Arlen Spect Reply

[Jer]

I wrote Senetor Spectre concerning SpyGate and asked for him to call a formal hearing into the matter. Here is his vanilla response.

Dear Mr. Lamb:



Thank you for contacting my office regarding the recent destruction of the evidence related to spying by the New England Patriots. I appreciate your interest and opinions on this matter.


During a September 9, 2007 football game, the New England Patriots were found to have been videotaping signals of the New York Jets against league rules. As punishment, the NFL fined the Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick $500,000, as well as the New England Patriots organization $250,000, and took away the organization's first-round selection in the 2008 draft. After distributing the fines, the NFL destroyed the tapes, supposedly so they could not be leaked or used by anyone for a competitive advantage and because the league felt there was no use for them. I am concerned with the initial action of taping these signals against league rules as well as the way in which the NFL conducted its investigation and especially the league's decision to destroy the tapes.



In 1961, Congress enacted the Sports Broadcasting Act, which gave the NFL a special antitrust exemption. This exemption allows the NFL as a whole to negotiate broadcasting rights with television networks to show their games. This allows the teams to pool their games and receive enormous sums of money which has helped build the league into what it is today. Because Congress has given the NFL a special antitrust exemption, the league in turn has a responsibility to keep the integrity of the game intact. Just as steroid use disturbs the integrity of a baseball game, the illegal taping of another team's signals undermines the integrity of a football game.



While I agree there are more pressing matters facing the United States Senate, I also believe the NFL has a duty to maintain a certain level of integrity, especially taking into account their special antitrust exemption status. While I am not currently seeking a formal hearing, I have met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and have asked to speak with other officials on this matter.



Again, thank you for your concerns regarding this incident. It is important that I be kept informed of my constituents viewpoints at all times and on all matters. Should you have any further questions or observations, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 202-224-4254.


Sincerely,
Arlen Specter

[60 MINUTES]

Arlen's number one supporter is comcast ( NO SHIT ) they really are one of his biggest go to guys for money. I have to wonder what he is up to. I have no problem with anything he is doing as long as I can keep watching the steelers every sunday on some channel.

[markymarc]

That is cool he responded to you at least. While a separate investigation should be happening, unfortunately this thing is being forced into the past by Goodell and the NFL.

[tjack]

I wonder when Specter is going to focus on NBA Commish David Stern and recently former NBA Ref caught gambling on games he worked?

[Zapp Brannigan]

I wonder when Specter is going to focus on NBA Commish David Stern and recently former NBA Ref caught gambling on games he worked?

What the hell is the NBA?

[StillerinGA]

Looks like he may be listening to you...


Specter again calls for Spygate investigation

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer 15 hours, 21 minutes ago


WASHINGTON (AP)—Sen. Arlen Specter reiterated his call for the NFL to initiate an independent investigation into Spygate.

The Pennsylvania Republican entered a statement Thursday into the Congressional Record concerning the New England Patriots’ videotaping scandal.

The statement repeats many of the points Specter made in at a news conference May 14, including a push for an investigation similar to the high-profile Mitchell Report that examined performance enhancing drugs in baseball.

“My strong preference is for the NFL to activate a Mitchell-type investigation,” Specter’s statement said. “I have been careful not to call for a Congressional hearing because I believe the NFL should step forward and embrace an independent inquiry and Congress is extraordinarily busy on other matters If the NFL continues to leave a vacuum, Congress may be tempted to fill it.”

Specter has been proactive in seeking greater NFL accountability into the Spygate affair, which centers on Patriots’ taping of opposing teams’ defensive signals over a span of several years. Specter has met with—and been highly critical of—NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The Senator also met with former New England video assistant Matt Walsh, a central figure in the scandal.

“The commissioner’s investigation has been fatally flawed,” the statement said. “The lack of candor, the piecemeal disclosures, the changes in position on material matters, the failure to be proactive in seeking out other key witnesses, and responding only when unavoidable when evidence is thrust upon the NFL leads to the judgment that an impartial investigation is mandatory.”

Goodell essentially declared an end to Spygate after meeting with Walsh last month, saying there was no new information that would warrant a further penalty against the Patriots. The commissioner docked New England a 2008 first-round draft pick and fined coach Bill Belichick $500,000 and the team $250,000 last fall.

[JohnnyO]

I wonder when Specter is going to focus on NBA Commish David Stern and recently former NBA Ref caught gambling on games he worked?
I don't know that there is a need to for the NBA. The ref got caught and is going to jail.
The problem with the Pats* is that the punishment wasn't perceived as harsh enough, the evidence was allegedly destroyed (why?), and more evidence has come out with no sign of further punishment.

[Super Dave]

“The commissioner’s investigation has been fatally flawed,” the statement said. “The lack of candor, the piecemeal disclosures, the changes in position on material matters, the failure to be proactive in seeking out other key witnesses, and responding only when unavoidable when evidence is thrust upon the NFL leads to the judgment that an impartial investigation is mandatory.”

You just can't state it any better than that.