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Specter calls Goodell's actions absurd


tonyr0802
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This thing is going to get ugly before it's over. Also sounds like this Walsh guy may prove to be very critical before it's all over, hence the "investigation" (harassment) he's going through mentioned at the end of the article.

 

 

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A day after meeting with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in Washington D.C., Sen. Arlen Specter said he continues to be troubled by a number of issues surrounding the league's handling of Spygate and will continue his investigation.

 

Specter (R-Pa.) told ESPN.com that Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) offered support on Thursday for his inquiry into the New England Patriots' questionable videotaping practices, saying Leahy is "prepared to have the committee pay for people who travel and investigate." Leahy sat in on a part of Wednesday's session with Goodell and league counsel, Specter said.

 

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Arlen Specter

 

AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke

 

Sen. Arlen Specter, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, calls Roger Goodell's reasoning for the destoying of the Spygate evidence "absurd."

"I'm determined to go forward," said Specter, the ranking Republican on the Judiciary Committee. "You have answers and positions where [Goodell] is saying that with the destruction of tapes that, 'We did the right thing. We're absolutely sure.'

 

"Well, that is absurd . . . Goodell says things that don't make sense."

 

Among the issues that continue to trouble Specter are:

 

• Goodell's imposition of a penalty -- the loss of a first-round draft pick, a $500,000 fine to coach Bill Belichick and a $250,000 to the team -- before the Patriots had turned over evidence, including notes dating to 2002 and six tapes from the 2006 season and 2007 preseason, requested by the league. The Patriots were caught videotaping defensive signals from the sidelines in their Sept. 9 season opener against the New York Jets. The commissioner imposed his penalty on Sept. 13, four days before New England provided the tapes and notes.

 

"Did they know the scope of the wrongdoing before the penalty was imposed?" asked Specter, a former Philadelphia district attorney. "The answer is no."

 

NFL spokesperson Greg Aiello, in response on Thursday, said Goodell's hasty punishment stemmed from the fact that the Patriots had been caught at the Jets game and Belichick's admission that he had been taping signals since he became New England's head coach in 2000. Belichick reportedly told Goodell that he thought he was within the rules to tape other team's signals as long as the information wasn't used in the game at hand.

 

"[Goodell] issued the discipline as quickly as could to send a strong message to teams that this wouldn't be tolerated, and there'd be a severe penalty if you violated the rules," Aiello said. "The discipline included they had to turn over everything that had related to that taping procedure."

 

Specter heard that explanation from Goodell on Wednesday. On Thursday, Specter said, "The word absurd and ridiculous keep coming to my mind, because he [Goodell] says it with a straight face."

 

• Specter said it was unsettling to learn that the tapes, as well as notes, turned over by the Patriots in September had been destroyed in Foxboro rather than in the league's New York offices. Aiello said the documents and tapes were destroyed after they were reviewed by NFL officials Jeffrey Pash and Ray Anderson, and that the call to destroy the material came from Goodell, saying "There's no further use for it, so he said get rid of it."

 

Nobody could use those. They are scrap paper -- except evidence.

 

-- Sen. Arlen Specter, on the notion Spygate materials were destroyed to avoid a competitive advantage

Specter said the league's suggestion that the material, particularly the notes dating to the 2002 season, was destroyed because it might have afforded a competitive advantage is unbelievable.

 

"Everything has changed," he said. "Nobody could use those. They are scrap paper -- except evidence."

 

With the evidence destroyed, Specter said there is no way to tell what advantage the Patriots might have gained in the illegal taping practice.

 

• Specter is particularly concerned about how the taping might have affected New England's games involving teams from his home state in the 2004 playoffs.

 

In a preseason opener in August of that year at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, the Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles played in what proved to be a preview of the 2005 Super Bowl, won by the Patriots 24-21. And in an Oct. 31 regular-season game in Pittsburgh, the Steelers beat the Patriots 34-20. Those two teams later met in the AFC title game, which New England won, 41-27.

 

Later Thursday, the Steelers released a statement that read: "We consider the tapes of our coaching staff during our games against the New England Patriots to be a non-issue. In our opinion, they had no impact on the results of those games. The Steelers fully support the manner in which Commissioner Goodell handled the situation and the discipline that he levied against those who violated league rules. We are confident that the Commissioner has taken appropriate action in his investigation of this matter, and will do so again if new information arises which requires further investigation and or discipline."

 

• Specter believes the NFL hasn't gone far enough in its offer of legal protection to former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, who has told ESPN.com that he has potentially embarrassing information about the team's taping practices.

