ESPN apologizes for referencing false report about Patriots videotaping

ESPN apologized to the New England Patriots during an episode of SportsCenter early Thursday morning in the wake of multiple references to a false report.

Over the past few weeks, more than one ESPN employee has brought up the 2008 report from the Boston Herald that claimed the Patriots filmed the St. Louis Rams’ walkthrough the day before the Super Bowl in 2002. The report turned out to be false and the Herald later apologized, yet people still accept it as truth.

“On two occasions in recent weeks SportsCenter incorrectly cited a 2002 report regarding the New England Patriots at Super Bowl XXXVI,” ESPN’s Steve Levy said Thursday. “That story was found to be false and should not have been part of our reporting. We apologize to the Patriots organization.”

One of the culprits may have been Hannah Storm. When Mike Ditka was defending Tom Brady last week and telling him not to settle with the NFL, he said the Patriots have never cheated before. Storm said some would argue that the “taping of practices from before” qualifies as cheating. The Patriots were caught videotaping the New York Jets during a game, but no evidence exists — that we know of — of them spying on practices.

Bill Polian has also made reference to the 2002 walkthrough filming, which there is no evidence of.

Despite the Herald’s apology, there is at least one NFL Hall of Famer who believes the Patriots illegally taped the Rams. Some people just don’t need proof to form their opinion.

H/T Barstool Sports