Senator wants independent 'Spygate' probe
Associated Press
Originally published 11:14 a.m., May 14, 2008
Updated 11:21 a.m., May 14, 2008
WASHINGTON — Sen. Arlen Specter wants an independent investigation of the Patriots’ taping of opposing coaches’ signals similar to the Mitchell Report on performance enhancing drugs in baseball.
During a news conference Wednesday, Specter again criticized the league’s handling of the "Spygate" investigation and threatened the possibility of revoking the NFL’s antitrust exemption. The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee met with former New England video assistant Matt Walsh a day earlier.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell indicated he considered the investigation over after meeting with Walsh on Tuesday.
“Everybody pooh-poohs it,” Specter said. “It’s ridiculous to make that kind of contention.”
Specter, from Pennsylvania, cited the fact a Patriots attorney sat in on Walsh’s meeting with Goodell as proof the investigation has not been impartial.
He repeated his disapproval of Goodell’s decision to destroy the notes and tapes confiscated during the initial investigation last fall.
“That sequence is incomprehensible,” Specter said. “It’s an insult to the intelligence of the people who follow it.”
If the NFL condones cheating, Specter said, it encourages others to cheat.
“They owe the public a lot more candor and a lot more credibility,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Boston Herald apologized Wednesday for falsely reporting the Patriots videotaped a walkthrough by the St. Louis Rams a day before the 2002 Super Bowl.
Walsh told Goodell he did not tape the walkthrough and had no knowledge that any other Patriots employees did so.
The Herald’s story cited unidentified sources and was released Feb. 2, one day before New England’s 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.
In the apology, published in the newspaper’s Wednesday edition and posted on its Web site, the Herald said the story was based on sources “it believed to be credible.”
“We now know that this report was false, and that no tape of the walkthrough ever existed,” the paper wrote. “We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification. The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots’ owners, players, employees and fans for our error.”
The newspaper featured a front-page headline reading: “Sorry, Pats.” It placed the three-paragraph apology on the back inside page of the newspaper.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft held up a copy of the newspaper during an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, calling the story “very damaging” and saying he was glad the paper admitted its mistake. But he said the Herald’s apology probably couldn’t undo the damage to the team’s reputation nationwide.
“This erroneous story coming out was really harmful, and what bothers me more about this story is where it went, throughout the country, where people don’t know us as well,” he said. “And unfortunately, now they won’t see this retraction. But people who know us, know what we’re about.”
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May 14, 2008
11:36 a.m.
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Bradonkadoncs writes:
The only thing incomprehensible, Mr. Specter, is that instead of serving the people by trying to solve any number of crises we are currently experiencing (energy, education, trade imbalance, currency devaluation, just to name a few) you are wasting time and money on this topic.
Let it go, and get back to work! You should be ashamed of yourself.
Sincerely, the people of the United States of America.
May 14, 2008
12:56 p.m.
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MO_Listener writes:
Amen Donkos. The do-nothing Congress continues to show a level of incompetence never seen before in American history. Both parties should be tarred and feathered. Where is John Adams when we need him?
May 14, 2008
12:57 p.m.
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orangeblood2 writes:
Can we please move on. This spygate thing is past the point of boring the living youknowwhat out of me. They cheated. They got caught. They were punished. I get it. Let's move on.
May 14, 2008
1:19 p.m.
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snowsurfer writes:
Waste of time and money!
May 14, 2008
1:20 p.m.
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CaptainObvious writes:
I bet Specter lost money on the Pats and now he's pissed!
May 14, 2008
4:02 p.m.
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jibbons writes:
PJ is right, this is huge money we're talking about here, not just the sport's reputation. Think about how many taxpayer dollars have been handed to these teams to build stadiums to make money for the owners, how many bets are placed, how many jerseys purchased, and so on and so forth. Now think about all the money that other teams may have made if Bill had never cheated.
