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Former Pats video employee Matt Walsh has turned over videotapes to the NFL. As widely believed in NFL circles, and contrary to a February 2 report from the Boston Herald, the tapes do not include images of the Rams’ walk-through practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.
The New York Times reports that Walsh possesses no such tape.
“Mr. Walsh has never claimed to have a tape of the walk-through,” Walsh’s lawyer, Michael Levy, said in a telephone interview. “Mr. Walsh has never been the source of any of the media speculation about such a tape. Mr. Walsh was not the source for the Feb. 2 Boston Herald article.”
Based on everything we’ve heard over the past several months, we believe that Walsh was the source.
The tapes show videotaping of defensive coaching signals, something for which the Patriots already have been punished.
Walsh is scheduled to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13.
May 7th, 2008 at 10:38 pm
Well, this started out boring, so it’s kinda fitting that it ends up boring.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:40 pm
Pats: 18-d’oh.
Go Giants. Patties fans egotistical bastards like their leader BB who thinks they’re above the law. In fact BB and boys even had a private meeting at White House. ….As I said they are not above the law and …
one more reason to follow through on a cover up.
“We here in NE are laughing at you LOSERS & your sorry teams!!!!”
Pats, 18-d’oh, biggest chokers of all time!
Baaawawwwaawawawaawawawawawaa.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
Yes, the ANTI-PATRIOT HATE is quite apparent in those trying to move the goalposts now, just for they can hold onto the last vestiges of LIEgate.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:42 pm
I too, think that the Pats will be exonerated after Walsh’s meeting with the commish. What a little weasel this guy was. Maybe he didn’t have the St. Louis walk through tape, but he never went out of his way to deny that he didn’t either. It’s no small wonder he was holding out for complete imdemnity, because he knew if he didn’t produce the tape he was going to get his skanky ass sued off.
Btw, I think I might have spotted a Deadspin.com regular or two in the comments here. Not that it makes any difference whatsoever. Keep me laughing guys.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:48 pm
The reason for the indemnity is now clear. Walsh taped the walk-through, but he has no proof, just his word against theirs. Goodell reportedly destroyed the evidence before deciding on the punishment, so it’s clear that Goodell will do anything to protect the image of the NFL. If Goodell gives NE a “clean bill of health”, I ain’t buying one word. If Arlen Specter gives NE a “clean bill of health”, I’ll accept that.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 6 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I’ve never been much of a conspiracy theorist, but something isn’t right here. Something is definitely suspicious about this…but it would be so much more convenient for the league and its image if this finally just went away.
I’m telling you people…there’s more to this story.
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Rating: 3.4 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
And Robo769, it is not a “theory,” as it’s already been PROVEN that the Pats have cheated (since 2000). Pat fans have been holding their breath that no more new evidence surfaces. (This includes my good friend, who I’ve known for years, and is a professional cook. In fact, we used to work together. Yes, he was sweating it, and he’s actually a bit ashamed, though it’s not his fault, and we all have our team allegiances.) But Theory? No, fact. We’ll probably never get all the evidence. But the world KNOWS.
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Rating: 3.75 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 10:57 pm
So, correct me if I’m wrong, but how is Goodell supposed to punish the Patriots for violating a rule in 2002 that didn’t exist until 2006 when he declared ALL sideline taping a rule violation… not solely tapes used during the game itself, as the rule originally said.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:03 pm
18-d’oh Cheatriots.
Biggest chokers of all time. They obviously couldn’t handle the pressure of being the fakes they are. In the interest of the greater good, the tapes vanished faster than you could say; “Tapegate”.
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Rating: 2.75 / 5 with 7 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:52 pm
I’m confused, how could there be a cover up if the guy wanted immunity? He would have nothing to hide, and Goddell was ready to punish the Pats even more. Why do people act as if the Patriots were the first team to ever cheat, and as if they are the only team that has ever done this? I’m not even a Pats fan, but it confuses me.
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I’m looking everywhere on the Herald’s site for this story… but I can’t seem to find it anywhere… not on the front page… not in the sports section… not even in the Patriots section. It’s front page on Boston.com… what gives? They sure rushed to tell everyone about a Rams walk-through tape but they don’t seem to be in any hurry to admit they were wr-wr-wrrrrong.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
Heck, when did the Patriots edit in the camera angles and split screens. half time? Real time. I am soo confused. Help spyboots. Gimme your take.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:55 pm
spyboots,
I have never held my breath because I pretty much knew that there wasn’t going to be anymore.
