Football, the Media, and Ethics

I won't say who.

I won't say where.

And I won't say when.

But I can say, I was once approached by a football coach for videotape so that coach could HEAR another team's practice. The coach was looking for snap counts-- signals the other team gives at the line of scrimmage.

I don't think the coach was wrong in asking. And that's why I don't think Miami Dolphins' Head Coach Nick Saban was wrong in trying the same thing.

Early this week, Dolphins' players were quoted by a Florida newspaper saying the team purchased tapes to hear snap counts and signals used by New England quarterback Tom Brady. Saban was asked where he got the tapes from. That, to me, is the more troubling issue.

I have no doubt other teams have tried to do what Saban allegedly did. The NFL has said no rules were broken.

However, it is clearly wrong for media sources to hand-over tapes, or any other information, to a coach.

In another instance, I remember covering the 1988 ACC football media tour and being approached by then Georgia Tech Head Coach Bobby Ross. The coach, in a good-natured way, requested we don't air any of the audio from the practice video we shot.

Ridiculous, I thought. Who would care about any of that? Turns out, Ross' instincts were right.

For the record, UT has a similar rule when news crews shoot practice. No airing of full-audio, when teams are using signals.

Saban's team won on Sunday. New England quaterback Tom Brady was sacked four times. Perhaps the video/audio tapes helped.

In my case, I told the coach no.

I don't remember if his team won that weekend.