New Orleans Saints embroiled in new controversy as GM Mickey Loomis is accused of spying on opposition
Not even a month has passed since the revealing of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal that the franchise finds itself embroiled in another unwanted controversy.
According to an ESPN report on Monday the Saints general manager, Mickey Loomis who already faces an eight-game suspension for doing nothing to stop the bounty program, was involved in eavesdropping on opposition coaches and players with an electronic device for three years.
According to the report, sources close to the game-day operations at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome revealed that Loomis from 2002-04 had an electric device wired to his match-day seat from which he could listen in to the instructions going back and forth from the opposition offensive and defensive coaches.
The device was used till 2005 before it was removed after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent rebuilding of the Superdome.
The sources told ESPN that the system was installed in 2000 under then general manager, Randy Mueller who listened to his own coaches’ communications before Loomis’ arrival.
"There was a switch, and the switch accessed offense and defence. When Randy was there, it was the Saints offense or defence, and when Mickey was there it changed over so it was the visiting offense or defence.”
These are strong allegations which were immediately denied by a franchise spokesperson.
"This is 1,000 percent false. This is 1,000 percent inaccurate."
The illegal spying by Loomis is similar to the New England Patriots spy-gate scandal in which the franchise monitored and videotaped opposition coaches hand signals during games.
The Patriots were heavily punished by the National Football League (NFL) with commissioner, Roger Goodell taking tough action over the illegal activities.
Loomis in a statement given to Fox Sports via email denied all allegations and said that the report has no truth to it.
"To think I am sitting in there listening and actually and or doing something with the offensive and defensive play calls of the opposing teams makes this story and the unnamed sources that provided the false information that much more less credible...it just didn't happen."
If the allegations are proved true the Saints general manager could have a criminal case against him as eavesdropping using a mechanical device is expressly forbidden in America according to the 1986 Electronic Communications Privacy Act.
This is another unwanted controversy for a franchise already reeling from severe punishments thanks to the bounty scandal.
Further developments over the controversy are expected in the coming days.
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