Broncos weren't only ones seeking info on Troy Smith

As the Denver Broncos prepared to play the San Francisco 49ers in London last month, the opposing team wasn’t the only group that wanted to learn more about new 49ers starting quarterback Troy Smith.

According to Matt Maiocco of CSN Bay Area, in the week leading up to the game the 49ers reached out to Smith’s college coach, Ohio State’s Jim Tressel, to learn more about Smith. The 49ers watched game film of their quarterback from college as they tried to get a better handle on his strengths, and they called more people than Tressel.

So it stands to reason the Broncos were doing their own homework on Smith. The Denver Post reported this morning that the NFL is investigating whether or not the Broncos illegally videotaped a 49ers’ practice at Wembley Stadium, stealing a page from the Spygate playbook.

“The San Francisco 49ers organization is aware of the recent reports regarding the Denver Broncos,” the Niners said in a release. “The team will have no further comment at this time as the league addresses the situation.”

The 49ers won the game 24-16. Broncos video operations director Steve Scarnecchia is on a “personal leave of absence” and if the team is found to have cheated, it could wind up costing embattled coach Josh McDaniels his job.

Lindsay Jones of the Denver Post speculated that the word could have been out on the Broncos when Todd Haley declined to shake McDaniels’ hand after a game two weeks ago: “Can't help but wonder if maybe Todd Haley had heard about these taping allegations when he refused the handshake.”

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune

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