N.F.L. Roundup: No Camera on Spies, NBC Says

The New England Patriots — minus their videographer who spied on the Jets — will play host to San Diego in the prime-time spotlight Sunday on NBC. Intrigue has been added to a great matchup.

As tempting as it may be for NBC to devote a camera to spying on the Patriots spymasters, Fred Gaudelli, NBC’s producer, said he would not do it.

“We can’t detract from doing the game,” he said. “If you do, you make a mistake. Obviously our awareness is heightened and our curiosity is piqued, but we’re not going to take cameras from the field.”

Certainly, Al Michaels and John Madden will discuss the case of the purloined defensive signals at the start of the game and where necessary throughout. “To me, this is all about electronics,” Madden said. “As we advance in electronics, it could get worse and worse, and it has to stop now.”

But he said he did not want to be hypocritical about N.F.L. spycraft. Madden coached the Raiders for Al Davis, whose efforts, real or imagined, at trying to steal his opponents’ strategies and signals were viewed by suspicious rivals as if he were Kim Philby, the British double agent.

“Stealing signals, getting snap counts, looking for keys on film — we all did that,” Madden said. “But if you let electronics into it, that’s different.”

JETS’ WESTHOFF ON SIDELINE Mike Westhoff, the Jets’ special teams coach, has decided he has seen enough from on high. After one game, Westhoff, who is recovering from off-season surgery on his left leg, is abandoning his post in the press box and returning to the sideline.

Westhoff, 59, said the move had nothing to do with his unit’s sub-par performance against the Patriots. In the 38-14 defeat, the coverage team gave up a 108-yard kickoff return by Ellis Hobbs.

“It’s just not me,” Westhoff said yesterday, “and if I don’t have to do it, which it looks as if I’m not going to have to, then I prefer to be on the field.” KAREN CROUSE

williams wants to returnRicky Williams, the suspended running back, is eligible to seek reinstatement by the N.F.L. after Oct. 1 and will do so, his lawyer said yesterday.

Williams, 30, has played only 12 N.F.L. games since the start of the 2004 season. His current suspension began in April 2006, and a positive test for marijuana this April delayed his return. (AP) CULPEPPER SHOULD START Daunte Culpepper is expected to start at quarterback for the Raiders against Denver after Josh McCown left practice with a sore right foot. (AP)