Spygate comes up as Goodell, Shaw meet
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
02/07/2008
Rams President John Shaw met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday in Los Angeles, and one of the topics they discussed was the latest allegation in the Spygate case involving the New England Patriots.
"The commissioner told me that there was no new information that would suggest anything contrary to what was said by the Patriots," Shaw told the Post-Dispatch on Wednesday. "But he said it was something that he would continue to investigate."
The Patriots have denied a report by the Boston Herald that they taped a walkthrough practice by the Rams in the Louisiana Superdome on the Saturday before Super Bowl XXVI six years ago in New Orleans.
Shaw had a meeting scheduled with Goodell before these latest Spygate allegations. Shaw said he and Goodell spoke only for a few minutes on Spygate during their meeting. Advertisement
Shaw said he came away from the meeting satisfied that the matter would be investigated thoroughly by the NFL. "This is a league matter," Shaw said.
On Wednesday, Goodell told The Associated Press in Honolulu, site of Sunday's Pro Bowl, that he's willing to pursue any believable information in the Spygate case. Goodell told the AP that the league has been in touch with representatives of former Patriots assistant coach Matt Walsh, who is now a golf pro on Maui. Walsh was doing video work for New England when the Patriots upset the heavily favored Rams 20-17 in the Super Bowl.
Goodell plans to meet with Sen. Arlen Specter soon. Among other things, the Republican from Pennsylvania wants to know why Goodell destroyed tapes and notes turned over by the Patriots following the initial Spygate allegation — that the Patriots illegally taped sideline signals of opposing coaches during games. The Patriots were fined $250,000, New England coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, and the Patriots had to forfeit a first-round selection in this year's draft as a result of that investigation.
As for the latest allegations involving taping the Rams' walkthrough, Goodell told the AP: "We were aware of this before. We pursued it and weren't able to get any information that was credible. ... From day one, I said if we feel there is new information that's inconsistent with what we've been told (by the Patriots), I reserve the right to reopen it."
However, the NFL has yet to interview Walsh in any of its Spygate investigations. It is possible that Walsh signed a non-disclosure clause when he left the Patriots, in which case he could face civil litigation from the team if he talked about his activities as a Patriots employee.
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Spygate comes up as Goodell, Shaw meet
Spygate comes up as Goodell, Shaw meet
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