Walsh attorney talking to NFL - not good for Pats

[Brighteyes]

Goodell would give indemnification to Walsh for materials from Pats' days

By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: February 6, 2008, 5:00 PM ET

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday at the Pro Bowl that the NFL is willing to give former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh legal indemnification for any information and materials he would provide to the league regarding his work with the Patriots.

League attorneys are working with an attorney for Walsh to get an agreement in place for Walsh to meet with league officials.

In general legal terms, indemnity is a guarantee against any loss which another might suffer, often financially.

Among the things the league wants to talk to Walsh about is a recent Boston Herald report that a member of the Patriots' video staff taped the St. Louis Rams' pregame walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI.

Goodell also said on Wednesday he had no firm date as to when he would meet with Sen. Arlen Specter, but Goodell said it would be next week.

 

[abomb]

This is an interesting development.

 

[Russ Smith]

This has the potential to be as big as Balco or steroids in baseball. If they find evidence that the Pats did this much more extensively it's going to be a pretty huge deal.

If they did they sure better hope other teams were doing it too because if they were the only ones, and winning that much, the NFL is going to HAVE to take some actions.

 

[SuperSpck]

This is an interesting development.

Amen to that brother.

I wonder how big this will get?

 

[Cardinal Bob]

The funny thing about this part of the story is that when this story first broke (Fri or Sat), Goodell said the NFL already talked to Walsh and didn't believe he had anything more to offer. After Specter joined the chase, then Goodell said that the NFL would be interested in seeing whatver Walsh had to add to the case against the Pats. It's almost as if Goodell was hoping Walsh would just go away, but then starts playing clueless once Spectoer got involved.

And BTW, and not to get this moved to the P&R board, but doesn't the U.S. Congress have more pressing things to concern themselves with than what NFL team video taped what other team's practices and/or who did or didn't take steroids??? Ridiculous!!!!!

 

[abomb]

And BTW, and not to get this moved to the P&R board, but doesn't the U.S. Congress have more pressing things to concern themselves with than what NFL team video taped what other team's practices and/or who did or didn't take steroids??? Ridiculous!!!!!

Those things are important. Both leagues hold valuable anti-trust exemptions and are billion dollar industries.

 

[Russ Smith]

Those things are important. Both leagues hold valuable anti-trust exemptions and are billion dollar industries.

yep, that's the whole issue the NFL could lose their anti trust exemption if they don't operate within federal laws.

 

[CardShark]

The funny thing about this part of the story is that when this story first broke (Fri or Sat), Goodell said the NFL already talked to Walsh and didn't believe he had anything more to offer. After Specter joined the chase, then Goodell said that the NFL would be interested in seeing whatver Walsh had to add to the case against the Pats. It's almost as if Goodell was hoping Walsh would just go away, but then starts playing clueless once Spectoer got involved.

And BTW, and not to get this moved to the P&R board, but doesn't the U.S. Congress have more pressing things to concern themselves with than what NFL team video taped what other team's practices and/or who did or didn't take steroids??? Ridiculous!!!!!

If the leagues are able and willing to do everything to maintain their integrity, Congress wouldn't have to step in. It's not just an unfair competition between players and teams that they are worried about. It's what they sell to the public. There are alot of public revenue streams that feed these industries and cheating in any form is tantamount to fraud. It's why professional wrestling isn't investigated. Everyone already knows it's fake and for entertainment purposes only.

 

[Russ Smith]

It's why professional wrestling isn't investigated. Everyone already knows it's fake and for entertainment purposes only.

Come on now we need spoilers for revelations like this!

 

[Gambit]

Nothing would have happened had the pats won as expected. As it is, they are now expendable.

 

[RON_IN_OC]

yep, that's the whole issue the NFL could lose their anti trust exemption if they don't operate within federal laws.

...and Spectors issue is not necessarily that the Pats cheated, it's that the NFL has just slapped them on the writs and then swept it under the rug.

 

[NightHawk11and81]

yep, that's the whole issue the NFL could lose their anti trust exemption if they don't operate within federal laws.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the NFL's anti-trust exemption only applies to broadcasting. I think baseball is the only one with a full anti-trust exemption.

 

[Lloydian]

Come on now we need spoilers for revelations like this!

Nonsense. I would assume that anyone who doesn't already know this also can't read or carry on intelligent conversation.

Hmmm. What are you saying about me, Russ?

 

[Duckjake]

yep, that's the whole issue the NFL could lose their anti trust exemption if they don't operate within federal laws.

What federal laws would apply? Are there laws prohibiting spying on your competitors?

I love it when politicians get involved in sports. You get hilarious laws like the one in Texas that makes it a violation to offer any financial inducement to a student to attend a particular school. They had to rewrite it because as originally worded it would have made criminals out of a lot of parents and scholarship donors.

 

[ARZCardinals]

He's got a lot to think about.

He'll be black balled from teams for 'telling'

While his legal fee's will be covered, what about any fine that is levied against him...will the NFL pick up that tab?

Will they make sure he has a job?

big risk with no reward = dumb move

 

[cardsloco]

He's got a lot to think about.

He'll be black balled from teams for 'telling'

While his legal fee's will be covered, what about any fine that is levied against him...will the NFL pick up that tab?

Will they make sure he has a job?

big risk with no reward = dumb move

He is currently a golf pro in Hawaii, so I don't think it would hurt him. As far as the being fined wouldn't happen as he no longer a part of the NFL

 

[Sandan]

I doubt it there are many coaches who this this is reprehensible.

I'm pretty sure Dungy is one of them

 

[Brighteyes]

I read Walsh had signed a 'non disclosure' in New England, and had sought his attorney's advice. He was told they can go after him big if he told anything to the media -- so no talking to ESPN. However, if the NFL or Congress officially request his information, he can give it without fear of New England's wrath.

 

[Russ Smith]

What federal laws would apply? Are there laws prohibiting spying on your competitors?

I love it when politicians get involved in sports. You get hilarious laws like the one in Texas that makes it a violation to offer any financial inducement to a student to attend a particular school. They had to rewrite it because as originally worded it would have made criminals out of a lot of parents and scholarship donors.

According to Roger Cossack on ESPN there are. He said there are industrial espionage rules that could be applied to the NFL but that typically won't happen because of their exemption status.

It does seem a bit weird to have Spector involved but I think they realize how huge an industry the NFL is. If they swept this scandal under the rug and deleted the evidence it's a big deal.

I don't know yet if they did of course.