Boston Herald Issues Apology
The Boston Herald has issued an apology for its admittedly "false" Feb. 2 report that the New England Patriots videotaped the St. Louis Rams' walk-through before the two teams played in the Super Bowl in 2002.
The apology, printed in today's editions, reads:
"On Feb. 2, 2008, the Boston Herald reported that a member of the New England Patriots' video staff taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI. While the Boston Herald based its Feb. 2, 2008, report on sources that it believed to be credible, we now know that this report was false, and that no tape of the walkthrough ever existed.
"Prior to the publication of its Feb. 2, 2008, article, the Boston Herald neither possessed nor viewed a tape of the Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, nor did we speak to anyone who had. We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification.
"The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots' owners, players, employees and fans for our error."
Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for nearly 3-1/2 hours Tuesday in New York and, according to Goodell, said the Rams' walk-through had not been videotaped.
Walsh told Goodell and the other NFL officials participating in the meeting that he and other members of the Patriots' video staff were on the field for the Rams' walk-through, preparing for their duties on game day. Walsh said he later told Brian Daboll, then a Patriots assistant coach, some of the things he'd seen during the Rams' walk-through. According to league attorney Gregg Levy, Walsh said he'd noticed Rams tailback Marshall Faulk returning kickoffs and was asked by Daboll about some of the offensive formations he'd seen. Daboll, now a Jets assistant, apparently had not mentioned this during his earlier interview with league officials. The league plans to look into the matter but Goodell said Tuesday he has no plans to further penalize the Patriots.
Walsh met later Tuesday with Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), who's scheduled to participate in a news conference today on Capitol Hill.
By Mark Maske |
May 14, 2008; 7:10 AM ET
| Category:
League
,
Patriots
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Posted by: mjwies 11, Washington, D.C. | May 14, 2008 8:57 AM
There is still a stain on all of their titles. CHEATERS!
Posted by: mjwies 11, Washington, D.C. | May 14, 2008 8:57 AM
Just saw the trophies on NESN. I didn't see ANY stains, look pretty shiny to me.
it says WORLD CHAMPIONS
LOL
Posted by: caphcky | May 14, 2008 9:20 AM
LOL...you read the Herald? If it takes you more than 7 minutes to read that paper, you're MENTALLY RETARDED!
Posted by: caphcky | May 14, 2008 9:22 AM
The more interesting question here is who was their source? Walsh denied being a source, so who gave them the tip that led to the story? Talk about shoddy journalism.
(I guess we'll find out when the reporter has to spill the beans in a lawsuit)
Posted by: ah | May 14, 2008 10:30 AM
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There is still a stain on all of their titles. CHEATERS!