Globe Staff / March 21, 2008
The Patriots have apparently decided to go the Filene's Basement route in free agency to fill needs at cornerback. Yesterday, New England signed Fernando Bryant to a one-year deal.
A nine-year veteran who spent the last four seasons playing for the Detroit Lions, Bryant joins seasoned cornerbacks Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders, both of whom also signed one-year deals with the Patriots, as free agents brought in following the departures of Asante Samuel (Philadelphia Eagles) and Randall Gay (New Orleans Saints).
All three come with starting experience and are low-risk, potential high-reward additions.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 184-pound Bryant, who was due a $3.35 million base salary for 2008, was released last month. He started all 16 games last season for Detroit, recording two interceptions and 14 passes defended, matching career highs, despite a foot injury.
"Adding a cornerback with Fernando's experience and production is a good opportunity for us," said Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
When healthy, Bryant, owner of seven career interceptions, has been a starting cornerback - he has started 109 of 110 career games. But durability is the caveat emptor he carries.
Last season marked the first time since 2003, the last of his five seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Bryant played a full 16-game slate.
In 2006, he missed six games - one because of the death of his grandmother - and had to sit out the final four games after suffering a concussion in a 28-21 loss to the Patriots at Gillette Stadium. Bryant played just two games in 2005 before he was placed on injured reserve with a clavicle injury. In 2004, he sat out six games because of injuries, and was sidelined the final four by an ankle injury. He played 16 games in 2002, but in 2001, he missed six games with a foot injury.
Like Sanders, Bryant has a connection to Dom Capers, the Patriots' new special assistant/secondary coach. Drafted in the first round (26th overall) by the Jaguars in 1999, Bryant played his first two seasons in the league for Capers, who was the Jaguars' defensive coordinator in 1999 and 2000.
The Patriots have eight players who can play cornerback, led by Ellis Hobbs, who underwent surgery Feb. 12 for a torn labrum in his shoulder. The other cornerbacks on the roster are Brandon Meriweather, who saw the majority of his playing time at safety last season, Mike Richardson, Tim Mixon, and Antwain Spann.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello offered an update on negotiations with former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, who claims to have additional material that could be relevant to the Patriots' illicit videotaping practices. Aiello said lead attorneys on both sides, Walsh's lawyer, Michael N. Levy of McKee Nelson, and NFL outside counsel Gregg Levy (no relation), are working on documentation. Aiello said "things continue to progress." The sides announced March 9 they made "substantial progress" toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to come forward.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
Samuel leaves Patriots for Eagles
By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / March 1, 2008
Asante Samuel has a tattoo that reads "Get Rich To This," and that's exactly what the free agent cornerback did yesterday, leaving the Patriots to sign a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Samuel, the NFL leader in interceptions over the last two seasons with 16, proved he's opportunistic both on and off the field, cashing in on the first day of free agency and getting the lucrative contract - $57 million with $20 million guaranteed, according to the Associated Press - that eluded him last year after the Patriots slapped the franchise tag on him.
The Eagles pounced, not giving other teams an opportunity to host Samuel on a visit. He was whisked to Philadelphia on a private jet at 9 a.m. yesterday, picked up in a limousine, and signed, sealed, and delivered before dinner time.
"This is my first time being a free agent. They say that your first visit they normally don't let you leave. That's what ended up happening and it's a great situation," said Samuel.
"When you come to one that makes you happy, why wait around?"
Samuel said four other teams were on his list, but wouldn't directly answer a question as to whether the Patriots made him an offer. It seemed clear that the Patriots were not really in the mix to re-sign Samuel, who sought a big payday last offseason but was slapped with the franchise tag.
"New England has a philosophy that's right for them. New England groomed a masterpiece and put it on the market," said Alonzo Shavers, Samuel's agent.
Samuel never blinked in his showdown with the Patriots after being franchised, refusing to sign his $7.79 million tender until the team amended it with provisions that he couldn't be franchised again if he played 60 percent of the defensive snaps or the Patriots won 12 games. He missed a month of training camp before reporting Aug. 27 and wasn't officially in the fold until the next day, when the Patriots included the franchise outs in his contract.
