New Orleans Saints GM Mickey Loomis "welcomes" police investigation into spying allegations - NFL News
New Orleans Saints are embroiled in another controversy as an ESPN report early this week claimed that that the Saints general manager, Mickey Loomis had reportedly used an electronic device from 2002-04 to listen in to opposing coaches communications.
The claim was immediately denied by both Loomis and the Saints who said that the allegations were unfounded and false.
The report though triggered criminal investigations by the Louisiana Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) for violation of the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
Loomis in an interview on Thursday with ProFootballTalk Live said that he welcomes the investigations and will cooperate fully with the authorities to clear his name.
"I welcome that. I welcome an investigation because, again, it's not true."
The Saints general manager is already suspended by the National Football League (NFL) for his connivance in the bounty scandal and will miss the first eight games of the new 2012-13 season.
Loomis went on to clarify at a later press conference on Thursday that no such system ever existed at the franchise and he was never aware that he had such capabilities from his seat at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
"Regarding the eavesdropping, in my 28 or 29 years I have never listened to an opposing teams communications. I have never asked for the capability to listen to an opposing team’s communications. I have never inquired to as to the possibility of listening
in on an opposing team's communications and I have never been aware of any capability to listen in on an opposing team's communications at the Superdome or any NFL stadium."
The ESPN report citing unnamed sources claimed that Loomis had a electronic system installed on his seat at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome from where he used to spy on communications between coaches during the Saints home games.
The NFL on its part has maintained that it would let the Police complete its investigations before making a decision.
Loomis though remains positive that all the allegations are false and is concentrating on the upcoming season.
The Saints general manager added further during his talk with the media that even after so many off the field distractions the franchise will perform well in the new season.
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