Specter remains skeptical
He wants NFL to hear Walsh out
FOXBOROUGH - Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter, who has been a vocal critic of the NFL and commissioner Roger Goodell, called a false start against the league yesterday.
Specter isn't satisfied with the NFL's early stance regarding the eight videotapes that former Patriots employee Matt Walsh turned over to the league yesterday.
"I think it is very unfortunate that the NFL has already started its 'nothing new' spin before watching the tapes or finding out what Mr. Matt Walsh has to say," Specter said in a written statement. "Let's see where the evidence leads."
Walsh is scheduled to meet with Goodell Tuesday in New York, then will travel to Washington to huddle with Specter later that day.
On Wednesday, Walsh certified in writing to the NFL that he was turning over all videotaping materials in his possession - eight stolen tapes that included signals of opposing coaches from games between 2000-02.
After receiving the certified letter from Walsh, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said, "This is consistent with what the Patriots had admitted they had been doing, consistent with what we already knew."
In early April, Goodell said the Patriots' taping practices went back to Bill Belichick's first year as head coach (2000). He added that the team's penalty - the loss of a 2008 first-round draft choice, a $500,000 fine for Belichick, and a $250,000 fine for the team - was for the totality of its actions.
If Walsh had other information, Goodell said at the time, he was committed to seeing it and could levy more penalties against the Patriots.
Of particular interest was the possibility of a tape of the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. The Boston Herald, citing an anonymous source, reported Feb. 2 that a Patriots official filmed the walkthrough. The Patriots denied the report that night.
There was no tape of the Rams' walkthrough in what Walsh delivered to the NFL, and because Walsh certified he has handed over all tapes in his possession, it eliminates the possibility he has one. Walsh's lawyer, Michael Levy, told the
As part of the agreement between Walsh and the NFL, the Patriots agreed not to pursue legal action against Walsh as long as he returned the stolen tapes and stolen memorabilia, while speaking truthfully with Goodell. Of particular importance to the team is being cleared from taping the walkthrough, which owner Robert Kraft has called a "damaging allegation."
Walsh's recollections of the walkthrough practice figure to be a central part of his meeting with Goodell.
Specter, a ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has kept the NFL's feet to the fire regarding the Patriots' videotaping procedures.
Three days before Super Bowl XLII, in a story published online Jan. 31, he told the New York Times he felt an explanation was required for why the league destroyed tapes the Patriots handed over in September, when they were caught illegally filming signals of Jets coaches. Specter cited the league's antitrust exemption and stated that "the American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game."
The story also introduced Walsh, who worked for the team from 1997-2003, for the first time, noting he could have more information regarding the Patriots' videotaping procedures. That ultimately ignited a media firestorm the next morning, when Goodell held the annual commissioner's press conference.
Specter later met with Goodell to discuss why the tapes had been destroyed, a meeting that revealed how long the Patriots had been taping signals.
Critics of Specter's involvement have pointed out his strong ties to
Mike Reiss can be reached at mreiss@globe.com. 