It was a shrewd move on Samuel's part, as the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season.
That's not to say that Samuel, who joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2003, didn't earn the opportunity to bolster his bank account.
Samuel leaves New England ranked 10th on the team's all-time interceptions list (regular season only) with 22 - matching his jersey number - in 75 games.
The dreadlocked defensive back proved that his 2006 season, in which seven of his NFL-leading 10 interceptions came in the final six regular-season games, wasn't a fluke. Despite not having the benefit of playing in a preseason game, Samuel finished with a team-high six interceptions and 18 passes defended in 2007 and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
"Just going out and working hard every day, being a fourth-rounder, you're not going to be given anything in this league," said Samuel. "I just worked my way up and kept working hard and I'm finally getting the respect that I deserve."
Respect Samuel may have felt he wasn't getting in New England. When he was asked yesterday if he felt underappreciated with the Patriots, Samuel's answer was brief but revealing. "No comment," he said.
He won't have that problem in Philadelphia. Coach Andy Reid announced Samuel will be the Eagles' starting left corner in 2008, basically brushing aside two-time Pro Bowl selection Lito Sheppard, who held that position last season and is now trade bait. Sheppard is purportedly on the Patriots' wish list.
Samuel's best game of the 2007 season came against his new team, as he intercepted two passes in New England's 31-28 win over the Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Samuel scored his only touchdown of the season, intercepting an A.J. Feeley pass on the third play from scrimmage and returning it 40 yards - his sixth career touchdown, including the playoffs - and sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception of Feeley.
That left quite an impression on turnover-starved Philadelphia. The Eagles generated an NFL-worst 19 takeaways last season and intercepted only 11 passes, tying them with Houston and Pittsburgh for fewest in the league.
The Eagles, who went 8-8 and missed the playoffs last season, are also getting a proven postseason performer in the 27-year-old Samuel, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and was the starting cornerback when New England beat the Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX.
His three career postseason interception returns for touchdowns equal Willie Brown's NFL record, and Samuel has picked off five passes in the playoffs during his career, including one in the Patriots' 21-12 AFC Championship game victory over the San Diego Chargers Jan. 20.
That's why it was shocking when Samuel let a potential Super Bowl-sealing interception slip through his hands during the Patriots' stunning 17-14 upset loss to the New York Giants Feb. 3.
"We didn't get it done, the Giants did," said Samuel. "It is what it is. Life goes on. I'm an Eagle now, and hopefully we can get to a championship."
Globe correspondent Jon Marks contributed to this report from Philadelphia; Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.
Globe Staff / March 1, 2008
Asante Samuel has a tattoo that reads "Get Rich To This," and that's exactly what the free agent cornerback did yesterday, leaving the Patriots to sign a six-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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Samuel, the NFL leader in interceptions over the last two seasons with 16, proved he's opportunistic both on and off the field, cashing in on the first day of free agency and getting the lucrative contract - $57 million with $20 million guaranteed, according to the Associated Press - that eluded him last year after the Patriots slapped the franchise tag on him.
The Eagles pounced, not giving other teams an opportunity to host Samuel on a visit. He was whisked to Philadelphia on a private jet at 9 a.m. yesterday, picked up in a limousine, and signed, sealed, and delivered before dinner time.
"This is my first time being a free agent. They say that your first visit they normally don't let you leave. That's what ended up happening and it's a great situation," said Samuel.
"When you come to one that makes you happy, why wait around?"
Samuel said four other teams were on his list, but wouldn't directly answer a question as to whether the Patriots made him an offer. It seemed clear that the Patriots were not really in the mix to re-sign Samuel, who sought a big payday last offseason but was slapped with the franchise tag.
"New England has a philosophy that's right for them. New England groomed a masterpiece and put it on the market," said Alonzo Shavers, Samuel's agent.
