The Patriots have long used their video board to confuse opposing kickers, displaying video of the goal posts behind the actual goal posts, in a way that created an optical illusion for kickers. The Patriots only displayed the video when the opponent’s kicker was lining up for a field goal, and not when their own kicker was on the field. That tactic had always been legal. Now it’s not.
The NFL has informed all teams that their video board display on field goal attempts has to be the same for the home team and the road team, according to ESPN.
Teams can display either a live All-22 angle of the field goal or a static image during field goal attempts, but whatever they choose has to be the same for both teams throughout the game. A memo sent to all 32 teams on September 7 said teams that don’t comply will face league discipline.
The Patriots’ tactic was exposed by former NFL analytics staffer Ryan Paganetti, who posted on social media a series of images showing how the Patriots’ video display at Gillette Stadium was used to confuse opposing kickers. Paganetti said he first noticed it when he worked for the Eagles, and that the Eagles considered doing it, too, but the location of the video boards at Lincoln Financial Field wouldn’t have worked to create the same optical illusion that the Gillette Stadium video boards created.
Now, it won’t be allowed at any stadium.
