Aint's under investigation for eavesdropping.

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RavenSEAL

Diamond Member
Jan 4, 2010
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NEW ORLEANS -- The U.S. Attorney's Office in the Eastern District of Louisiana was told Friday that New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis had an electronic device in his Superdome suite that had been secretly re-wired to enable him to eavesdrop on visiting coaching staffs for nearly three NFL seasons, "Outside the Lines" has learned.

Sources familiar with Saints game-day operations told "Outside the Lines" that Loomis, who faces an eight-game suspension from the NFL for his role in the recent bounty scandal, had the ability to secretly listen for most of the 2002 season, his first as general manager of the Saints, and all of the 2003 and 2004 seasons. The sources spoke with "Outside the Lines" under the condition of anonymity because of fear of reprisals from members of the Saints organization.

Jim Letten, the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, acknowledged being told of the allegations Friday and has briefed the FBI in New Orleans about Loomis' alleged activity, according to sources. If proven, the allegations could be both a violation of NFL rules and potentially a federal crime, according to legal sources. The federal Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) of 1986 prohibits any person from intercepting communications from another person using an electronic or mechanical device.

...

Sources told "Outside the Lines" the listening device was first installed in the general manager's suite in 2000, when Loomis' predecessor, Randy Mueller, served as Saints GM. At that time, according to sources, Mueller only had the ability to use the device to monitor the game-day communications of the Saints coaching staff, not the opposing coaches. Mueller, now a senior executive with the San Diego Chargers (he also was an ESPN.com NFL analyst from 2002-05), declined to comment when contacted by "Outside the Lines."

After the transition from Mueller to Loomis, the electronic device was re-wired to listen only to opposing coaches and could no longer be used to listen to any game-day communications between members of the Saints coaching staff, one source said.

"There was a switch, and the switch accessed offense and defense," said the source. "When Randy was there, it was the Saints offense or defense, and when Mickey was there it changed over so it was the visiting offense or defense," the source said.


Keep reading here: http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_...-loomis-eavesdrop-opposing-coaches-home-games
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Can we just completely dissolve their franchise and take the SB trophy back while we're at it?
 
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P

pelov

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2011
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Looks like they're doing their best to top Bill Belichick. They're succeeding, imo.
 
AMDZen

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
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had the ability to secretly listen for most of the 2002 season, his first as general manager of the Saints, and all of the 2003 and 2004 seasons.
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Listen to what?
 
Jeeebus

Jeeebus

Diamond Member
Aug 29, 2006
9,181
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AMDZen said:
Listen to what?
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sounds like there was a mic maybe in visiting coaches' rooms/offices. If that's the case, I have no idea why the article would reference the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Not really wiretapping either - even if it was, federal system only requires one party to consent, so that wouldn't work either.
 
G

goog40

Diamond Member
Mar 16, 2000
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This calls for a NCAA style punishment. Lifetime ban for Loomis, take away their top three picks for the next three years, and cut their salary cap space.

These are just the things we know about. I wonder what other type of shenanigans haven't been revealed.
 
Phoenix86

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
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Jeeebus said:
sounds like there was a mic maybe in visiting coaches' rooms/offices. If that's the case, I have no idea why the article would reference the Electronic Communications Privacy Act. Not really wiretapping either - even if it was, federal system only requires one party to consent, so that wouldn't work either.
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It's not written well but it sounds like they were eavesdropping on the communications between the other coaches.

After the transition from Mueller to Loomis, the electronic device was re-wired to listen only to opposing coaches and could no longer be used to listen to any game-day communications between members of the Saints coaching staff, one source said.

So at one point the device allowed the GM to listen to his coaches during the game. The coaches communicate through the headsets, so the device possibly tapped into their teams headsets. Then a new GM came in and switched it to listen to the other teams coaches, thus the wiretapping.

Because if this is just a mic in a room I think you're right, there shouldn't really be federal charges though it could be a state law they broke.

edit: oh there's more *reading*
 
AMDZen

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Phoenix86 said:
It's not written well but it sounds like they were eavesdropping on the communications between the other coaches.
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Yea, its a terribly written article when trying to distinguish exactly what was going on. Bottom line is its a bad time to be a Saints fan right now
 
Phoenix86

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
Sounds like there will be an investigation but no charges due to the SOL but they may face civil suits.

NFL of course will have their way with the team, but I don't think any of the offenders are currently with the team. So that will be odd...
 
Phoenix86

Phoenix86

Lifer
May 21, 2003
14,644
10
81
AMDZen said:
Yea, its a terribly written article when trying to distinguish exactly what was going on. Bottom line is its a bad time to be a Saints fan right now
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From the article

With the earpiece in place, Loomis could then toggle back and forth with a switch that he controlled, enabling him to listen to either the game-day communications of the opposing offensive or defensive coaches.Also underneath the desk in front of Loomis, said the sources, was a metal box that contained two belt packs similar to those worn around the waists of NFL head coaches during games. The packs powered the listening device available to Loomis, which was, according to sources, hard-wired to the audio feed of the opposing coaches.
 
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pelov

Diamond Member
Dec 6, 2011
3,510
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On ESPN they're stating that it originally was implemented to listen in on Saint's coaches but that was later turned to spy on opposing teams and coaches after Loomis took over.

It may be out of the statute of limitations for criminal charges -- both State and Federal crimes were committed -- but supposedly any team that played in the Super Dome during the 2002-2004 period can still file civil charges.

If this is true then I'd hope the NFL comes down hard on them. It's in direct of violation of their own NFL constitution and considering all the other bullshit that the Saint's staff have been up to I'd expect a shitstorm. Anything less than a shitstorm will be disheartening.
 
AMDZen

AMDZen

Lifer
Apr 15, 2004
12,589
0
76
Phoenix86 said:
From the article

With the earpiece in place, Loomis could then toggle back and forth with a switch that he controlled, enabling him to listen to either the game-day communications of the opposing offensive or defensive coaches.Also underneath the desk in front of Loomis, said the sources, was a metal box that contained two belt packs similar to those worn around the waists of NFL head coaches during games. The packs powered the listening device available to Loomis, which was, according to sources, hard-wired to the audio feed of the opposing coaches.
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Wow

Makes you wonder how many other teams do this.

Wouldn't be surprised if many others did this, just like the bounty program. The only difference is that the Saints severely pissed off someone in their organization - probably the same guy that leaked this and the bounty program
 
RPD

RPD

Diamond Member
Jul 22, 2009
5,109
600
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Wow, fuck that team.

They should seriously be stripped and shut down.
 
T

Tim

BRING ON THE HATE!

If you aren't cheating, you aren't trying.


*crying on the inside*
 
Phokus

Phokus

Lifer
Nov 20, 1999
22,994
779
126
AMDZen said:
Wow

Makes you wonder how many other teams do this.

Wouldn't be surprised if many others did this, just like the bounty program. The only difference is that the Saints severely pissed off someone in their organization - probably the same guy that leaked this and the bounty program
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Al Davis 'allegedly' did this all the time when he was coach. Also 'allegedly' sent spies with binoculars to opposing team practices.
 
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