The money quotes: So to translate for everyone, including the Patsie sycophants: 1. The NFL is stalling. 2. Specter is willing to say publicly that "there was filming for the 2002 Super Bowl," which I read as "Walsh has the tapes." Bad News for the Pats. TBTF
Belly And Kraft Apologize To Nfl Here's the Pre-emptive Strike before all the $hit hits the fan: Notice the Pats-slurping by the Boston Globe reporter: PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Patriots owner Robert Kraft addressed his fellow owners, as well as each of the other 31 NFL coaches today, offering the organization's apology for the "Spygate" saga and its ensuing fallout, which has placed a cloud of suspicion over the Patriots and the NFL. Kraft's heartfelt oration came this morning at the NFL annual meeting during a special privilege session. Kraft took the floor after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell addressed the assemblage regarding the integrity of the game. The Patriots owner expressed contrition to his colleagues for the Patriots illegally filming the signals of the New York Jets Sept 9, which resulted in a $250,000 fine, the loss of a first-round pick and a $500,000 fine for coach Bill Belichick. Kraft talked about the respect his family has for the NFL, its shield, and what it stands for. Kraft's address was followed by one from Patriots coach Bill Belichick. http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/reiss_pieces/2008/04/kraft_apologize_1.html
There is absolutely no doubt the NFL is stalling and it has been my opinion for the past month that the intention is to have this happen after the draft so the Pats don't lose their #7 pick. I see absolutely no other reason. Goodall is so far up Kraft's ass it isn't even funny anymore.
Belichick and Kraft's speeches make me think that Matt Walsh is house shopping on the North Shore right about now. People are making some cash off the Pats this year, and it ain't all in Vegas. First that chick mysteriously dropped her charges against Moss the same week as he signed a contract light in guaranteed money, now Matt Walsh goes underground. Roger Goodell is just trying to save his job now.
Good Stories on SPYGATE at ESPN Of course, Goodell is painting himself as Mr. Integrity: On Monday, Goodell reiterated that his latest ideas have little to do with Belichick. When asked about Spygate, Goodell said, "We responded very aggressively to it. To date, all the other rhetoric [about Belichick's actions] has been rumors. We don't have any more information on the taping of defensive signals. We know coach Belichick has done that throughout his career, and he was disciplined for it." However, Goodell did admit that he remains eager to speak with Walsh. The commissioner added that Walsh's desire to protect himself from legal action is the only reason the wait for their conversation has become so frustrating. "We've talked to over 50 people and he's the only person who's asked for [special] conditions," Goodell said. "I'm anxious to meet with him. He's indicated through the media that he has some more information that I'm not aware of yet. If he has a tape or some information, I'd be anxious to get it." http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/story?columnist=chadiha_jeff&id=3323565 Yeah, I'm sure the Commish is "anxious" for Walsh to tell all. TBTF
This could easily be absolutely nothing and something that every team does and has done and this Walsh guy is full of crap. But if there's something there, shit could hit the fan.
Mack, if the Pats don't pay this guy off, the NFL will. They don't want this crap to see the light of day regardless. They will lose some serious scratch if a championship game is tarnished. Goodell actually consulted Vegas before he leveled punishment on the Pats for the initial Spygate incident. Way too much money involved for anything else shady to come to light. Hell, the owners, Woody included, have all pretty much agreed they want this to go away.
The problem with that is that no matter what the NFL may want, Specter won't go away and can have his own hearing on it anytime he wants. He's a powerful man still in Washington.
And if the NFL gets to him first and 'accidentally destroys' this evidence like they did the Jets tapes, he can have all the hearings he wants and they will amount to squat without it.
If they were to do that again Goodell losing his job would be the least of the NFL's concerns. They would be in a position to lose their anti-trust exemption which Specter has already alluded to. I am sure if Walsh has anything at all it it is locked in his lawyers safe somewhere with multiple copies at other locations.
What do you think Walsh wants out of all this? You think he is some righteous do-gooder intent on cleaning up the league? The Pats may have done a smear job on him through the press, but none of the info that was given was under dispute. The guy is a scumbag and whether or not he has the evidence, he's looking for a payday. The NFL may be investigated, but they have been doing shady stuff for years and know how to cover something up.
I think if that happens again we'll be seeing footage of the FBI raiding NFL and Patriots Headquarters... One thing that has become clear the last few years ie. Steriods, lying under oath, is that the Feds don't like being lied to...
Yea the Germans said the same thing about the holocaust.... and the avatar looks funny and is accurate pre-Jan 6, 2008.