Samuel never blinked in his showdown with the Patriots after being franchised, refusing to sign his $7.79 million tender until the team amended it with provisions that he couldn't be franchised again if he played 60 percent of the defensive snaps or the Patriots won 12 games. He missed a month of training camp before reporting Aug. 27 and wasn't officially in the fold until the next day, when the Patriots included the franchise outs in his contract.
It was a shrewd move on Samuel's part, as the Patriots went 16-0 during the regular season.
That's not to say that Samuel, who joined the Patriots as a fourth-round pick out of Central Florida in 2003, didn't earn the opportunity to bolster his bank account.
Samuel leaves New England ranked 10th on the team's all-time interceptions list (regular season only) with 22 - matching his jersey number - in 75 games.
The dreadlocked defensive back proved that his 2006 season, in which seven of his NFL-leading 10 interceptions came in the final six regular-season games, wasn't a fluke. Despite not having the benefit of playing in a preseason game, Samuel finished with a team-high six interceptions and 18 passes defended in 2007 and was selected to his first Pro Bowl.
"Just going out and working hard every day, being a fourth-rounder, you're not going to be given anything in this league," said Samuel. "I just worked my way up and kept working hard and I'm finally getting the respect that I deserve."
Respect Samuel may have felt he wasn't getting in New England. When he was asked yesterday if he felt underappreciated with the Patriots, Samuel's answer was brief but revealing. "No comment," he said.
He won't have that problem in Philadelphia. Coach Andy Reid announced Samuel will be the Eagles' starting left corner in 2008, basically brushing aside two-time Pro Bowl selection Lito Sheppard, who held that position last season and is now trade bait. Sheppard is purportedly on the Patriots' wish list.
Samuel's best game of the 2007 season came against his new team, as he intercepted two passes in New England's 31-28 win over the Eagles at Gillette Stadium. Samuel scored his only touchdown of the season, intercepting an A.J. Feeley pass on the third play from scrimmage and returning it 40 yards - his sixth career touchdown, including the playoffs - and sealed the game with a fourth-quarter interception of Feeley.
That left quite an impression on turnover-starved Philadelphia. The Eagles generated an NFL-worst 19 takeaways last season and intercepted only 11 passes, tying them with Houston and Pittsburgh for fewest in the league.
The Eagles, who went 8-8 and missed the playoffs last season, are also getting a proven postseason performer in the 27-year-old Samuel, who won two Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and was the starting cornerback when New England beat the Eagles, 24-21, in Super Bowl XXXIX.
His three career postseason interception returns for touchdowns equal Willie Brown's NFL record, and Samuel has picked off five passes in the playoffs during his career, including one in the Patriots' 21-12 AFC Championship game victory over the San Diego Chargers Jan. 20.
That's why it was shocking when Samuel let a potential Super Bowl-sealing interception slip through his hands during the Patriots' stunning 17-14 upset loss to the New York Giants Feb. 3.
"We didn't get it done, the Giants did," said Samuel. "It is what it is. Life goes on. I'm an Eagle now, and hopefully we can get to a championship."
Globe correspondent Jon Marks contributed to this report from Philadelphia; Christopher L. Gasper can be reached at cgasper@globe.com.
Law on their side again?
Former Patriot would welcome homecoming
By Mike Reiss
Globe Staff / March 2, 2008
Not long after the plane had touched down in Kansas City two years ago, Ty Law's phone rang and a familiar voice was on the other end. It was Bill Belichick.
Law was en route to Chiefs headquarters to sign a five-year, $30 million contract that he felt reflected his value as a top free agent cornerback. The Patriots coach wanted to know if it was too late for him to consider a return to New England.
"I was so close to just walking and turning around, but at that point, I just felt I couldn't turn back," Law said. "I had just gotten off the plane, so what was I going to say to them in Kansas City? I had given them my word."
If anything, the conversation reflected how the Patriots still had a hold on Law's heart. It also let him know bygones were bygones with his former coach, whom he had called a liar on his way out of town - a comment he later said he regretted making.
So now, after two largely unfulfilling seasons in Kansas City, Law is wondering whether Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli will be hitting redial. A reunion would seem to make sense; the Chiefs have told Law he will be released and the Patriots are seeking cornerback help.
