Spies on the sidelines: the high-stakes world of NFL espionage

Part I : trick plays. Collection during practices

Locker-room collection and searching for paperwork

Listening devices

Miscellaneous game-time collection

Elicitation

Insider information

Part II : the core of the playbook. Advance scouting

Debriefs

Signals collection

Open-source and media collection

Part III : the draft and free agency. Draft prospects

Opponents' draft targets

Pro scouting

The AFL and NFL fight over players

Part IV : a case study of the Cheatriots and the league that enables them. Spygate

The skeletons in the closet

Deflategate.