Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

Team’s video operations director filmed 6 minutes of a walkthrough drill.

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The NFL fined the Denver Broncos and coach Josh McDaniels $50,000 each because the team’s video operations director broke league rules by filming a San Francisco 49ers practice in London last month.

The NFL investigation determined Steve Scarnecchia took the six-minute video of the walkthrough and presented it that day to McDaniels. The coach declined to view it.

But the NFL fined both the coach and team because the matter was not promptly reported, as required by the league.

“We certainly did not view or do anything with the footage, and he was made aware that it was something we didn’t condone in our organization,” McDaniels said Saturday. “I failed to follow through and report it to the proper individuals in our organization and with the league.”

Scarnecchia and McDaniels previously worked for the New England Patriots, who were found to have violated league rules when they videotaped New York Jets coaches sending in signals during a game four years ago in a scandal dubbed Spygate.

Broncos chief operating officer Joe Ellis said the team was aware Scarnecchia had been involved in Spygate, but not the specifics, when hired.

“He knew full well coming in what was expected of him in terms of the type of behavior we expect out of him,” Ellis said on a conference call.

Scarnecchia was fired by the Broncos and notified by Commissioner Roger Goodell that as a repeat violator of league rules regarding integrity he faced a hearing to determine if he would be banned from the NFL.

NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash said there was no evidence McDaniels was involved with the videotaping in New England.

The investigation concerned practices at Wembley Stadium on Oct. 30, the day before the 49ers’ 24-16 win over the Broncos. It was the only time the teams worked out on the same field in London.

Ellis said the Broncos promptly notified the NFL after their executives learned of the violation. He declined to reveal how they became aware.

“Their ownership and executives had their moral compass pointing in right direction,” Pash said.

He added: “I think they’ve set an example of how an incident of this type should be properly handled.”

The NFL determined Broncos executives were made aware of the videotaping Nov. 8 and told the league about it four days later after an internal review. On Nov. 16, owner Pat Bowlen and Broncos executives met with league officials in New York.

After that meeting, the NFL security began its investigation, which included interviews of Broncos personnel and an analysis of laptop computers used by the team’s video department. It was confirmed the 49ers’ practice had been recorded, and the league retained that tape.