"No matter what, I'll always be a part of New England, the Patriots, and they'll always be a part of me," Law said. "I think the fans feel the same way. We both had ups and downs, but we shared more success than anything. If it could happen again, it would be like things coming full circle. We're both still standing."
Law was in town last week after taking part in an NFL-sponsored program at Harvard Business School, and his presence at a Celtics game Wednesday night fueled speculation that a return to New England may be imminent. But because the Chiefs have yet to officially release him, Law is not free to speak with interested clubs.
At this point in his career, Law's priorities might be slightly different. While it's hard to imagine he would accept a hometown discount - that's never been his way, and he still feels he's a starting cornerback - he appears more willing to be flexible with a contender if things are close.
He'll also look closely at the style of a team's defense, as he believes his skills weren't maximized the last two seasons.
"I thought the opportunity was a great one at the time, but to be honest, it wasn't the best playing experience for me by any means," he said. "I feel that if you put me in a situation that takes advantage of my skills, I could be in Hawaii [at the Pro Bowl] the next three years. But you have to be in the right scheme of things to showcase your talent."
That's why if the Patriots ultimately express interest, and a financial offer is competitive, Law would be thrilled with the idea of finishing his career where he began it as a first-round draft choice in 1995.
"I like to move around [on defense], and that was the one thing about New England, we didn't stay still, we were moving around," Law explained. "The quarterback didn't know what we were doing.
"I might be 10 yards off but playing a two-deep zone. I might be up in your face but not necessarily playing man-to-man; I might be covering the deep part of the field.
"Belichick always gave us that freedom, saying, 'OK, you got it until you mess it up. Once you mess it up, it's back to my way.' At least he gave you that leeway until you screwed it up."
Law didn't feel he had that luxury in Kansas City, where he most often lined up on the left side while Patrick Surtain was on the right. He felt the defense performed better when he and Surtain were matching up against specific receivers.
While Law didn't miss a game with the Chiefs and totaled six interceptions, some observers wondered whether he could still compete at a high level. Always confident in his abilities, Law dismissed that thought, while seemingly agreeing that New England would be a good place to prove those critics wrong.
"I know I'm still a starting cornerback in this game," he shot back. "I'm going to be on the field and I'm going to make plays, given the opportunity. I think I proved that, even at Kansas City, when the opportunities were few and far in between, if I get my hands on that ball, I'm catching it.
"The opportunity to come back to New England, it would be like a dream come true. People would ask me ,'Don't you wish you were still on New England when they were trying for 19-0 and playing in the Super Bowl,' and the answer is, 'Hell, yeah, everyone wants to be in the Super Bowl.' Everybody wants to play in the big game."
The 2008 season will mark Law's 14th in the NFL, although he points out that at 34, he's a "young" 14-year veteran. Taking a line from Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, Law noted, "It's different now; the 30s are the new 20s.
"I'm kind of free-spirited right now," he said. "You would never think that somebody would be so looking forward to getting fired. This is like getting drafted to me. I have that same enthusiasm.
"I know that I'm going to play football and I can still play. I have that confidence in myself. If I go to the right team, I think I'm going to help them get over the hump and make them a contender. If it is a contender, I'm going to help them be a championship team from leadership and experience and everything else."
By Mike Reiss
Globe Staff / March 2, 2008
Not long after the plane had touched down in Kansas City two years ago, Ty Law's phone rang and a familiar voice was on the other end. It was Bill Belichick.
Law was en route to Chiefs headquarters to sign a five-year, $30 million contract that he felt reflected his value as a top free agent cornerback. The Patriots coach wanted to know if it was too late for him to consider a return to New England.
"I was so close to just walking and turning around, but at that point, I just felt I couldn't turn back," Law said. "I had just gotten off the plane, so what was I going to say to them in Kansas City? I had given them my word."
If anything, the conversation reflected how the Patriots still had a hold on Law's heart. It also let him know bygones were bygones with his former coach, whom he had called a liar on his way out of town - a comment he later said he regretted making.
