13 WTHR - Indianapolis News |NFL investigates post-game 'shove'

NFL investigates post-game 'shove'

Emily Longnecker/Eyewitness News

Indianapolis - Was it a case of intentional grounding? There is debate over whether a Patriots security guard roughed up an NBC cameraman after Sunday's loss to the Colts.

The video's been all over YouTube with all kinds of viewers weighing on whether the brief encounter was an accident or a case of unnecessary roughness. The NFL will decide.

The photos taken Sunday by Indianapolis Star Photographer Sam Riche show what can happen to a photographer just doing his job.

"You get shoved and there's no denying that," said Riche.

Riche was right behind the NBC cameraman who went down.

"He responded to the security guy saying a few choice words," said Riche.

"The question now is whether it was an accident. Was the cameraman caught up by a microphone cable that put him on a collision course with a Patriots security guard, or did the security guard for Coach Bill Belichick push the cameraman on purpose? An NFL spokesperson says they're reviewing it.

If you ask Riche, "I was four or five feet away and it sure looked like a shove to me."

To some callers on the JMV Drive at Five, that's what it looked like too.

"Ultimate push down. Slam down. It's like some out of control messed up roadie and everything trying to keep people away from the rock star," said one caller.

But from another caller and another perspective, "it kind of looks like he uses his arms, instead of falling over the photographer. He kinda of pushes him, he does push him down, but it looks like its because the guy got in his way because the cord cut him off."

"I don't know if I can really tell by the video itself. I would tend to agree with both," said host JMV.

"Things happen. And if the NFL thinks they should review it then I suppose that's what they should do," said Riche.

But to this photographer who's seen his share of exits from a football field, one thing seems above question, "To me its obvious Bill Belichick does not like to be on the field after the game, no matter when."

The NFL is not saying when it will announce its ruling.