New York, NY (Best E Casino) - 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.
"It was clear there was not an overt attack or access to the Rams
walkthrough," Goodell said. "No one asked him to tape the walkthrough and he's
not aware of anyone else who taped the walkthrough. I don't anticipate any
further sanctions. "What we heard and saw was fundamentally consistent with
what we already knew."
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."
Specter postponed his own news conference until Wednesday after his meeting
with Walsh ran long.
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.