A Deal At Last: NFL, Matt Walsh To Discuss Videotaping Claims
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Goodell To Meet With Former
Patriots Videographer In May |
The NFL and former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, who has “intimated he has additional information about the team’s prohibited taping practices, reached a legal agreement yesterday, finally allowing him to come forward,” according to Christopher Gasper of the BOSTON GLOBE. Walsh on May 13 will meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in N.Y., and according to terms of the agreement, Walsh “must turn over any materials that relate to allegations of the Patriots videotaping opponents -- including videotapes and audiotapes -- to the league on or before May 8.” Walsh must certify to the league "in writing that he has turned over all such materials," but he may keep a "single copy of whatever he delivers to the league.” The NFL agreed to provide Walsh with "league indemnification, protecting him against future legal claims and damages and agreeing to pay for pursuant legal and travel costs" in exchange for his cooperation. The league also promised that "neither the NFL nor the Patriots would sue him.” Meanwhile, Walsh cannot directly profit from his information, and he would have to "repay the league for the indemnification, with money going to charity” should he do so (BOSTON GLOBE, 4/24). Walsh’s attorney Michael Levy said in a statement, “I am pleased that we now have an agreement that provides Mr. Walsh with appropriate legal protections. Mr. Walsh is looking forward to providing the NFL with the materials he has and telling the NFL what he knows” (BOSTON.com, 4/23). The Patriots released a statement that read in part, “It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots” (Patriots).
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Specter Expects To Also Meet
With Former Patriots Videographer |
HILL TO CLIMB: U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA), who has criticized the Spygate investigation, will “not be part of the NFL’s interview of Walsh but confirmed he expected to be meeting with Walsh in [DC] also on May 13.” When asked if he wanted to see Walsh’s materials, Specter replied, “I sure do. … To whatever extent the league’s approval is necessary, I will ask them for it in a formal way.” What Specter learns from Walsh “will determine whether Specter will ask the judiciary committee to look into the matter” (ESPN.com, 4/23).
TALE OF THE TAPE: ESPN’s Chris Mortensen said Goodell “proved to be true to his word that he was motivated to get to the bottom of (Spygate).” If the NFL finds new evidence about the Patriots videotaping opponents and the Patriots “deny that they authorized this, and they could say this is a rogue videographer, then it’s going to be Goodell’s call." Mortensen: "Then I think Goodell will basically say if he was an employee of the Patriots, it’s your responsibility and somebody’s in trouble and that somebody would be Bill Belichick. But that’s hypothetical” (ESPN, 4/23).
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