In the latest bit of evidence supporting the cheaters-never-prosper theory, it turns out the Denver Broncos didn’t just lose a game to the 49ers in London last month.
The team and coach Josh McDaniels have each been fined $50,000 for violating NFL rules after video operations director Steve Scarnecchia filmed San Francisco’s walkthrough at Wembley Stadium the day before the game. The 49ers beat Denver, 24-16.
Scarnecchia, who has been fired, offered the six-minute video to Broncos
coach Josh McDaniels. After conducting an investigation, the NFL was
satisfied that McDaniels didn’t look at the tape. But McDaniels also
didn’t promptly report it to the NFL, which is a violation of the
league’s policy.
Broncos COO Joe Ellis said Broncos owner Pat Bowlen, on vacation,
planned to call 49ers owner John York today to apologize. He also said
McDaniels had reached out to Niners coach Mike Singletary, trying to
reach him on his office phone and cell phone.
Moments after stepping off the practice field today, Singletary said he hadn’t heard from McDaniels.
“No, I really don’t expect to, just looking forward to Arizona,” he
said. “I’m not even concerned about that. That’s behind us and we’re
moving on.”
Asked if he was surprised by the incident, Singletary said, “You know
what guys, let’s talk about Arizona. I don’t really care about that
stuff, seriously. It didn’t affect us, let’s just move on.”
McDaniels and Scarnecchia both have worked for the Patriots and coach
Bill Belichick, who were fined a combined $750,000 and forced to forfeit
their 2008 first-round draft pick in the aftermath of the Spygate
incident in 2007. New England videotaped Jets coaches sending in signals
during a game.
McDaniels worked in New England from 2001-09. Scarnecchia was employed
by the team from 2001-05. He is a repeat offender of NFL rules and faces
a hearing to determine if he will be banned from the league. According
to Pro Football Talk, his first offense came when he was a video
assistant in New England.
McDaniels hired Scarnecchia after he was named the Broncos head coach in 2008.
McDaniels acknowledged in a press conference today that he should have reported the incident immediately.
“I made a mistake,” McDaniels said. “I made a mistake and I should have
done that right away. We felt we handled it the right way by not doing
anything with that but I did not follow through with it.”
NFL executive vice president Jeff Pash said the 49ers would not qualify
for compensation because the Broncos did not gain a competitive
advantage. Pash said the NFL was satisfied that McDaniels was not told
about what was on the videotape.
“If for some reason it turns out that there is something here that we
don’t know about, the commissioner has made it clear that he’ll reopen
the matter and pursue it aggressively and impose further discipline if
that’s required,” Pash said.
• K Joe Nedney (knee) and CB Will James (concussion) are listed as doubtful for Monday night’s game at Arizona.
It appears Shane Andrus will fill in for Nedney again after he didn’t
attempt a field goal or extra point in last week’s 21-0 loss to Tampa
Bay. Andrus didn’t step on the field after the opening kickoff.
S Dashon Goldson is listed as questionable with an ankle injury. On
Friday, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky said Goldson would be “ready
to go.”
• Barry Sims will start again at left tackle in place of Joe Staley, who
has a broken fibula. Sims made his first start of the season last week.
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