The Patriots surprised fans Sunday night when they signed Cam Newton to a one-year deal reportedly worth up to $7.5 million. The timing of New England's news suddenly seemed convenient when the NFL reportedly handed down its punishment for the team illegally filming the Bengals' sideline last season.
The team received a $1.1 million fine, was docked a third-round pick in 2021 and was banned from shooting games during the 2020 season, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. The punishment stems from a Patriots staffer filming Cincinnati's sidelines during the first quarter of a Bengals-Brown game on Dec.