INDIANAPOLIS -- The Indianapolis Colts contend the debate
about the decibel level in the RCA Dome is merely noise, and now
they have the NFL taking their side.
A day after some unusual sounds were heard during the
Colts-Patriots broadcast Sunday, the NFL issued a statement saying
what sounded like simulated crowd noise was actually created by the
CBS production crew, not the Colts.
"CBS has informed us that the unusual audio moment heard by
fans during the Patriots-Colts game was the result of tape feedback
in the CBS production truck and was isolated to the CBS
broadcast," the league said. "It was in no way related to any
sound within the stadium and could not be heard in the stadium."
Network officials did not give any additional details, referring
only to the league's statement. The telecast received the highest
rating overnight rating, 22.5, of any Sunday afternoon
regular-season NFL game since at least 1987 and had a 39 share
nationally.
The Web site YouTube carried a 1-minute, 10-second clip entitled
"Indy Cheats" that replayed the moments in question.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, a 14-yard pass from Tom Brady to Randy Moss, the crowd noise is heard before and during the
play, then immediately cuts out when Moss is tackled. In addition,
there appeared to be a vibration in the sound while the crowd was
cheering.
A published report on yahoo.com said Patriots president Jonathan
Kraft complained to NFL vice president of security Milt Ahlerich
afterward. Kraft is the son of Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Any enhancement of crowd noise would violate NFL rules, and
Patriots spokesman Stacey James denied the team either filed or
intended to file a formal complaint with the league.
It's not the first time Indianapolis has been accused of such
tactics. The Pittsburgh Steelers complained about the same thing
after a 26-7 loss at the dome in November 2005. Since then, other
teams have informally contended there is artificial noise pumped
into the dome.
The Colts have continually denied the accusations, and issued
their strongest worded statement yet on Monday.
"We trust this will put an end to the ridiculous and unfounded
accusations that the Colts artificially enhanced crowd noise at the
RCA Dome in any way," the team said.
Patriots coach Bill Belichick, no stranger to controversy, did
not discuss those allegations during his regularly scheduled news
conference Monday. Instead, Belichick said he was more concerned
with communication problems he said existed between Patriots
coaches and Brady.
"Basically, we didn't have a coach-to-quarterback operation, so
we had to signal in all of the plays, which is unusual, but that's
the way it was," he said. "What all was going on, I can't tell
you, but I can tell you that, from a functional standpoint, the
coach-to-quarterback was basically useless."
The latest accusations add yet another chapter to this already
heated rivalry.
There have been complaints about leaving the field at Gillette
Stadium uncovered the night before games and contentions Pats
defenders were illegally holding receivers downfield.
Now there's crowd noise, communication issues and even something
as simple as a postgame handshake between Colts coach Tony Dungy
and Belichick, who quickly walked past Dungy as Dungy attempted to
speak with him Sunday.
Dungy downplayed the incident.
"Bill is fine, he's a good guy, that's the way he is win or
lose," Dungy said. "He's just an intense guy out there. I
wouldn't describe it any way other than what it is."