This recently appeared on the boston globe's site. I found it pretty informative and for the first time in months I actually learned new things about the whole scandal. http://www.boston.com/sports/footba...user_matt_walsh_is_calculating_bitter/?page=1
the Boston Globe? Really? Because thats not going to be biased at all. Sorry but I find it hard to believe that he was plotting a plan to derail Beichick and ruin his career and whatever he has left of his shitty reputation as a person. I doubt he was waiting for the opportune time ( after a near perfect season ) Belli is screwed, face it.
Besides the fact that it just sucks to be them in general, why would this make it any worse? 3 superbowl wins in the last decade. Regardless of if they cheated, and if it gave them that large of an advantage. They still won them, and still were able to celebrate a championship. I don't know about you, but i wasn't around for superbowl III, and i sure would like to experience what winning feels like. I guess i could just enjoy the giants win some more...
No...If the New York Jets had won three superbowls in the last decade and then were found cheating...I could no longer enjoy the super bowl wins.
The Coverup laid bare: Ever since Walsh's name surfaced, the league has minimized his significance to Spygate while continuing to hit on the theme that the matter already had been thoroughly investigated. TBTF
Walsh is a pup in this whole thing but there is no doubt there was a coverup. That was evident the minute Goodell decided to destroy the tapes and call it closed. As much as I think Specter has better things to do, this Walsh thing would never be happening now if it wasn't for him. I like the idea that he wants to be present when they question him. We'll see if that happens or not.
You read my mind. If there is a tape of the Rams SB walkthrough, that is the only reasonable outcome.
I just have this gut feeling that Goodell is the one who is going to take the fall for this in the end. The entire investigation into Spygate was mishandled by the NFL and somebody is going to have to pay for that. It's a shame because I like what he did against the criminal element in the league. On the Pat's side, they're in real trouble. The 49ers dynasty imploded in a similar cheating scandal (cap manipulation) that brought down the owner Ed DeBartolo and stained the reputation of Carmine Policy right at the end of their epic run. I think Kraft, Belichik and Pioli are on the razor's edge right now and there's no telling which way it will cut. I'm guessing Pioli leaves town for another job, like Policy did, Belichik retires fairly soon and Kraft is left with the ruins of a dynasty around him as DeBartolo was. Might be wishful thinking but it seems very plausible at this point.
NFL, Walsh Eye Deal for Spygate Material By DAVE GOLDBERG,Associated Press Posted: 2008-03-09 21:28:51 http://news.aol.com/sports/story/_a/nfl-walsh-eye-deal-for-spygate-material/n20080309212809990024 NEW YORK (AP) - Matt Walsh, the former New England Patriots employee said to have tapes of illegal spying by the team, is close to an agreement to turn over information to the NFL. The NFL said in a statement Sunday night that in the last week, lawyers for Walsh and the league have made "substantial progress toward an agreement that will allow Mr. Walsh to be interviewed." "Both sides are optimistic that any remaining issues can be addressed successfully and they are committed to reaching a full agreement as promptly as possible," the statement added. Walsh, a golf pro in Hawaii, has been seeking protection from lawsuits and other legal action, whether by the Patriots or other parties. The two sides have been negotiating for almost a month after reports surfaced just before the Super Bowl that Walsh videotaped a walkthrough practice of the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 title game. It was won by the Patriots 20-17 over the Rams, who were favored by more than two touchdowns. Walsh's lawyer, Michael N. Levy of the Washington firm of McKee Nelson, confirmed Sunday night that an agreement was near. "I have consistently asked the NFL to provide appropriate legal protections for Mr. Walsh," Levy said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "In recent discussions I have had with the league's lawyer, we have made substantial progress toward this end, and I am hopeful that we will be able to craft an agreement with the necessary legal protections so Mr. Walsh can come forward with the truth." NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has said Walsh was not interviewed as part of the league's investigation into "Spygate," which involved the league confiscating tapes from a Patriots employee who recorded the New York Jets' defensive signals from the sideline during the opening game of the 2007 season. Six confiscated tapes and other documents pertaining to the Patriots' taping were subsequently destroyed by the league. Goodell has defended the destruction of the tapes. As a result of that investigation, New England coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000 and forfeited its 2008 first-round draft choice. That pick would have been 31st overall, but New England still has the seventh overall pick, obtained in a trade with San Francisco last year. Goodell has also met with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., who asked pointed questions about taping of both the Pittsburgh Steelers and Philadelphia Eagles. The Patriots beat the Eagles in the 2005 Super Bowl and the Steelers in two AFC championship games. "As commissioner Goodell has repeatedly emphasized, `Nobody wants to hear from Matt Walsh more than the National Football League,' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Sunday night. In addition to the negotiations over Walsh's testimony, Willie Gary, who played in that game for the Rams, filed suit in New Orleans last month accusing the Patriots of fraud, unfair trade practices and engaging in a "pattern of racketeering." Three fans joined in the suit. Specter subsequently said that his interest might be covered by that suit. "I think now that the lawsuits have been started, that I got the ball rolling, and the plaintiffs' lawyers are picking it up," he said.
Spygate Witness Matt Walsh to Talk Soon? Posted Mar 10th 2008 11:34AM by Stephanie Stradley Filed under: Patriots, NFL Rumors, Boston, Breaking News http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/03/10/spygate-witness-matt-walsh-to-talk-soon/ Recent reports suggest that ex-Patriot employee Matt Walsh and the NFL are close to an agreement that would provide legal protection for Walsh to fess up to what he knows. From the BostonGlobe's report of the discussions, it sounds like the NFL caved on its demands, but that won't be clear unless the final agreement's language is released. Their original negotiations were very far apart. The NFL drafted a very limited release, and Walsh's attorney wanted a very broad indemnification agreement that would release Walsh from liability but also pay for his legal fees, costs and potential law suits against him. Senator Arlen Specter believes that the NFL's slowness to legally protect Walsh is a function of the NFL not wanting the truth of Spygate to be revealed publicly, but personally, I think it was because Walsh's contractual demands were pretty significant and unusual. The broad writing of the indemnification that Walsh's attorney wanted is like asking for a blank check. The NFL doesn't know what Walsh knows, but yet, Walsh wants them to assume unlimited liability and legal expenses for whatever unknown bad things Walsh did. Walsh wants the indemnification protection that some companies give their employees. Some companies provide limited protection to employees from lawsuits related to their work, and pay expenses they wouldn't have had but for their employment. The problem with that analogy is that it is unusual to indemnify ex-employees, especially ones who may have stolen from you, and who might hold a grudge against the employer. Today's BostonGlobe article talks all about Walsh's background and reasons why he might be less than truthful and bitter towards his former employer. Of course, because he isn't talking to anyone right now, Walsh can't comment on that. Yet
Still waiting to see some flesh on these bones. I have to say I'm having a hard time buying the idea that the conspiracy was so broad and far reaching that some entry level factotum was a key player in it, yet nobody else knows anything.
Which could be interpreted as who has the larger brown envelope. Goodell is not fit to run the greatest sport on earth and should resign immediatley (won't happen). Love to be a fly on the wall what Tags thinks about this.
\ It was a pretty comprehensive report with 30 different sources. Most of the anonymous quotes made Walsh sound pretty bad, which is probably part truth and part smear campaign. The report doesn't even say "this is exactly what happened", it makes it clear that the accounts are according to the sources. Actually, never mind the newspaper is near Foxboro so nothing in it can be true.