So now, after two largely unfulfilling seasons in Kansas City, Law is wondering whether Belichick and vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli will be hitting redial. A reunion would seem to make sense; the Chiefs have told Law he will be released and the Patriots are seeking cornerback help.
"No matter what, I'll always be a part of New England, the Patriots, and they'll always be a part of me," Law said. "I think the fans feel the same way. We both had ups and downs, but we shared more success than anything. If it could happen again, it would be like things coming full circle. We're both still standing."
Law was in town last week after taking part in an NFL-sponsored program at Harvard Business School, and his presence at a Celtics game Wednesday night fueled speculation that a return to New England may be imminent. But because the Chiefs have yet to officially release him, Law is not free to speak with interested clubs.
At this point in his career, Law's priorities might be slightly different. While it's hard to imagine he would accept a hometown discount - that's never been his way, and he still feels he's a starting cornerback - he appears more willing to be flexible with a contender if things are close.
He'll also look closely at the style of a team's defense, as he believes his skills weren't maximized the last two seasons.
"I thought the opportunity was a great one at the time, but to be honest, it wasn't the best playing experience for me by any means," he said. "I feel that if you put me in a situation that takes advantage of my skills, I could be in Hawaii [at the Pro Bowl] the next three years. But you have to be in the right scheme of things to showcase your talent."
That's why if the Patriots ultimately express interest, and a financial offer is competitive, Law would be thrilled with the idea of finishing his career where he began it as a first-round draft choice in 1995.
"I like to move around [on defense], and that was the one thing about New England, we didn't stay still, we were moving around," Law explained. "The quarterback didn't know what we were doing.
"I might be 10 yards off but playing a two-deep zone. I might be up in your face but not necessarily playing man-to-man; I might be covering the deep part of the field.
"Belichick always gave us that freedom, saying, 'OK, you got it until you mess it up. Once you mess it up, it's back to my way.' At least he gave you that leeway until you screwed it up."
Law didn't feel he had that luxury in Kansas City, where he most often lined up on the left side while Patrick Surtain was on the right. He felt the defense performed better when he and Surtain were matching up against specific receivers.
While Law didn't miss a game with the Chiefs and totaled six interceptions, some observers wondered whether he could still compete at a high level. Always confident in his abilities, Law dismissed that thought, while seemingly agreeing that New England would be a good place to prove those critics wrong.
"I know I'm still a starting cornerback in this game," he shot back. "I'm going to be on the field and I'm going to make plays, given the opportunity. I think I proved that, even at Kansas City, when the opportunities were few and far in between, if I get my hands on that ball, I'm catching it.
"The opportunity to come back to New England, it would be like a dream come true. People would ask me ,'Don't you wish you were still on New England when they were trying for 19-0 and playing in the Super Bowl,' and the answer is, 'Hell, yeah, everyone wants to be in the Super Bowl.' Everybody wants to play in the big game."
The 2008 season will mark Law's 14th in the NFL, although he points out that at 34, he's a "young" 14-year veteran. Taking a line from Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, Law noted, "It's different now; the 30s are the new 20s.
"I'm kind of free-spirited right now," he said. "You would never think that somebody would be so looking forward to getting fired. This is like getting drafted to me. I have that same enthusiasm.
"I know that I'm going to play football and I can still play. I have that confidence in myself. If I go to the right team, I think I'm going to help them get over the hump and make them a contender. If it is a contender, I'm going to help them be a championship team from leadership and experience and everything else."
Monday, February 18, 2008
Ty Law Return?
