Spygate Question

[maccards44]

I was really busy when this all happened & I never understood one thing:
(I swear this is not a smart-™™™ question)
If the patriots were taping the jets defensive coaches on the sideline and then using what they saw on those tapes to deduce the defensive play call...
How is that gaining an advantage? I mean, can't 60,000 fans see the jets defensive coaches on the sidelines too?
As a pats fan, I have to admit it's "sneaky", but HONESTLY if I were a coach on the sidelines I'd EXPECT to be recorded by about a million cameras a minute. There are cameras and microphones EVERYWHERE at a sporting event. Maybe I don't understand the gist of what they did wrong?

I not trying to be an apologist for the team or the coaches, I guess I just don't understand why it's against the rules in the first place?

If anyone has any insights please post them here, I really want to hear from you, thanks!

[ColtsCollector]

There are certain places on the field that the opposing teams cant record from, The Pats were warned several times about this being against the rules and still did it, There are advantages to recording play calls and breaking them down that's why it is against the rules to do it by teams.

[CaliforniaSoxfan]

And if I'm not mistaken, there were reports that it wasn't just video footage they were getting. The guy filming was actually on the Jets sideline so he had video and audio. Although unsubstantiated, numerous teams had made claims in the past that people in the Patriots organization were caught before trying to film opposing teams practices. The sad thing is that the Patriots aren't the only team in the NFL that operates like this. It's a rampant problem in the league and the Patriots are the only team that has been caught.

[maccards44]

Both of you make good points.

I didn't know the taping that happened was on the jets sideline, (if it did)
Obviously there would be an advantage to be gained from doing that.

I didn't know some of the things you posted, thanks.