myColts.net - View Blog Entry

Home | Search | Join | Help | Login


	Select Your Channel:

Blog: Colts

Spygate
2/14/2008 9:55 AM | [report]
Categories: none selected

jcolts1

I am really confused about all this new spygate stuff. Every time I turn on the sports networks they are either not talking about it or they are in the middle of talking about it, so I never get the full story. Knowing that I would be able to get the information I need from you guys, I decided to blog my question. All I know is the old stuff...the patriots were cheating and were slapped on the wrist for it...that's all I know. Someone PLEASE explain to me what is going on!

Blog Entry Comments (2)

from clove700 (02/14/2008 1:55 PM)

[report]

Maybe this will help - By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY Pats' taping dates to 2000; explanation 'invalid' "There's no doubt it (the taping) had an impact on the games," Sen. Arlen Specter said Wednesday after meeting with commissioner Roger Goodell. "It's hard to say what games were involved with the destruction of the notes and the tapes." WASHINGTON — After meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) remained critical of the league's handling of the New England Patriots videotaping case and said Goodell's explanation of why the tapes were destroyed was "completely invalid." Goodell and Specter met for one hour and 40 minutes in the senator's office in a session described as "congenial and intense" by Specter. "I'm not going to use any strident terms like cover-up. ... What I'm going to do is try to find out what the facts are and take the inquiry a step at a time," Specter said afterward. Goodell spoke to the press earlier. "I think we're probably going to agree to disagree on certain things, including my view that we had an admission here of guilt and that there was no reason for the tapes (to be preserved)," Goodell said. The case unfolded after the Patriots were found to have violated league rules by videotaping sideline signals used by the New York Jets in the 2007 season opener. Goodell fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 and took away New England's first-round draft pick this year. The NFL said six tapes and notes received from the Patriots were destroyed. "I think it was the right thing to do," Goodell said. "... We had a violation, which we detected, we disclosed it ... And we took unprecedented discipline." He added, "We don't have a vault. ... Once we have an admission or have made a ruling, there's no reason for us to have that information." Specter said Belichick had been taping opponents dating back to his first season in New England. "There was confirmation ... that the Patriots have taped since the year 2000 when coach Belichick took over" said Specter. "There's no doubt it (the taping) had an impact on the games. It's hard to say what games were involved with the destruction of the notes and the tapes." Added Specter, "There was an enormous amount of haste here. ... What's going on?" Specter stopped short of calling for a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. "I wouldn't rule one out. It depends on what we find," he said. The senator wants to speak with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh about "rumors" that he taped a St. Louis Rams walk-through practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI, won by New England. "I told (Goodell) I hoped they would make an arrangement with Mr. Walsh and his attorney that would enable us to have a conversation with him," said Specter. Walsh is now a golf pro in Hawaii. Goodell said the NFL also wants to talk to him. "His attorney has been in touch with our attorney," said Goodell. "We made a proposal in which he can come forward and present information based on two factors: He has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly." Goodell said that Specter had agreed those stipulations were "very reasonable," but Specter later disputed that. "That's not quite right," said Specter. He said that if the league's notion of "indemnification" of Walsh against possible legal action was based on "somebody's interpretation of his truthfulness, that's not much of an indemnification." Goodell said that if there's "new information," he will re-open the case. "So far we have not heard any information that is inconsistent with what we were told," he said, "and there is no reason for me to re-open it at this point in time."

from Chaz1ley (02/14/2008 11:44 AM)

[report]

During the first game of this past season (vs Jets), a Patriot employee was actually caught, and the videotape was seized and turned over the NFL. The commissioner found them guilty and handed down some VERY steep financial penalties, and took a firsrt round draft pick away for THIS yeaars draft. Most thought that was pretty minor considering how much money these people make. The real issue though, is that this is the second or third time the allegations have been brought against the Pats, but never before was there any evidence to back it up. Now a former employee who particpated in taking the videos, is saying this dates back to the very first Super Bowl the Pats won against the Rams. There will be much more to come on this, I am sure. Hope this helps a little bit.