The Chiefs are expected to release cornerback Ty Law instead of paying him a $6.5 million base salary in 2008, which would put Law back onto the free agent market. Law, 33, spent the last two seasons in Kansas City and did not miss a game, recording six interceptions over that span. Some observers felt the Chiefs' desire to play more man coverage was not the best fit for Law, although Law, who believes he has 2-3 solid seasons left in him, might contest that. The 2008 campaign will mark Law's 14th in the NFL, and considering that the Patriots could be looking for corners, his potential return to Foxborough would add a dash of spice to the offseason. Assuming Law is released, those close to him say he would be open to the possibility of a return - if the price is right.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Patriots taping since 2000
By Christopher L. Gasper
Globe Staff / February 14, 2008
Senator Arlen Specter finally met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday to discuss the league's handling of its investigation into "Spygate," and according to Specter, he was told the Patriots' taping of opposing teams' signals had been going on since 2000, when Bill Belichick took over as coach.
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"There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over," said Specter, who met with Goodell in his office in Washington for 1 hour 40 minutes.
Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, had written the league requesting a meeting with Goodell to discuss why the league destroyed the tapes - Goodell has said there were six - and notes, which date to 2002, that were turned over by the Patriots. That came after the team was caught videotaping the defensive signals of the Jets during its 38-14 victory at Giants Stadium Sept. 9.
Specter, who represents Pennsylvania and is an admitted fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, the team the Patriots defeated in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the Patriots' conduct and has raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers.
Specter has compared the NFL's destruction of the tapes to the CIA destroying evidence and raised the threat of Congress canceling the NFL's antitrust exemption. He reiterated that threat in the meeting with Goodell.
However, Goodell stood his ground, maintaining the league handled the case and the evidence it seized from the Patriots properly.
"I think it was the right thing to do," said Goodell yesterday about the tapes' destruction. He added, "I have nothing to hide."
Specter's request for a meeting became public in a New York Times story Feb. 1, two days prior to the Patriots' 17-14 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, and reignited the furor over the signal-stealing imbroglio, which resulted in the franchise being fined $250,000 and stripped of a first-round draft choice and Belichick being fined $500,000, the maximum allowable under the NFL constitution and bylaws.
The NFL has stated that the penalties were for the totality of the Patriots' actions, not just those during the Jets game.
Goodell said yesterday that Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal, implying he's been doing it since he has been coach.
"He said that's always been his interpretation since he's been the head coach," said the commissioner. "We are going to agree to disagree on the facts."
Patriots spokesman Stacey James, when reached last night, said the team had nothing to add on the meeting.
In a Sept. 13 statement released by Belichick after Goodell's ruling and the resulting penalties, the coach said his interpretation of the rule regarding videotaping was incorrect.
"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them," Belichick said in his statement. "My interpretation of a rule in the constitution and bylaws was incorrect."
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In a memo to NFL head coaches and general managers Sept. 6, 2006, a year before the Patriots had a sideline camera confiscated in the game against the Jets, league executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson stated, "Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."
The day before this year's Super Bowl, the Boston Herald, citing an anonymous source, reported that the Patriots had taped the Rams' walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. New England won that game, 20-17.
Both the Patriots and the NFL have been adamant that no such taping took place. Goodell has stated that the NFL was aware of the rumor, investigated it, and found no credible evidence that the Patriots taped the walkthrough.
However, Goodell has maintained that he reserves the right to reopen the league's investigation if new information is uncovered, and Matt Walsh, a former Patriots employee now working as a golf pro in Hawaii, has hinted that he has evidence that could be potentially damaging to the team.
The commissioner said last week that if Walsh, who has claimed that a confidentiality agreement he signed with the Patriots puts him in legal jeopardy if he talks, has any new, pertinent information, the league would want to speak with him.
Yesterday, Goodell said he has not heard from Walsh. Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby "he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly."
Goodell has defended the NFL's actions in the investigation, citing the leak of one of the tapes to Fox Sports, and saying their destruction was one way to confirm that the Patriots had turned over all of the evidence he had requested, which the team had to certify to the league in writing.
Specter said the NFL should have preserved the evidence.
"There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell," said Specter. "I found a lot of questions unanswerable because the tapes and notes had been destroyed."
Specter wants to talk to other league officials about what exactly was taped and which games may have been compromised.
