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February 1, 2008

Goodell on Spygate

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell held his annual state of the league press conference today, and as can be expected, he was peppered with questions about the Patriots' Spygate scandal, especially in the wake of today's news in the New York Times that Sen. Arlen Specter wants Goodell to explain to the Senate Judiciary Committee why he destroyed tapes and notes on other teams that New England submitted to the league.

He didn't offer much, offering that there were six tapes submitted, and that those tapes were from the 2007 preseason and 2006 regular season. He reiterated that New England's "spying" tactics did not influence the result of games, particularly their wins in Super Bowls XXXVI, XXXVIII and XXXIX.

Goodell didn't not say so, but he was clearly upset that one of the tapes confiscated -- the tape of the Jets' game when New England was caught filming -- was leaked to the public, and gave that as the reason he destroyed the materials rather than just lock them away.

"It was the best way to make sure the Patriots had followed my instructions," Goodell explained. "They certified to me in writing that they gave me all the tapes and notes."

Specter represents Pennsylvania, and the Philadelphia Eagles lost to New England in Super Bowl XXXIX; Goodell was asked if he will assure Specter that the Pats won the game fair and square.

"This incident is five or six months old; we've been forthright, and I don't believe it affected the outcome of any game," he said.

Posted by Shalise Manza Young  at 3:49 PM | Permalink

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