CINCINNATI — Imagine being a Bengals staff member sitting down to watch the game in the second row of the press box, when somebody sits down in front of you during the first quarter, pulls out a video camera and starts recording.

You watch and see the viewfinder locked on the Cincinnati sideline and realize the videographer is connected to the New England Patriots, wearing Boston Bruins gear.

This is what happened on Sunday in Cleveland. Unbelievably, considering the history of such offenses.

What happened next included Bengals executives getting involved, then NFL security and eventually the video being confiscated and turned over to the league, which is currently reviewing the matter. And depending on who you talk to, there are differing accounts of what happened that could be significant in determining intent.

According to sources who have viewed the tape, it shows about eight minutes of footage focusing on recording the Bengals’ sideline.