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Originally Posted by TekeRam
Moloch, this was Goodell's statement AFTER interviewing Walsh and seeing the tapes. In my opinion that makes it even more fishy as I have to imagine that Walsh would have presented something new.
Here's hoping that Specter actually does some digging. The evidence of the lack of a real interview of Walsh will come clear when the Commissioner's handicap goes down a few strokes!
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No, the NFL actually released a statement saying the same thing BEFORE they even received the tapes. He's just saying the same thing they said days ago.
Sen. Arlen Specter warned the NFL not to rush to judgment Thursday, suggesting the league is premature in trying to put the Spygate saga to rest.
Specter, R-Pa., spoke as commissioner Roger Goodell and top league officials prepared to view videotapes turned over by former New England Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh. Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been critical of the investigation the league conducted into the Patriots' illicit taping practices.
"I think it is very unfortunate that the NFL has already started its 'nothing new' spin before watching the tapes or finding out what Matt Walsh has to say," Specter said. "Let's see where the evidence leads."
Walsh, employed by the Patriots from 1997 to 2003, is scheduled to meet with league officials Tuesday in New York. After that session, he is to travel to Washington and sit down with Specter and his staff.
Specter formally requested the league make available to him the evidence turned over by Walsh, which consists of eight tapes dating from 2000 through 2003. But as of Thursday night he had not gotten confirmation on when, or even if, he'd get the tapes.
"As a matter of basic fair play, I got to have the time to prepare," said Specter. "It's equal access … I'm waiting for them."
Goodell, however, suggested in a letter last Friday that Specter would eventually gain access to the tapes, saying: "Once I see the material I will be in a better position to respond … [I'm] confident we'll be able to make satisfactory arrangements for you or key staff to review the material."
Specter has complained about the lack of cooperation from the NFL as his staff has attempted to delve into the matter. Very few key individuals have spoken when approached by staff members. And attorneys for the Patriots and New York Jets have advised team employees against speaking with Specter.
"I got three pages of people who refused to talk to me,'' he said.