NFL Makes Rule Change for In-Stadium Video Boards After Viral Photos of Patriots Gamesmanship

The NFL has reportedly informed teams that they must all use "the same All-22 angle or static image for both kicking teams" on video boards during field-goal and extra-point attempts, per ESPN's Mike Reiss and Adam Schefter.

That rule change seemingly comes in response to a social media post from earlier in September that gave examples of the New England Patriots putting a reverse image of kicking attempts on their big board, leaving opposing kickers to see misaligned yellow goalposts on the screen behind the actual goalposts.

As he wrote, "When opposing kickers lined up at Gillette Stadium, the video board displayed a reverse view of the kick, placing a second, offset set of yellow uprights directly behind the real ones. In windy conditions, even the orange streamers on the video board appeared to point in the opposite direction from those atop the physical uprights, making the illusion even more disorienting."

Paganetti noted that in all of the games he reviewed, the Patriots never once used the reverse All-22 camera feed on the board for their own field goal or extra-point attempts.

Per ESPN's report, the Patriots were not breaking any rules at the time and other teams experimented with what they put on their video board as well.

As Reiss and Schefter wrote, "The NFL has long required all video and ribbon boards to display a static image—no flashing images, blinking effects, moving text/images etc.—or an All-22 view, such as the high-sideline or high-end-zone angle, during kicks."

Now, however, there will be no discrepancies between what is featured when each team is kicking.