Walsh Turns Over Eight Tapes to League But Not One of Rams' Walk-Through

The NFL has been sent eight videotapes by former New England Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, a league official said tonight.

All of them are games between the 2000 and 2002 seasons in which the Patriots taped opponents' play signals. Included were games against the Miami Dolphins, Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers. One game, against the Steelers in the AFC title game in January 2002, came during the playoffs.

But Walsh did not turn over a tape of the St. Louis Rams' walk-through before the two teams played in the Super Bowl in 2002, the official said. The league received a letter from Walsh's lawyer saying the eight tapes will be delivered Thursday and Walsh possesses no other materials related to the Patriots' videotaping program.

If Walsh produces no further evidence, it appears unlikely there will be further sanctions against the Patriots. The NFL already has acknowledged that the Patriots' taped opponents' play signals throughout the coaching tenure of Bill Belichick.

By Mark Maske |  May 7, 2008; 9:35 PM ET  | Category:  League , Patriots
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Comments

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Finally, it sounds like this story is done. That sure was a lot of posturing for nothing.

Posted by: ah | May 7, 2008 9:48 PM

Senator Specter? Will you please raise your right hand and swear to the oath that your testimony in front of this Committee is the truth.

Now, let's begin our questions......

Posted by: Shmessy | May 7, 2008 10:28 PM

Please lets stop talking about this...it's soooo boring and nobody cares! If you do care, you need to get a life!

Posted by: Stop This! | May 7, 2008 10:33 PM

Please lets stop talking about this...it's soooo boring and nobody cares! If you do care, you need to get a life!

Posted by: Stop This! | May 7, 2008 10:33 PM
__________________________________________

Many would argue the same can be said for someone posting on a minor internet messageboard.

Posted by: Irony | May 7, 2008 10:34 PM

If there is evidence of cheating during a 2002 playoff game, shouldn't that invalidate the championship?

Posted by: Tim | May 7, 2008 10:41 PM

No, the penalties imposed by the league in September were for videotaping opponents' play signals throughout Belichick's coaching tenure in New England. What Walsh has given the league here is nothing new.

Posted by: Mark Maske | May 7, 2008 11:06 PM

Every Super Bowl should be stripped. The reeking Cheatriots would have never have gotten to the Super Bowl if they had not cheated.

Ban Belicheat for Life
Strip the SuperBowls
The Cheatriost should forfit next season.
Strip the Cheatriots of all their draft picks for the next three years.

Posted by: Ban BeliCheat for Life | May 7, 2008 11:45 PM

The Patriots are clear now, how bout a FRAUD charge for Matt Walsh!

Posted by: caphcky | May 8, 2008 5:12 AM

The punishment the Pats got was nothing more than a hand slap. The money was pocket change to normal people and the trade penalty proved to be nothing. If there was more cheating involved they should be stripped of past victories and a more severe penalty for the upcoming season like forfeits of all this seasons games of teams proven to be cheated against

Posted by: patfannot | May 8, 2008 8:19 AM

Mark -- what do you think the punishment would be IF they are found guilty?

like patfannot said, what happened to them this year was a slap on the wrist. If they are found guilty... they need to be suspended SEVERELY.

Posted by: Go Skins Go | May 8, 2008 9:51 AM

You all ought to keep in mind that the NFL explicitly reiterated its ban on this taping practice to ALL NFL teams, not just the Patriots. That suggests that the league had reason to believe that other teams besides the Patriots were engaging in the practice. So, "Go Skins Go," what about it? If the Redskins were also doing it, should they be "suspended SEVERELY" (whatever that means)?

Posted by: allyougreeneyedpatshaters | May 8, 2008 10:49 AM

There was no rule about taping signals between2000-2002.Every team did something to learn the signals of the other teams they were playing, later in the year or in the future.Taping or spying as some of you idoits are calling it was done by more teams then not.The pat's got caught after the league told teams not to "GET CAUGHT"AND WERE UNJUSTLY and SERVERLY PUNISHED,a 1st round draft pick.They WON on the field,played better than there opponets that given day,just as the Giants did this past super bowl.Give it a rest the pats deceive everything they earned.

Posted by: rooferman | May 8, 2008 12:37 PM

rooferman said: "Give it a rest the pats deceive everything they earned."

Uh, rooferman, I think you meant to say the Pats DESERVE everything the earned.

Anyway, I've been a Patriots fan since the franchise started in 1960 and I am saddened that so many football fans across the country feel that their 3 Super Bowl championships have been tainted.

I, for one, still love the Pats and will never forget the thrill of that first Super Bowl victory over the highly favored Rams in February of 2002. Go Pats!

Posted by: MidCapeMarc | May 8, 2008 1:03 PM

I'm not sure I understand the question. If the question is what do I think the penalty would be if the Patriots were to be found guilty of taping the Rams' walk-through before the Super Bowl in 2002, I think it would be very, very significant. Belichick would be facing a very long suspension, perhaps a year. There could be more fines and draft picks lost. But at this point, there is no evidence that they did tape that walk-through. Is that what your question was?

Posted by: Mark Maske | May 8, 2008 1:27 PM

Thanks mid cape for the correction,that's what I meant to say.I've been a fan of boston sports since the early 60's.Fan's of boston sports teams have gone though alot of highs and lows.The pat's winning the super bowl,the first time,energized the whole local area and the sox world champs victory's added to our frienzy.All we've WON on the playing field,period.I feel bad,not to bad,for the fans of other teams that haven't been so good,not lucky or that cheated as some idiots say.Football fans nation wide get over the fact that the pats won the super bowl (3) because they were better that day.

Posted by: rooferman | May 8, 2008 1:57 PM

Has anybody here actually READ the rule on this issue?

There is no action to take against the Pats a couple of things will happen shortly in the NFL:

#1 The rule will be RE-written so it isn't so ambiguous.

#2 NFL has to do something because several coaches say (Jimmy Johnson the most recent) that they did the same thing and alot of other teams do it too. WOW, thats got ambiguous rule written all over it. LOL!

Posted by: caphcky | May 8, 2008 3:10 PM

So 2002 AFC championship game is OK to tape even through the winner gets to go to the superbowl no damage HUH.... Cheating is cheating if you win by cheating you are a cheater not a winner. These tapes are very damaging for those that had to play against them... But it OK the Patriots cheated that seemed to be the only way to get the job done..

Remeber the Patriots they went to the superbowl 1985 and 1997 and LOST bring in the Video and they win!! No help from taping HUH...

BS

Bill Belichick comes in with a camera and changes things....

SMILE YOUR ON CANDID CAMERA !!!

Posted by: SUPER-STEELERS | May 8, 2008 3:14 PM

SMILE YOU'RE IN DENIAL!

Posted by: caphcky | May 8, 2008 3:17 PM

Ya if they taped the bears during the super bowl in 85 i'm sure the would have won.Get a clue to what real football is.It's played between the lines on the field not in film.

Posted by: rooferman | May 8, 2008 4:20 PM

I can't help thinking how much this smells because of the FORMER Pats assitant Eric MAN-GENIUS! ROFLMAO

He gets off scott-free except for the *ss whippin the Pats put on them twice a year.

Posted by: caphcky | May 8, 2008 5:26 PM

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