Martz Issues Statement About Rams' Walk-Through
Former St. Louis Rams coach Mike Martz has issued a statement about the circumstances surrounding the team's walk-through before it played the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl in 2002.
It says:
"I had the opportunity to talk to Commissioner [Roger] Goodell yesterday and I was very satisfied with the NFL's efforts to investigate the situation with Matt Walsh as it related to Super Bowl XXXVI. I'm very confident that there was no impropriety. I believed Bill Belichick when he said there wasn't and I took that at face value.
"Let me make this clear--we lost to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl because we turned the ball over three times. If there was anything obtained from our walk-thru from a casual observer that happened to be present, then that was just part of those walk-thrus and that environment. What I've said all along and what my only concerns were if A): If the walk-thru was filmed or B): If it was purposely scouted for information. If so, then that is an issue that the league needs to pursue. I'm very satisfied that this was not the situation in this instance whatsoever.
"I was stunned at Matt Walsh's allegation that he was on the sideline in New England Patriots apparel during our walk-thru. I find that insulting, disturbing and a slap in the face to both our team security and NFL security, who both do outstanding jobs. I promise you that if he was on the sideline, he was not in New England Patriots apparel because he would have been identified.
"This whole issue is based on statements made by Matt Walsh, and I think we have to understand that.
"I'm very grateful for Commissioner Goodell to take the time to talk to me about this. It's time to put this situation behind us."
By Mark Maske |
May 15, 2008; 8:17 PM ET
| Category:
League
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Posted by: caphcky | May 16, 2008 8:10 AM
How is Eric Mangini responsible for this? The one responsible is Belichik and his staff for continuing the taping even after being told this was against NFL rules. I also would like to hear from Mangini. I am sure HE WAS part of the program while in New England. That is why he knew he was going to be taped. Also, how about getting a statement from Weiss in Notre Dame? Did he confess to the pastor in charge at Our Lady of Notre Dame?
Posted by: Henry71 | May 16, 2008 1:11 PM
How is Eric Mangini responsible for this? The one responsible is Belichik and his staff for continuing the taping even after being told this was against NFL rules. I also would like to hear from Mangini. I am sure HE WAS part of the program while in New England. That is why he knew he was going to be taped. Also, how about getting a statement from Weiss in Notre Dame? Did he confess to the pastor in charge at Our Lady of Notre Dame?
Posted by: Henry71 | May 16, 2008 1:11 PM
Breakdown:
"How is Eric Mangini responsible for this?"
Response: LOL, as a former employee of the Patriots, the move was gutless, and not to mention SHALLOW since The Jets were named as one of the teams that do the SAME THING!
"The one responsible is Belichik and his staff for continuing the taping even after being told this was against NFL rules".
Response: While I agree that Coach B
is responsible, the only one responsible is more than a little off focus. YES he's the only one that got caught...so far. Personally I see no value of any of this anyway...but hey....whatever.
"I also would like to hear from Mangini. I am sure HE WAS part of the program while in New England. That is why he knew he was going to be taped".
Response: According to Walsh, Mangini does it now with the Jets! (Pot meet Kettle)
"Also, how about getting a statement from Weiss in Notre Dame?"
Response: You must think that the Patriots are the only one guilty of this "alleged" crime. Thats hysterical. Talking to all these people puts continues the Witch Hunt. More emphasis needs to be placed on writing the rule book.
There ya go....enjoy the season!
Posted by: Anonymous | May 16, 2008 2:27 PM
So, if what you want the witch hunt to stop, why would you want Mark to get a commnent from Mangini?
My comments were directed at "How 'bout you get a statement from the ONLY one responsible..." Mangini is harly the ONLY responsible.
By the way, I think emphasis should be placed at stiffer penalty. It is an unfair advantage that can change the outcome of a game. Did anybody noticed that after the fiasco got ugly the Pats were not as dominat as in the beginning of the season? Maybe they lost to the Giants in the SB because they could not steal their signs.
BTW, I will always enjoy my football season. I live fo fall and early winter sundays. I am breaking in my new grill this Spring! I am READY for some football!
Posted by: Henry71 | May 16, 2008 4:11 PM
Breakdown #2 LOL!
"So, if what you want the witch hunt to stop, why would you want Mark to get a commnent from Mangini"?
Because if it wasn't for his gutless act, we never would have WASTED all these months on NOTHING.
"My comments were directed at "How 'bout you get a statement from the ONLY one responsible..." Mangini is harly the ONLY responsible."
Disagree. He's HARDLY a saint on THIS issue.
"By the way, I think emphasis should be placed at stiffer penalty".
So we're going to penalize a franchise AGAIN based on what? The tapes of a Super Bowl walk-through that NOBODY HAS? Thats laugh outloud funny!
"It is an unfair advantage that can change the outcome of a game".
Blanket statement by you. The Pats taping coaches signals the first game of the season doesn't give them an advantage. Where the advantage comes in is if they have the same signals the NEXT time they play. If that happens you can't call Mangini a GENIUS. The games are on NATIONAL TV. Teams can get tapes of coaches signals and SYNC them up for the next game they play. The issue wasn't they taped the signals, it was the position of the camera that recorded it.
"Did anybody noticed that after the fiasco got ugly the Pats were not as dominat as in the beginning of the season?"
Nobody with any football knowledge noticed. LOL, they won 17 straight after the fiasco. They beat the Redskins by 45 in Week 8 and the Bills (IN BUFFALO) by 46 in week 11.
"Maybe they lost to the Giants in the SB because they could not steal their signs".
They lost to the Giants in the SB because the Giants made a key drive at the end of the game. You'll remember that the Giants went ahead and Tom Brady engineered a go ahead drive prior to the Giants answer. A GREAT SUPER BOWL GAME clouded by a ridiculous witch hunt.
"BTW, I will always enjoy my football season. I live fo fall and early winter sundays. I am breaking in my new grill this Spring! I am READY for some football!"
We all are! Fans are just jealous because the Pats were stripped of a First Round Draft Pick....and they got one anyway because of a trade.
Bottom line is we've wasted the off season on NOTHING and the focus needs to be on the rule and not who got caught allegedly breaking it.
Posted by: caphcky | May 16, 2008 4:54 PM
The comments to this entry are closed.
Hey Mark;
How 'bout you get a statement from the ONLY one responsible for this whole fiasco:
Eric Man-genius!