After an investigation, the NFL fined Patriots head coach
Bill Belichick $500,000 (the maximum allowed by the league and the largest fine ever imposed on a coach in the league's history) for his role in the incident, fined the Patriots $250,000, and docked the team their original first-round selection in the
2008 NFL draft which would have been the 31st pick of the draft
As part of their probe into the allegations, the NFL required the Patriots to turn over any and all notes and tapes relating to the taping of opponents' defensive signals. The Patriots refused to allow the video tapes to leave their athletic facilities; in turn, at Goodell's ordering, league officials went to the Patriots' facilities and smashed the tapes.
Matt Walsh, a Patriots video assistant in 2001 who was fired after the team's
2002 season, told the media the same week that he had information and materials regarding the Patriots' videotaping practices, but demanded an
indemnity agreement before speaking with the NFL.
Prior to the meeting, Walsh sent eight videotapes, containing opponents' coaches' signals from the 2000 through 2002 seasons.
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