only jealous haters acknowledge obvious evidence.
What’s obvious? That film crews film things? You’re really killing it there professor.
You can lead a dunce to evidence, but you can’t make him think.
“It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends on his not understanding it.” – Sinclair
In this case, “salary” refers to your need to convince yourself that serial cheaters are legit winners so you can vicariously claim some sort of victory to fill a gaping hole in your life and/or soul.
“Evidence” LoL.
Could you be any more vague. If you were looking at the evidence you’d see that this was the only time this season the Kraftnproduction film crew
Were deployed to film infield stuff and they had all the remissions & credentials you do it. What’s the evidence say? The 1-12 Bengals were where they had to pull out all the stops?
Talk about a dunce. Could you be any more of a sucker.
What evidence?? I saw the evidence on Twitter as a minimum wage making fan. The evidence is the tape, the video, hero prease.
Idiot, it’s against the rules whether you think they’re stupid or not. And all NFL teams are aware of the rules. Pats broke them. They should and will be punished. End of story. No amount of crying from Pats fans will stop it.
You can’t record. Doesn’t matter why or how good you are or if you would’ve beat them anyway or if it helped. I would, given their history, take away their next 5 first round picks, to make sure it stops definitively.
There is a reason you are not in charge.
They are supposed to be filming an advanced scout, there is no advanced scout in the film. They offered to delete it, because they were caught doing something they werent allowed to do, not out of the goodness of their hearts. They do know there is video evidence that contradicts their position, right?
Sooooo… you didn’t read the press release at all. Not shocking. Enjoy clutching your pearls you fraud:
I love the bathroom excuse!
“I was in the bathroom and my employees didn’t know the we had already been busted for illegally filming the other team”
The Patriots organization is a joke!!
Cheatgate!!
Perfect username Air cuz you’re an airhead
lol, nice comeback trumper!!
Hillary is that you??? That explains a lot
Ha ha I was thinking that!
This guy sounds like James Comey.
Hahaha
Maybe he won’t “flip” on his employer because it’s the truth? Granted I can acknowledge that’s not the most likely possibility, but maybe it would be better to let people draw their own conclusions instead of writing it in for them? Just a thought…
Fake News
trumper
Cop pulls up on a murderer who says…
“I can toss this body in the river right here for you.”
You are genius, dude. Never get tired of your juvenile observations. And from Pittsburgh. Perfect.
Few people try to destroy evidence in such a helpful and courteous manner.
So, be proud.
I am proud.
How about a rousing cheer for the QB who goes down South, rapes a young woman and then tries to lie his way out. You’re the last franchise who should throw stones. That was real crime. This is “he said/she said”
I don’t care about the Steelers. At all.
Now what?
Can you defend the Patriots serial cheating without dime store “whataboutism”?
Sorry dude. I try not to argue with those who have special needs.
Good luck with that
So, that’s a “no, I can’t form a coherent argument that defend the Patriots obviously and incontrovertibly unethical actions so instead I’ll hide behind a middle school insult and go back to my world of delusion like an ostrich that looks and sounds like Archie Bunker.”
Got it.
For the record, that’s pretty much all any Pats sycophant can do at this point.
Now you’re trying to justify your relative lack of knowledge by trying to say I’m a racist?
You’re an absolute joke. You can stand that Pats have accomplished something that will never again be duplicated. You can spew “foul” over every perceived injustice the Pats have personally inflicted upon you. Or just get the sex change.
Sorry. * can’t
I was more referring to you being pasty and rotund and saying things like “cahhh” instead of car, but interesting that your defensiveness immediately went to racist.
Freudian.
And I don’t care about the Pats, I’m here to watch you guzzle the Kool Aid. I’m fascinated by the mental gymnastics of cultists.
Speaking of which…
Are you prepared to stop hiding behind juvenile insults and distractions and finally defend the Patriots actions themselves?
I highly doubt it, because you got nothing, but…let’s see…
Anything?
Why did they violate NFL rules (yet again) and try to destroy the evidence when caught?
Linear thinking isn’t your thing BellTroll.
Archie Bunker was a renowned fictional racist, Genius. Not a Freudian slip. I’m neither round nor pasty.
As for juvenile, I’m only matching your animus. Your football team can’t touch the Pats success, and that drives you nuts.
So snip the junk and be the woman you were born to be already
What @forwhomjoshbelltolls is correct. It is against the rules to film sidelines during a game. Every team in the league knows this. The Pats were caught filming before. This is not the first time. The camera operator instantly offers to destroy the evidence. Nothing wrong in any of that. This is not about any other team except for the Pats and a crew paid for by the Pats filming a team’s sideline during a game. That, my friend is against the rules and since this is not the first time, I would expect a harsher punishment since the last time they were punished for filming against the rules.
^^This was directed to @dynasty in boston
I’ll indulge your attempt at distraction for a moment to point out how desperate it is…
“…like an ostrich that looks and sounds like Archie Bunker.”