Besides, Belichick probably didn’t start to do this in 2000. He probably learned from Parcells who probably did it as far back as the Giants Super Bowl years. Which brings me to the point that if you believe the Pats were the only ones who were videotaping defensive signals, you are kidding yourself. Belichick didn’t take the Patriots job and think to himself that it might be a good idea to videotape defensive signals. Jimmy Johnson said that he did with the Cowboys and Marty Schottenheimer did it with the Chiefs.
I don’t think everyone videotaped defensive signals, but I know the Pats weren’t the only ones.
As for the supposive cover up, with Arlen Specter threatening Senate hearings and meeting with Matt Walsh the same day as Goodell, it is silly to think that Goodell is going to risk Antitrust exemptions to do a cover up.
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Rating: 2.35 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 7th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
Yeah, that’s right, the Pats cheated in the Super Bowl agains the Eagles by making McNabb throw up on the sidelines and be too weak to run a decent 2 minute offense.
There is no conspiracy here. A disgruntled employee who has been exaggerating all his life ran his mouth once too often. Realizing he got in over his head, he dragged out the imdemnity (thanks for the correction) talks as long as he could. When he could no longer hide, he came up with what he could. Which was nothing. It’s over, folks, move along. Nothing here to see.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 12:05 am
Wow - good comeback guys… I had forgotten the Patriots have the first undefeated season ever in the history of the NFL. You forgot to mention that Brady has the all time QB TD record, as does Moss for a WR.
We’re all just going to have to live with that shame I guess.
Are you guys serious or do you really think that’s worse than being the 2007 Dolphins?
And since when is losing the Super Bowl worse than say, the Yankees, being a few outs away from the World Series, becoming the first team to go from 3-0 in a series to lose 3-4?
Bottom line - the reported degree of editing in the tapes confirm they were not a game day use tape, therefore they did not violate the rule. Not even Jets fans could assert that the Patriots could break a rule that didn’t exist until 2006 (oh well, I guess they are.)
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Rating: 3 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Exonerated? That’s a laugh. If DNA evidence proved Ted Bundy killed one fewer person than previously thought, would he be exonerated of being a murderer? Apparently he would be in Boston.
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Rating: 2 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 12:44 am
JoeSixPack - what some of you still don’t get is this. It’s like peeking at the other peoples’ cards. The Pats didn’t win on their own merits and by their own abilities, but by CHEATING! You “peeked.” ****************** 18 games *** 3 SBs (cough)
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 12:51 am
come on! he was just stalling immuntity for all these months to keep it in the news. while he was probably squeezing the pats for money in exchange for the tape. i mean a tape with a walk through could mean millions,keeping a coach from being suspended/banished, and the franchise image from being scared. anyone else think this or what?
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 1:07 am
haha as south park said, when the pats tried for real, they lost.
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 1:26 am
Maybe there is really nothing new from Walsh. Maybe Goodell covered it up again. Who cares, the “dynasty” is still tainted Patriot F*ckers. And you know this, so don’t act like this is some kind of moral victory.
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Rating: 4 / 5 with 4 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 1:33 am
The Times article quotes Walsh’s lawyer saying that Walsh was never the source for that “walk-thru” story. The Herald also never claimed it was Walsh- everyone else just assumed it. Maybe Walsh was the source, and now is denying it (take your pick: liar or paid off), but isn’t it just as likely that the Herald’s anonymous source is someone else whose name they’re protecting? Maybe because he or she still lives in Boston and fears reprisals from “fans” more rabid even than those who post here?
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Rating: 5 / 5 with 3 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 2:18 am
STFU haters!
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 2 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 2:25 am
Poor Patriots fans. No matter how hard you front, the fact is Bill Bellicheat and the Patsy’s have taint all over them. From South Park to Youtube comments, the Patriots as cheaters is an image and idea that has entered the public mindset.
Matt Walsh was merely icing on the cake. The Patsy’s have already been fined heavily for cheating, so no matter how hard you try Patsy fans, NFL fans will not forget that.
Oh, and we also will not forget the biggest choke job in NFL history. 18-1, how sweet is that?
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Rating: 4.2 / 5 with 5 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 2:26 am
Well, if Walsh isn’t the source of the Boston Herald article, it certainly begs the question: “Who was?”
It’s also possible that Walsh has other new evidence that has nothing to do with the Rams/SB walk through, or whatever the Pats were already sanctioned for. However, my hunch is that this is going to end up being nothing more than a tempest in a teapot. Nothing really to see here, folks. Move along. LOL.
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Rating: 1 / 5 with 1 rating(s)
May 8th, 2008 at 2:27 am
stop making sense joesixpack
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