The NFL released the following statement this morning: An agreement has been completed between the NFL and Matt Walsh that will allow Mr. Walsh, a former videotape operator with the New England Patriots, to share with the NFL information about activities occurring during his employment with the club from 1997-2003. Commissioner Goodell will meet with Mr. Walsh in the commissioner?s office on Tuesday, May 13, the earliest date that Mr. Walsh, who lives in Hawaii, will be available on the east coast. The agreement also requires Mr. Walsh to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Mr. Walsh. They also will indemnify him for any expenses, including legal fees that he incurs in connection with the interview. Commissioner Goodell determined last September that the Patriots had violated league rules by videotaping opposing coaches' defensive signals during Patriots games throughout Bill Belichick?s tenure as head coach. Coach Belichick admitted to his use of the taping practice on a regular basis as a result of what he said was his misinterpretation of the rule. Commissioner Goodell imposed substantial discipline on Coach Belichick and the club as a result of that practice. The interview with Mr. Walsh will seek to determine whether he has any new information about that videotaping practice or other possible violations of league rules. Following the meeting with Mr. Walsh on May 13, there will be a news media briefing later that day in New York that will be attended by Commissioner Goodell (specific time and location to be provided at a later date).
http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d807ece2f&template=without-video&confirm=true Awwww shit! It's on like Donkey-Kong now you Patriots bitches!!!
If anything detrimental comes out, Goodell is gonna have to move swiftly with an iron fist on this one or he is going to look like a hypocrite and a buffoon. How can he take blatant rule breaking by his players as a seemingly personal offense and then turn around and slap a coach who disregarded what he was told directly on the wrist?
Oh please tell me Walsh has something good enough to seriously put into question the legitimacy of the Patsies championships
If I may propose an additional question... If they do find more shit on the Patriots, and they suspend Belichick for a year, how well do you think the Patriots will do in the upcoming 2008 season?
It's too late for that. He blew his credibility with the destruction of the tapes, but I'll take it one step further. I've said it before and I'll say it again: He should have suspended Belichick from the get go for at least four games on top of the other sanctions if he really meant business. The fact that a guy like Belichick who eats, sleeps, connives, and lives football cited 'misinterpretation'? Some of us were born at night, but not last night. Right now Goodell is treading water to save his own job.
Its amazing that matt walsh got everything he clearly was asking for from the NFL, but somehow it took them over 70 days to give him what he wanted. I'd be surprised if he doesn't have something pretty bad on the Pats.
I will stick by my thoughts that the NFL didn't want what Walsh had so they were the ones procastinating on this. I am hoping that Walsh has everything, Rams walkthroughs, Eagles walkthroughs and every coach in the league waving and smiling at the camera. Of course if he did have anything would the NFL destroy the tapes before word got out about what was on them? To protect the integrity of the Pats dynasty I bet they would.
If Matt Walsh has some serious shit on the Pats, moreso Bellichick, and Goddell finally does the right thing ( suspends BB for 1 year) then all will be forgiven. Otherwise, Goddell is still a gutless turd in my book.
Meh, don't get your hopes up. They're meeting with him in the morning and have already scheduled a news conference for later that same day. They already know what hes got. I don't think its going to be very juicy.
Definitely what the NFL will say won't be very juicy. Who is to stop them from not saying everything that was on the tape? It sounds like once the NFL gets the tapes, they may not destroy them but they won't have to show them either and they can lie about what was on them. That sounds like a deal that Walsh made so that he won't be sued. He has no reason or desire to let the world know that the Patriots cheated in 2002. Would you do that if you knew you were going to get sued by the Patriots who have all the money in the world and you could be ruined?
Yeah. Of course, Walsh bring all the evidence. Goodell well destroy it like he did the last batch. SOmeone better keep an eye on him this time.
I don't know, the fact that the Commish has already stated that if the tapes Walsh has are the same as the ones already confiscated where defensive signals were being recorded the he wouldn't do a damn thing, since the Patriots already got penalized for that. For Walsh to hold out this long for further legal protection gives me the impression he's into some shit that the Patriots may not be aware of. Remember, the Patriots fired Walsh because he was recording phone calls between himself and the FO and/or CS. For them to all of a sudden have a meeting and disclose useless tapes that will not be punishable, seems like a waste of time for everybody and will certainly raise FURTHER questions abt Goodell and the League.
