Chris Mortensen of ESPN reports that Senator Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) wants the NFL to provide indemnity to Matt Walsh for any legal entanglements that might arise from any decision by him to speak about what he knows (or what he thinks he knows) about the past practices of his former employer, the New England Patriots.

Last week, Mortensen reported that the NFL would indeed provide such protection.

It would create an awkward situation for the Patriots, who would essentially be suing the league if they were to elect to take action against Walsh.

Viewing the matter more broadly, why wouldn’t the Pats simply release Walsh from his confidentiality agreement, insofar as it relates to any practices that he reasonably believes to be cheating?  That’s the real question that should be asked, in our view.  If the Pats have nothing to hide, why not give Walsh a blank check to talk?

Though Specter doesn’t have the ability to convene a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee because he’s not the chairman, a refusal by the league or the Pats to permit Walsh to talk could be used by Specter to cajole his colleagues into issuing a subpoena to Walsh.