As I continue writing a white paper on "Field Intelligence", which I'll be presenting at our Intelligence 2.0 Symposium in Minneapolis November 8th, and this being my favorite time of year now that we're at the start of regular-season football, I found the New England Patriots' use of field intelligence [no pun intended] to correlate well with a few of my paper's concepts.

For those not familiar with the issue, head coach Bill Belichick has apologized for the team's use of a video camera in efforts to interpret the NY Jets play calling in this past Sunday's game (where the Patriots trounced 38-14). The incident made me think of many different things - from how recording devices are banned from tradeshow or exhibit halls that many of you as Competitive Intelligence professionals are experiencing, to how in an era where coaches routinely cover their mouths when calling the next play (and I even saw recently two side-lined players hold towels up in front of the coach as an extra layer of protection as he called the play), it's ironic that an obvious use of technology gets Belichick and the Patriots in hot water. Some writers are blaming it on the NFL's sense of urgency around winning, but when it stems from a team that's won 3 out of the last 6 world championships, it strikes me as an unnecessary proposition...

Hope you enjoy the story, and drop me a note if you have any other thoughts on the topic.

- Derek (read more)