I didn’t say an ostrich that THINKS like Archie Bunker. I referred to appearance and accent. Your conscience seems guilty here.
Now, back to the business at hand. Yes or no, without resorting to distractions or 5th grade insults, can you answer the question…?
“Why did they violate NFL rules (yet again) and try to destroy the evidence when caught?”
Oh, and about the Steelers, that makes two of us.
Didn’t the Patriots sign Antonio Brown after his sexual assault allegations THEN consider resigning him a few weeks ago???
No. No one knew about the assault
Until after he signed because she didn’t file any charges until after he signed and despite media speculation the Patriots have never even suggest a reunion. Facts matter
Sadly, the concept of due process sailed right over your head. Shame, that.
I wasn’t present at the time the allegation (this word important). I spelled it for you, making it easier to look up. But in your case. I’m sure it’ll take time. Maybe other members of the family can use sock puppets to help you better understand that it’s best to let those present when the alleged infraction took place, determine guilt, if any.
* allegation took place
“It’s best to let those present when the alleged infraction took place, determine guilt, if any.”
So…your understanding of our judicial system is that whoever happens to be in the room is who solve any given crime? K.
“Why did they violate NFL rules (yet again) and try to destroy the evidence when caught?”
Your lame attempt to say that you can’t speak to any matter unless you were personally in the room. We have the video.
So, I’ll give you yet another try…you seem completely incapable of arguing facts without hiding behind insults and distractions, but…can you answer the question?
“Why did they violate NFL rules (yet again) and try to destroy the evidence when caught?”
The Patriots should be punished for not being smart enough to use a drone (which would have provided just as good of footage as the crew).
That would be a violation of several federal laws in addition to the league rules.
They get caught cheating on more than one occasion now, serious consequences need to be dealt with…
No happy endings for anybody!
Congratulations! You’re the twelve millionth commenter who has posted this thinking how clever they are! Well done!
ridiculous. the man offered to destroy the footage and was told he didnt need to. not on him.
“Oh, you caught me stealing? How bout’ if I just give the money back and we call it square?”
The haters will always target the Pats outta jealousy. They win cuz Belechic runs a tight team. Tom is a leader n together they win. This drama is BS.
They broke the rules and got caught. It’s not ‘the haters’. It’s a recidivist team of cheaters. There’s literally video evidence of it. Stop being a homer buffoon.
Then what is suppose to be? Just a clueless fan like yourself? Stop. Everyone is allowed to be a homer you dunce
Don’t try to argue with the haters. It doesn’t matter what you say or what the facts are they’ll believe what they want. It’s hilarious that if you ask 99% of them what the patriots actually did for spygate they will tell you something wrong.
Dude, you Pats fans are. exactly what you’re accusing everyone else of being. There’s video evidence, yet you ignorant buffoons just blindly defend the Patriots. Get a clue.
Why would anyone associated with the patriots ever film anything that could even come close to being considered illegal after their history. Just dumb if it was in innocence and disgusting if it was anything else.
Don’t worry about this Mondillo guy. Word is, he’s already landed a sweet new gig filming a couple independent documentaries.
In fact, tonight he wrapped up shooting the first one…
…”A Day in the Life of a Film Producer Attending a Bills-Steelers Game”
Next week, he’ll be on location to begin the sequel…
…”A Day in the Life of a Film Producer Attending a Bengals-Dolphins Game”
I guess the lesson here is, when life closes a door, it truly does open a window.
I have problem being called a hater. I hate cheaters/rule breakers.
Is this the first time NE has pointed cameras at opposing sidelines? Nope
Has NE done it during games? Yep
Will NE ever face serious punishment? Nope
“Every team does it”
… yet the most successful one gets caught
“Hater just want to target NE”
… pointless since there’s never ramifications
“It was the Bengals; big deal”
… because it’s only cheating if it’s a contender
Don’t sweat it. No one’s picking on you NE fans. It’s the NFL itself that’s a joke
EDIT: “I have NO problem being called a hater”
A first round pick is significant
should be at least 2 picks and at least $500,000.00 in fines.
Good on the Bengals security to record the tape playing with the dialogue of the Pats videographer. The videographer desperately trying to delete the video made it so much worse. I don’t know how the Patriots would benefit from sideline footage, but I’m not going to pretend that the footage isn’t beneficial to someone who knows what to look for.
Fire the guy or gal who didn’t notify the NFL of the filming.
The NFL knew they were filming. They had all the permissions and credentials to do so. They were filming B roll footage because the documentary was about the advanced scout who’s job was to scout the Bengals and that part of the film is what he’d be watching. It’s never been an issue before because this is the first time they have filmed another team for the “Do your job” do use ties that that team works for.
Chicken parm for life
This entire conversation is crazy. All this footage is available on the coaches tape they swap after the game. Just another excuse…
Logic would suggest the Patriots were guilty because there is no way an 11-3 team could possibly beat the worst team in football. LOL