New England coach Bill Belichick has denied videotaping the St. Louis Rams prior to the Patriots' upset win in Super Bowl 36, the Boston Globe reported on Monday.
Belichick rejected the claim of Matt Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant who was fired after that 2001 season.
"In my entire coaching career, I've never seen another team's practice film prior to playing that team," Belichick told the Globe.
"I have never authorized, or heard of, or even seen in any way, shape, or form any other team's walkthrough ... I've never been a part of that."
Patriots vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli told the Globe Walsh had in fact been fired for "secretly tape-recording conversations between him and me," a claim Walsh's lawyer Michael Levy called a "complete fabrication."
Walsh's claim was first reported by the Globe on Feb. 2 -- the day before the then unbeaten Patriots were to face the New York Giants in Super Bowl 42 in Phoenix, Arizona.
The following day the Giants shocked the Patriots 17-14 to spoil their bid for a perfect season.
The Patriots had already denied Walsh's claim, but Belichick has been under scrutiny since the first week of the season when it was revealed the Patriots had secretly filmed New York Jets coaches during a game, in contravention of National Football League rules.
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