NFL refs patting players coming out of the locker room?

During the Patriot's last game, the TV showed the players coming out of the locker room at halftime. As they filed by, a man next to one of the refs was telling the ref to "check" a few of the players as they walked by. The ref could be seen calling to them and they would very briefly put their arms out to the side and he would "pat" around their upper sides near their armpit and chest area very briefly. It was quick - they barely even slowed down. What was this?

NFL refs patting players coming out of the locker room?nfl

well the patriots were planning on killing all the giants and as many of their fans that they could, if they would have lost.

NFL refs patting players coming out of the locker room?nba power rankings ,nba teams

They were looking to see if they brought cash with them to pay off the field judge
That is weird I wanna know.
Yeah i noticed that too during the Patriots Giants game. No idea what for. Probably in case they rigged their jerseys/pads.
I think they were checking for wires or anything that would lead them to believe the player was taping (audio or video) the game. It would be super easy for a player to wear a microphone (nfl films does it all the time) so that they could record calls being made at the line (audibles, shifts, etc.)
A lot of times defensive line guys as well as wr/rb have been accused of "greasing" their uniforms (with vaseline or oil) if the other team said something they will usually check if anything is found they make them switch jerseys