Goodell has nothing to hide because he destroyed it
Posted on February 14th, 2008 – 9:15 AMBy Michael Rand
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Lost in the shuffle of misremembering yesterday was Roger Goodell’s meeting with Arlen Specter. Now, we can’t say we’re the biggest Specter fans in the world; we can say we’re losing some respect for Goodell in this whole Spygate process. Here’s a man who brings the hammer down on athletes — and rightfully so, Pacman — for off-field transgressions, but treats something like this, which could have at least some ramifications on the integrity of the game, with kid gloves. And, of course, he says it all with the smug brush-off that only a Belichick could love.
From the AP (our bold, of course):
Bill Belichick has been illegally taping opponents’ defensive signals since he became the New England Patriots’ coach in 2000, according to Sen. Arlen Specter, who said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him that during a meeting Wednesday. “There was confirmation that there has been taping since 2000, when Coach Belichick took over,” Specter said. … Goodell said Belichick told him he believed the taping was legal; Goodell said he did not concur. “He said that’s always been his interpretation since he’s been the head coach,” the commissioner said. “We are going to agree to disagree on the facts.” … Goodell noted that “we were the ones that disclosed” the Patriots’ illegal taping of the New York Jets’ defensive signals in Week 1 of last season. Further, Goodell said, they had an admission by Belichick. “I have nothing to hide,” Goodell said. Goodell also told Specter that that he doesn’t regret destroying the Spygate tapes or the notes. “I think it was the right thing to do,” Goodell said.
We’ll never know the extent of the cheating, nor will we know exactly what edge was gained. What we do know is this: destroying the tapes was absolutely NOT the right thing to do. Goodell is using the excuses of either an 8 year old or a man who is used to having any explanation accepted at face value. Good thing Roger Clemens is around because nobody seemed to notice.
22 Responses to "Goodell has nothing to hide because he destroyed it"
It all boils down to money. Pacman Jones is not going to produce as much money for the NFL as Bill Belichick would.
agreed skol, no one ever kills the sacred cow
It’s a shame that after being warned last year in a league wide letter that the taping was illegal that there is any merit given to Belichick lies that he thought it was legal. How could he still think it legal after being caught doing it against Green Bay. After that incident a letter was sent to all teams in the league.
Then there are those that say it probably did not give them any advantage. Why do they think the Patriots did it. They felt it provided an advantage to them and I believe it did.
This is undoubtedly the tip of the iceberg. Who knows what else they cheated on. The Patriots won 3 super bowls by 3 points each. The edge they got by cheating unfourtunately was rewarded by 3 rings.
I think we the public have been naive. What I think we are learning is that if it seems too unlikely for a team or athlete to be so successfull there is probably another explaination.
Roger should be ashamed. He has let the integrity of the league come into question. Didn’t he live through the watergate era and the destruction of evidence. Shame on you Roger. I hope you have the same fate as you mentor Richard Nixon.
The only justice in this was administered by the GIANTS. Bless you GIANTS. You did what Goodell failed to do.
Randball - what’s your problem with Specter?
I question his motives.
http://deadspin.com/352760/sen-specter-is-hardly-mr-pure-impartial-judgment-guy
Ramon, I’m with Rand on the Specter thing. His hands are a little too dirty to be in charge of this particular investigation. If it was someone who had nothing to gain from it, maybe the whole goosechase would be more palatable.
IT’S A TRAP!!!
The league needs to make sure that this does not turn into a race thing. I know that the Jones incidents and the Spygate are two totally unrelated issues but they both are very serious. This could blow in the NFL’s face.
I see. He’s an old-time politico protecting his special interests.
Specter’s a committed waffler. Supposedly pro-environment but also has voted to allow oil drilling in Alaska. That’s my problem with him. Supposedly for Civil Liberties but recently voted to allow increased domestic wiretapping.
But going after the NFL - couldn’t it just be he’s a Chief’s fan and hasn’t had much to cheer about since Len Dawson?
skol: Wasn’t what PacMan was involved in a criminal act? I may be mistaken, but taping teams or cheating in football is only against NFL rules. It’s not against the law…unless Specter wants to make that his new pet projects. Make cheating in sports a federal offense.
Neither Barry Bonds or Roger Clemens will go to jail for cheating. They’ll potentially go to jail for lying about it in hopes of “saving their careers/reputations”
Where the crystal flows and the money snows
Well, at least we know PacMan has learned from his mistakes…
Your right Dave, I didn’t think of it that way.
They are both major chinks on the NFL’s coat of armor though. Dave maybe Specter is looking at it as a possible privacy invasion. I don’t think I would want anyone videotaping me working, they might think I’m overpaid.
Even though, according to Ramon, Specter is for increase wiretapping. Maybe he’s trying to get hints from Belichick.
I think Specter’s motivation is more to stick up for the Eagles and Steelers, his home state NFL teams, than anything else. He’s thinking he can win the sports fan vote.
Did Pacman joins ever get found guilty of anything more than a misdemeanor? I still think his 1+ year suspension was ridiculous. I know he is a sleezy guy who hangs out with the wrong crowd, but he has not done that many bad things.
Did Pacman do anything worse than Randy Moss?
Specter is an all-around moderate Republican which means he craps on both sides of the fence, but generally is seen by most as an honest Senator. But lost in the dense NFL jungle of arcane knowledge coming out each day is the fact that Comcast Cable, currently involved in a dispute with the NFL with regard to a cable deal concerning the NFL Network !!! (punctuation mine, of course) gave Specter $153,600 in campaign contributions, his single biggest contribution. So, even if Specter is or isn’t the best guard dog of the NFL’s integrity against Big Bad Bill and Goodell, he may largely be responsible for the demise of that
living abortion, the NFL Network, which I would never subscribe to even if the only sport’s alternative was that televised tranquilizer, golf !!
Scagmajor - you’re right, I should’ve said Eagles or Steelers.
Comcast is based in Philly, right?
First, in the interest of full disclosure I am an unabashed Patriots fan and anyone suggesting that their three trophies are tainted, in my opinion, is dead wrong. There’s a simple reason why Roger Goodell destroyed the tapes and wanted to get this behind him and the league. Teams have been doing this for years. If this gets deeper, it will be like a loose thread on a sweater. It’s going to shine a light on some other transgressions by other teams. That’s what Goodell is trying to protect. I am in no way voicing support for what Belichick did. Flaunting it - against a former colleague no less - was positively stupid. But please, if you saw a snapshot of the leaked tape, with six or seven coaches windmilling their arms - please don’t tell me this constitutes an edge. And don’t knock the accomplishments of the Pats’ players, evil coach or not.
I tape games at home all the time, and now I’m getting mighty fearful I will see Specter’s haunting peering face at my window….wait..I hear something..gotta go