 

The league has offered to indemnify Walsh against exposure to a lawsuit from the Patriots, but the proposal stipulates that Walsh must tell the truth and return anything he took improperly. Under those conditions, the team could still file suit against Walsh even after he turns over evidence to the Patriots and league.

 

"Matt Walsh is an important guy, and they have made it so conditional," Specter said. "All they got to do is say, 'We're not going to sue you.' It is not a big deal."

 

Specter said he has spoken with Walsh's attorney three times in the last two days and understands that Walsh is "scared." He said the Judiciary Committee could afford Walsh immunity if Walsh is ever summoned to testify at a Senate hearing. He described both Walsh and his attorney as "cooperative."

 

• Specter said he was concerned to learn from Walsh's attorney that an NFL security representative, Dick Farley, had been investigating Walsh. Specter said: "I confronted them on that, and Goodell says, 'Yeah, he [Farley] works for us. Yeah, he is a security guy, but we didn't know he was investigating him.' "

 

Aiello said Thursday that it is an overstatement to suggest the league is investigating Walsh.

 

"The only thing we're doing is looking at public records and trying to verify his employment history in an effort to learn about him," Aiello said.

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I do agree instead of destroying everythinh he could have locked it up as evidence, but wish the congress would investigate others.

 

Like voting machines companies that won't let government officials look at voting results. Or home lenders that gave loans to people who shouldn't have gotten them. Both affect mpre people's lives(I'm sure there are others too).

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It may be absurd but anyone from Congress calling anything absurd is like the pot calling the kettle black!

 

I read that Bush may Pardon clemens. If he does that than he should pardon Barry Bonds as well. They comiitted the same crime. Took HGH and lied about it under oath.

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I do agree instead of destroying everythinh he could have locked it up as evidence, but wish the congress would investigate others.

 

Like voting machines companies that won't let government officials look at voting results. Or home lenders that gave loans to people who shouldn't have gotten them. Both affect mpre people's lives(I'm sure there are others too).

 

 

or stupid people that bought homes they couldnt afford

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or stupid people that bought homes they couldnt afford

 

 

In defense of the so called "Stupid People" that bought homes they could not afford. When I was looking to buy my first house 2 years ago I was preapproved at a certain amount. Everytime I would go look at a house that was more than my pre approval my Real Estate Agent would call the Mortgage company and get a new pre approval letter with an increased amount. I ended up buying a house that cost more than $50G over my first pre approval. This has not been a problem for me but it easlly could have been.

 

In going through the home buying process for the first time it seemed everyone was friends with everyone. The Mortgage broker, Real Estate Agent, Home inpectors, Appraisers, Attorneys, etc. I can see how some people could get swept up in the whole thing.

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Doesn't Congress have more important things to worry about than what goes on in the NFL? I mean seriously...is this man just grandstanding, looking for more autographs or what? Even if the real target (or cause of the inquiry) is the anti-trust exemption, there are surely more important things for our government to worry about.

 

If I am missing the big picture, please explain it to me. On the surface, this seems like a simple case of meddiling.

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Doesn't Congress have more important things to worry about than what goes on in the NFL? I mean seriously...is this man just grandstanding, looking for more autographs or what? Even if the real target (or cause of the inquiry) is the anti-trust exemption, there are surely more important things for our government to worry about.

 

If I am missing the big picture, please explain it to me. On the surface, this seems like a simple case of meddiling.

 

In principle, I agree that the government has more important things to look into.

 

As a fan of the NFL, I don't mind it when someone takes a look at the big-britches-wearing MF's who are trying to sweep what may appear to be a rampant case of cheating by one of the most dominant teams in league history under a rug. Not to mention whoever else may have been doing it.

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In defense of the so called "Stupid People" that bought homes they could not afford. When I was looking to buy my first house 2 years ago I was preapproved at a certain amount. Everytime I would go look at a house that was more than my pre approval my Real Estate Agent would call the Mortgage company and get a new pre approval letter with an increased amount. I ended up buying a house that cost more than $50G over my first pre approval. This has not been a problem for me but it easlly could have been.

 

In going through the home buying process for the first time it seemed everyone was friends with everyone. The Mortgage broker, Real Estate Agent, Home inpectors, Appraisers, Attorneys, etc. I can see how some people could get swept up in the whole thing.

+1 Try buying your first home in Los Angeles in the middle of all that crap.

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Doesn't Congress have more important things to worry about than what goes on in the NFL? I mean seriously...is this man just grandstanding, looking for more autographs or what? Even if the real target (or cause of the inquiry) is the anti-trust exemption, there are surely more important things for our government to worry about.