"We have a right to honest football games," said Specter.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
Globe Staff / February 14, 2008
Senator Arlen Specter finally met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell yesterday to discuss the league's handling of its investigation into "Spygate," and according to Specter, he was told the Patriots' taping of opposing teams' signals had been going on since 2000, when Bill Belichick took over as coach.
more stories like this
Senator says Patriots' taping began in 2000
Goodell: No regrets
Specter and Goodell to meet today
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"There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over," said Specter, who met with Goodell in his office in Washington for 1 hour 40 minutes.
Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, had written the league requesting a meeting with Goodell to discuss why the league destroyed the tapes - Goodell has said there were six - and notes, which date to 2002, that were turned over by the Patriots. That came after the team was caught videotaping the defensive signals of the Jets during its 38-14 victory at Giants Stadium Sept. 9.
Specter, who represents Pennsylvania and is an admitted fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, the team the Patriots defeated in Super Bowl XXXIX in 2005, has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the Patriots' conduct and has raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers.
Specter has compared the NFL's destruction of the tapes to the CIA destroying evidence and raised the threat of Congress canceling the NFL's antitrust exemption. He reiterated that threat in the meeting with Goodell.
However, Goodell stood his ground, maintaining the league handled the case and the evidence it seized from the Patriots properly.
"I think it was the right thing to do," said Goodell yesterday about the tapes' destruction. He added, "I have nothing to hide."
Specter's request for a meeting became public in a New York Times story Feb. 1, two days prior to the Patriots' 17-14 loss to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII, and reignited the furor over the signal-stealing imbroglio, which resulted in the franchise being fined $250,000 and stripped of a first-round draft choice and Belichick being fined $500,000, the maximum allowable under the NFL constitution and bylaws.
The NFL has stated that the penalties were for the totality of the Patriots' actions, not just those during the Jets game.
Goodell said yesterday that Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal, implying he's been doing it since he has been coach.
"He said that's always been his interpretation since he's been the head coach," said the commissioner. "We are going to agree to disagree on the facts."
Patriots spokesman Stacey James, when reached last night, said the team had nothing to add on the meeting.
In a Sept. 13 statement released by Belichick after Goodell's ruling and the resulting penalties, the coach said his interpretation of the rule regarding videotaping was incorrect.
"Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them," Belichick said in his statement. "My interpretation of a rule in the constitution and bylaws was incorrect."
more stories like this
In a memo to NFL head coaches and general managers Sept. 6, 2006, a year before the Patriots had a sideline camera confiscated in the game against the Jets, league executive vice president of football operations Ray Anderson stated, "Videotaping of any type, including but not limited to taping of an opponent's offensive or defensive signals, is prohibited on the sidelines, in the coaches' booth, in the locker room, or at any other locations accessible to club staff members during the game."
The day before this year's Super Bowl, the Boston Herald, citing an anonymous source, reported that the Patriots had taped the Rams' walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. New England won that game, 20-17.
Both the Patriots and the NFL have been adamant that no such taping took place. Goodell has stated that the NFL was aware of the rumor, investigated it, and found no credible evidence that the Patriots taped the walkthrough.
However, Goodell has maintained that he reserves the right to reopen the league's investigation if new information is uncovered, and Matt Walsh, a former Patriots employee now working as a golf pro in Hawaii, has hinted that he has evidence that could be potentially damaging to the team.
The commissioner said last week that if Walsh, who has claimed that a confidentiality agreement he signed with the Patriots puts him in legal jeopardy if he talks, has any new, pertinent information, the league would want to speak with him.
Yesterday, Goodell said he has not heard from Walsh. Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby "he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly."
Goodell has defended the NFL's actions in the investigation, citing the leak of one of the tapes to Fox Sports, and saying their destruction was one way to confirm that the Patriots had turned over all of the evidence he had requested, which the team had to certify to the league in writing.
Specter said the NFL should have preserved the evidence.
"There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell," said Specter. "I found a lot of questions unanswerable because the tapes and notes had been destroyed."
Specter wants to talk to other league officials about what exactly was taped and which games may have been compromised.
"We have a right to honest football games," said Specter.
Material from the Associated Press was used in this report.
© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.
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