That being said, they can't go back, meaning the crime has already occured, and quite frankly for me, watching Bill storm off the field in february fulfilled my need for justice. However Spector is right in saying that letting the Patriots and Bill off with a slap on the wrist for knowingly cheating for 8 years sends a perfectly clear message to the rest of the teams. That message is, "Don't cheat or you may lose a bit of money and maybe a draft pick." Hardly sounds like the type of punishment that would prevent future transgressions to me. Goodell needs to send a message to the rest of the teams that not only are the players in a one strike system, the organizations and coaching staffs are as well.
May 14, 2008
4:29 p.m.
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opinionatedcolo writes:
Whether you agree with the punishment is irrelevant. The issue is whether it is the role of the U.S. Senate to tell a private organization how to discipline one of its members for a rule violation. At least on steroids we were talking about federal crimes. Where is the crime here? Will we have a house committee on balls and strikes or perhaps a joint congressional investigation into high sticking? This just some media wh*re politician with an overblown opinion of himself and his importance who still cannot believe the Eagles lost the Super Bowl.
May 14, 2008
5:19 p.m.
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DenverBroncosFan writes:
If the NFL is granted an anti-trust exemption by the government (they can legally engage in anti-competitive practices), then they must be responsible to the government. They are not exactly a "private" organization so long as they hold that legal status. If they don't like the government taking an interest in their affairs, then they should give up the special status.
May 14, 2008
5:53 p.m.
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Bradonkadoncs writes:
Agree, they shouldn't receive special status, and they shouldn't receive taxpayer money for stadiums etc. Or, if they want all of that, then serve the public by limiting the ridiculous number of commercials we now have to watch to get through a game (and the related insane cashflow giong to the owners, players, etc).
My larger point is that I find it ridiculous that congressional members can stay so busy on topics that, in my opinion, fall so far down the IMPORTANT list. It is like a CEO squabbling in the kitchen about who didn't re-fill the coffee pot, and meanwhile the company is going down in flames.
May 14, 2008
8:49 p.m.
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ES writes:
The Senator should really start working on issues that are important. Right now, the NFL, is not a primary concern for America. Gas prices are crazy, inflation is going up, and every county in the world thinks they can tell America what to do. This senator is picking on one of the few successful operations in American is pretty stupid.
This Senator is a moronic, busy body that needs to spend his time right. Instead of attacking American and Americans, the Senator needs to spend time building up America. Trying to make America stronger, not destroying one of the most popular and successful institutions in the county. The senator was probably a geek that was picked on while in college and is trying to get revenge on the football players. I want to know if he is a Democrat or a Republican.
May 15, 2008
8:45 a.m.
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waytoolongemailaddress writes:
Wow you people are naive!!
Do you really think the senate or house are going to work on those "imporant issues" no matter what? They have skipped over and ignored the important issues for decades now, I certainly don't think a football scandal is effecting that.. LOL
May 15, 2008
8:53 a.m.
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Cwillyrun1 writes:
I, for one, am glad that it's being considered for investigation. As it's been said, anti-trust exemption laws come into play here, and billions of dollars considering what the league takes in through tickets, sponsorships and merchandising, along with TV packages and taxpayer support. It's not as simple as some of you would like to think. And if you think it's not important, then why investigate any sport for anything? In the end, it's all entertainment. But wait, this is not WWE wrestling where we know it's fake, this is something involving billions of dollars and the integrity of a sport that seemed above these problems (it's not a successful institution of there's failures to obey anti-trust laws). If the Patriots did it and finished 4-12, nobody would notice because there's no illegal competitive advantage gained. But when they're winning Super Bowls, it's entirely different.
Look at history, Pete Rose was investigated for betting on baseball, and that involved integrity. The Black Sox scandal of throwing games back in the early 1900's involved integrity in baseball. Why should Congress ever investigate throwing games in NCAA basketball, because after all, it's not as important as other concerns? But a law is a law is a law, and Congress, within the scope of their powers, does have the right to, and should, investigate cheating in sports. It's what keeps those supposed successful institutions successful.
May 15, 2008
8:55 a.m.
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MarcoPolo writes:
"Do you really think the Senate or House are going to work on any 'important issues' no matter what? They have skipped over and ignored the important issues for almost a decade now, I certainly don't think a football scandal is affecting that."
Fixed.