Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Spygate's over...until Specter revives it

By John McMullen

(The Phanatic Magazine) - Former New England Patriots employee Matt Walsh met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for over three hours on Tuesday to discuss what he knows about the team's videotaping practices.

Walsh sent the NFL eight tapes showing that the team recorded play-calling signals by coaches of five opponents over six games between 2000 and 2002.

However, the tapes did not include video of the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI, which Walsh had been rumored to possess.

The taping of such signals is in violation of league rules.

After the meeting, the NFL played the tapes Walsh provided. The clips cut from shots of opposing coaches giving signals to the ensuing play and didn't show any new rules violations.

"(Walsh) was responsive and well prepared," Goodell said at a press conference after the meeting. "The fundamental information that Matt provided was consistent with what we disciplined the Patriots for last fall."

Last year, a New England employee was caught videotaping New York Jets coaches during the 2007 season opener.

Pats head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, and the team was fined $250,000 and forfeited its first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft for that indiscretion.

Goodell had suggested that further evidence could lead to additional penalties to both Belichick and the franchise.

Walsh's lawyer, Michael Levy, told the New York Times earlier that his client did not have a tape of the St. Louis walkthrough despite a report in the Boston Herald the day before this year's Super Bowl that cited an anonymous source who said such a tape does exist.

The Patriots and the NFL both denied reports of the alleged taping of the Rams walkthrough. New England upset St. Louis in Super Bowl XXXVI.

Walsh confirmed that saying he had no knowledge of anybody with the Patriots taping the Rams' final walkthrough before the Super Bowl, according to Goodell.

Walsh did not comment after the meeting, quickly leaving the NFL offices to travel to Washington to meet with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) -- who has been steadfast in his public criticism of Goodell and the NFL for destroying previous evidence handed over to the league by the Patriots.

Specter met with Goodell in February after raising the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with the commissioner's handling of the investigation.

"Mr. Walsh is pleased that he's had the opportunity to assist the National Football League in its investigation regarding the Patriots' videotaping practices," Walsh's attorney Michael Levy said after exiting the meeting with Goodell.

"As all of you know, Senator Specter has been waiting quite a while to speak with Mr. Walsh as well. Out of respect to Senator Specter, we're going to proceed immediately to his office in Washington, D.C. and we'll have no further comment until after we have a chance to speak with Senator Specter."

Walsh, who is now a golf pro in Hawaii, was fired by the Patriots in January 2003 for allegedly tape-recording a conversation with vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli.

Goodell did reveal two other possible violations by the Patriots revealed at the meeting, but neither is considered serious.

Walsh indicated there was a player on injured reserve that practiced, which violates NFL rules, and that a few Patriots players illegally scalped their Super Bowl tickets.

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