 

If I am missing the big picture, please explain it to me. On the surface, this seems like a simple case of meddiling.

 

 

Multi-tasking.

 

Since one side is blocking everthing but what they agree with congress has to find something both sides agree on.

 

Seems they can only agree on two things-

Clemens is a liar and the Patriots are cheaters. :wacko:

Edited by Randall
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You near Santa Monica? I come out there for business once a month and will be there next week if you're close by and want to grab a beer.

Used to be. I'm up in the valley these days and work in Hollywood. Can't remember the last time I was on the westside. Love that part of town.

 

I'm out of town most of next week, but thanks for the offer Wolf!

 

Cheers!

:wacko:

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As bad as I hate to see this. And as much as I dislike the Patriots arrogance. They kind of did this to themselves. Did it help them I believe so how much is the question. But in reality if you really think about it. The games of the NFL is usually decided on 3-5 plays of the game. If you know you got those 3-5 plays in the pocket by knowing signals thats enough to win the close ones. But again in reality all this MAY do is put a black eye on the NFL but more so does nothing to the Pats. We can call them cheaters all day 24 hours a day; 7 days a week. But they are not going to take away one championship they won. Because in reality whether it was in the Super Bowl, NFL playoff game or a regular season game. If they cheated and had an advantage taking away who know whether they would have won or not? No one really could answer that. Even though they should have all the SB wins they have obtained taken away from 2002. Since the evidence is gone and no real proof can be provided the Pats biggest punishment already happened. The PR might be bad for now but thats may be about it. The thing that is sad is that if a kid really thinks about it. It says cheating is ok. You will only get a slap on the wrist. Only if you get caught.

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Doesn't Congress have more important things to worry about than what goes on in the NFL? I mean seriously...is this man just grandstanding, looking for more autographs or what? Even if the real target (or cause of the inquiry) is the anti-trust exemption, there are surely more important things for our government to worry about.

 

If I am missing the big picture, please explain it to me. On the surface, this seems like a simple case of meddiling.

+1. Let Goodell do his job.

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Congress has no business sticking their noses into this. No laws were broken, unlike in the steroids issue with baseball. How do you un-destroy the tapes that Goodell had destroyed? There's no way to prove that this is all stuff and nonsense being crowed over by a lunatice senator who still wants to cry over his sucky Eagles. He wants to investigate the preseason game they played against the Eagles? How ridiculous is that. :wacko:

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Congress has no business sticking their noses into this. No laws were broken, unlike in the steroids issue with baseball. How do you un-destroy the tapes that Goodell had destroyed? There's no way to prove that this is all stuff and nonsense being crowed over by a lunatice senator who still wants to cry over his sucky Eagles. He wants to investigate the preseason game they played against the Eagles? How ridiculous is that. :wacko:

+1

 

It is all quite ridiculous.

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Congress has no business sticking their noses into this. No laws were broken, unlike in the steroids issue with baseball. How do you un-destroy the tapes that Goodell had destroyed? There's no way to prove that this is all stuff and nonsense being crowed over by a lunatice senator who still wants to cry over his sucky Eagles. He wants to investigate the preseason game they played against the Eagles? How ridiculous is that. :wacko:

Very well said.

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+1. Let Goodell do his job.

 

 

Well if there are more tapes and he couldn't force ex Pats employees to turn them over (as they said)he didn't have to power to end this. If they did use these to steal signs and won superbowls that's probably fraud which is a crime.

 

Michael Vick was just a dog fighting owner in the beginning too. There was no crime there at first either.

 

Congress has multiple committees working on a number of things. Wait and see if they find anything.

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I do agree instead of destroying everythinh he could have locked it up as evidence, but wish the congress would investigate others.

 

Like voting machines companies that won't let government officials look at voting results. Or home lenders that gave loans to people who shouldn't have gotten them. Both affect mpre people's lives(I'm sure there are others too).

 

I have to ask because this isn't the first time I've read it here on the boards. Where did you get the idea that voting machine companies have anything to do with voting results? I've repaired a couple different types of machines (both electronic) for the board of elections. At no time do these companies have anything to do with the machines once they are purchased, except to provide parts and maybe in the beginning before deployment to supply training courses for the techs. I'm very curious as to where this may be taking place.

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I have to ask because this isn't the first time I've read it here on the boards. Where did you get the idea that voting machine companies have anything to do with voting results? I've repaired a couple different types of machines (both electronic) for the board of elections. At no time do these companies have anything to do with the machines once they are purchased, except to provide parts and maybe in the beginning before deployment to supply training courses for the techs. I'm very curious as to where this may be taking place.

 

They got them secret buttons.

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