VIDEO: Patriots Announcer Hints Eagles Might've Pumped in Crowd Noise During Tom Brady's First Drive
By Jerry Trotta
Get a load of this, folks, because we have an NFL conspiracy theory that isn't pointing the finger at the New England Patriots for once. Ironically enough, Bill Belichick's side are the alleged victims this time around. Scott Zolak, a Boston sports radio host and Patriots radio announcer (and former Pats player), alleged that Lincoln Financial Field was pumping crowd noise into their speakers to try and complicate things for Tom Brady and Co. on their first drive of the game. Well, we've come across a video that might back Zolak's claims.
Low quality video, but here is the spike in crowd noise that @scottzolak said sounded unnatural as Tom Brady broke the Patriots huddle for the first time in Philadelphia yesterday. pic.twitter.com/wo0mTLNIgz
— Michael Hurley (@michaelFhurley) November 18, 2019
We aren't accusing the Eagles of any wrongdoing just yet, but that monstrous collection of "boos" is sketchy to say the least.
Lincoln Financial Field was hostile all afternoon, but the spike in noise seconds after cameras turned away from Tony Romo and Jim Nantz in the broadcast booth is quite evident.
Unless it was a pre-determined plan by fans in the City of Brotherly Love to boo the Patriots ahead of their first play from scrimmage, something isn't right here.
During last night's broadcast, @scottzolak stated that he believed the Eagles were pumping in crowd noise. After listening to Brady's first series, there certainly seems to be an abrupt rise in crowd volume level on the radio broadcast.
— Toucher and Rich (@Toucherandrich) November 18, 2019
Of course, pumping artificial crowd noise through speakers is a punishable offense by the NFL. Back in 2015, the Atlanta Falcons were fined and had a future fifth-round draft pick taken away for a similar transgression.
This certainly makes for a good debate, but it remains to be seen if the league will take an interest and launch an investigation into the allegations.
Until then, stay tuned for updates.