Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

As scheduled, former New England Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell early this morning for about three hours to discuss his part in the team’s illegal videotaping scandal — aka “Spygate.” As I said last week, Matt had eight tapes from six different games that he sent to Commissioner Goodell. On those tapes were signals from opposing teams — Miami, Buffalo, Cleveland, San Diego and Pittsburgh. And I’m glad I wasn’t in New York to cover the Commissioner’s press conference today because I would’ve had the opportunity to sit through several hours of those signals prior to it. I’d rather watch Matt’s home movies. There was no new news here.

The only thing from today’s proceedings I found interesting — and this was of the greatest interest anyway — was that Matt (in Patriots’ gear, no less) was on the field during the St. Louis Rams’ walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI. He didn’t have a video camera and doesn’t know of anyone who did, but how the heck does he get (and stay) on the field when the opposing team is practicing? That’s just bizarre. I guess the Rams were so focused on their game plan that not even one person in the entire organization noticed that a member of the opposing team was standing there watching them.

At any rate, as of right now, I don’t see any new developments in terms of punishment to the Patriots or further investigation of “Spygate.” Pulling from my transcript of today’s presser, Commissioner Goodell said:

“As I stand before you today, and having met with Matt Walsh and more than 50 other people, I don’t know where else I would turn.”

Let’s turn away. This is over. I should mention that Matt also met with Sen. Arlen Specter for about three hours and the Senator’s scheduled news conference regarding their discussions was postponed until tomorrow. I think I’ll still manage to sleep tonight despite the tremendous anticipation.

Sources: NFL Media, NFL.com, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Matt Walsh Meets With NFL Commissioner

Blogcasting the National Football League, Blogcasting the NFL

It looks like the New England Patriots’ illegal videotaping scandal (aka “Spygate”) will be put to rest once and for all next week. None of the eight tapes reportedly presented by former New England Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh to Commissioner Roger Goodell’s office today involved pre-Super Bowl XXXVI walk-throughs of the St. Louis Rams or anything other than game-related taping. In other words, these tapes didn’t show us anything we didn’t already know. When Matt meets with the Commissioner to discuss the tapes next week, I think that’s where this whole situation will be put to rest.

Here are the games included in the tapes turned over by Matt Walsh to the NFL, according to a letter sent by Walsh’s attorney, Michael Levy:

• Tape 1: Signals vs. Miami (Sept. 25, 2000)
• Tapes 2-3: Miami defensive and offensive signals (Oct. 7, 2001)
• Tape 4: Buffalo signal camera (Nov. 11, 2001)
• Tape 5: Coaches’ signals vs. Cleveland (Dec. 9, 2001)
• Tapes 6-7: Signals vs. Pittsburgh (Jan. 27, 2002)
• Tape 8: Third camera vs. San Diego (Sept. 29, 2002)

I guess everyone still wants to ask whether these incidents gave the Pats an unfair advantage and whether they won games because of videotaping signals? Well, of course the videotaping gave them an unfair advantage. That’s why it’s against the rules. Did New England win games as a result? Who really knows? Of these above-mentioned six games, the Patriots won half of them. More next week after Matt Walsh and Roger Goodell have their meeting.

Source: ESPN.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Latest Videotapes Show No New Evidence, Matt Walsh to Meet With NFL Next Week