Commish and Walsh - together again...

[toledosteel7]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d807ece2f&template=without-video&confirm=true

Commissioner to meet with Walsh on May 13

National Football League

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).

[Vis Major]

Share it with Goodell? Why, because he has a better shredder?

[markymarc]

Great that Walsh is coming forward now, but I don't like this agreement at all. Paging Arlen Specter.......please get on this because we all know Goodell and the Patriots are not having further evidence of cheating way back when. I have a very bad feeling about Goodell's intentions now with Walsh coming forward. I just don't want to see all of that evidence get disposed of because I don't see Goodell doing anything good to bust the Patriots even more.

[GoSteelers]

Great that Walsh is coming forward now, but I don't like this agreement at all. Paging Arlen Specter.......please get on this because we all know Goodell and the Patriots are not having further evidence of cheating way back when. I have a very bad feeling about Goodell's intentions now with Walsh coming forward. I just don't want to see all of that evidence get disposed of because I don't see Goodell doing anything good to bust the Patriots even more.


something stinks in NY and it ain't the bums!

[Sluzilla]

i'd be interested to see how much he ends up being "reimbursed" on his "expenses"...

[leftcoaststeelerfan]

Now they can both blow Kraft before they sweep it under the rug......

[Chicoman]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story?id=09000d5d807ece2f&template=without-video&confirm=true

Commissioner to meet with Walsh on May 13

National Football League

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).

Let me clarify this statement....That means Mr. Walsh will be paid off by the NFL & the Cheatriots an undisclosed sum of money to sweep this whole spygate under the rug once and for all now that Sen. Specter doesn't seem to be involved especially since his cancer has returned and he will be under going treatment.

[Sean]

Two things:

1. I think the meeting should be televised. This way, nothing can be swept under the rug. It's all out there for us to see/hear for ourselves.

2. I also find it interesting that this meeting is happening a few weeks after the NFL Draft, so that the Patriots can't be disciplined further in 2008-09 (unless suspension is a realistic threat, which I doubt) for actions that were finally stopped in '07-08.

[bearcatsno69]

Goodell, "Did you bring the items I requested?"

Walsh, "Yes sir, they're right here."

Goodell, "Good boy, be an angel and put them in that round filing cabinet next to my desk."

Walsh, "Anything else?"

Goodell, " Have a safe trip back to Hawaii."

[dobre shunka]

Two things:

1. I think the meeting should be televised. This way, nothing can be swept under the rug. It's all out there for us to see/hear for ourselves.

2. I also find it interesting that this meeting is happening a few weeks after the NFL Draft, so that the Patriots can't be disciplined further in 2008-09 (unless suspension is a realistic threat, which I doubt) for actions that were finally stopped in '07-08.

That's been my suspicion for quite a while now. That Goodell has been dragging his feet so if more punishment is necessary, it would come after the draft.

[Wig]

Unbelievable...

What's this "give the Patriots back their property horse-hoo...

[Wig]

I'd say the agreement should say "give the material to Channel 9 and you won't be sued by the NFL or the Cheatriots..."

That makes a good deal more sense. Unless of course the NFL and the Cheatriots have something to hide.

[Sean]

Great that Walsh is coming forward now, but I don't like this agreement at all. Paging Arlen Specter.......please get on this because we all know Goodell and the Patriots are not having further evidence of cheating way back when.

One small problem with Arlen Spector's participation in this meeting between the NFL and Walsh:

Spector, unfortunately, is currently fighting cancer of the lymph system (Hodgkin's disease). Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the timing behind this meeting now seems a bit more suspicious.

[Vader]

One small problem with Arlen Spector's participation in this meeting between the NFL and Walsh:

Spector, unfortunately, is currently fighting cancer of the lymph system (Hodgkin's disease). Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the timing behind this meeting now seems a bit more suspicious.

What you don't think it took 3 months to get travel plans made???

This is so silly it is almost childish. The league waits until after the draft and when the main congressmen after their case goes in for cancer treatment to call Walsh in??

BTW if I'm Walsh I stash a copy away for "safe" keeping if Goodell starts telling lies about what was in the bag...

[Max Power]

After further review..... the play stands as called on the field.

Whew, sweating that one out, weren't they? I'll bet the Pukes actually thought Walsh was going to bring up something relevant. I doubt he will. Anything of use has already been destroyed.

[schoondog]

ESPN news is reporting that spector will be meeting with Walsh on the 13 right after Godell gets rid of the tapes.

[Irv24]

Nothing will come of this.
The Pats are and always will be perfect.

[markymarc]

One small problem with Arlen Spector's participation in this meeting between the NFL and Walsh:

Spector, unfortunately, is currently fighting cancer of the lymph system (Hodgkin's disease). Not to sound like a conspiracy theorist, but the timing behind this meeting now seems a bit more suspicious.

Sorry Sean I was not aware that Specter is dealing with Hodgkin's disease. This whole scenario has conspiracy written all over it.

[markymarc]

This is so silly it is almost childish. The league waits until after the draft and when the main congressmen after their case goes in for cancer treatment to call Walsh in??

BTW if I'm Walsh I stash a copy away for "safe" keeping if Goodell starts telling lies about what was in the bag...

This whole thing stinks. Amazing how the timing this all worked out for the good of Goodell and the Cheatriots. I would hope that Walsh's attorney was smart enough to tell him to make extra copies because unfortunately that is the only way anything could happen. I can only hope Walsh is smart enough to make extra copies and then a few months after Goodell clears everything he can do a TV interview. Damn shame this is going to end perfectly for Goodell and the Cheatriots. This whole scenario has definitely changed my view on Goodell.

[BermudaSteel]

I hope Geraldo has been invited to this meeting...

He ALWAYS gets the story!

[USM]

Goodell willing to punish Patriots
By The Associated Press
Friday, April 25, 2008
Roger Goodell is fully prepared to crack down again on the New England Patriots if his meeting with Matt Walsh uncovers a tape made of the St. Louis Rams' final walkthrough practice before the 2002 Super Bowl.

"Taping a walkthrough is much different from what I punished them for," the NFL commissioner said Thursday at a meeting of a group representing the Associated Press Sports Editors.

After more than two months of negotiations, lawyers for the league and Walsh, the former New England employee, finally reached agreement Wednesday on terms that will allow him to talk Goodell.

They include an agreement by the Patriots not to sue Walsh and to pay his legal expenses and his airfare to New York from Hawaii, where he is now a golf pro.

Thats a mighy big if there mister.

...and a plain manila evelope ?

The tape I want to see is of the whole process as it goes down...like that would make a difference.

[greatness74]

The Pats are Trash! I would rather lose than cheat to win! I really feel like they would be nothing without the cheating. The Steelers should have won 3 Super Bowls this Decade not them. But that was Stolen from us by those LOSERS! If I'm Tom Brady I would seek a trade, in my eyes the only reason he is as good as he is has to do with cheating. If the coaches know what the defense is going to do, then it is really easy to tell Brady were to throw the ball. Ryan Leaf could do that for crying out loud! I think Brady is a good QB and if I were him I would want to go to another team and PROVE IT!

[mallrat80]

It makes me sick every time i think about the patriots cheating. I wish that Walsh could have come out last year before the perfect regular season. I Hate the Patriots with a passion. I feel bad for all the steelers who left the team or retired after losing those AFC championship games!!