"Prior to the publication of its Feb. 2, 2008, article, the Boston Herald neither possessed nor viewed a tape of the Rams’ walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, nor did we speak to anyone who had. We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification.
The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots' owners, players, employees and fans for our error."
Here's what still gets me about this: You say the name "Matt Walsh" around a Patriots fan, and you're greeted with a look of disgust. Yesterday afternoon, I received an IM from a friend of mine, one of the smartest, most intelligent people I know and a man who possesses a J.D. and an I.Q. that is off the charts, and he wrote that Walsh was just an "ex-employee with a grudge".I told him that I'd simpy call Walsh an "ex-employee", because until yesterday, Walsh hadn't divulged any information to the media. It was the media, particularly outlets like the Boston Herald, who run with a story based on information from one anonymous source, who was inflating the evidence Walsh possessed and the testimony he would ultimately give.
SpyGate might finally be over, writes Mike Reiss.
Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter postponed a press conference on the SpyGate issue. Instead of holding one yesterday afternoon, which was his initial plan, he'll conduct a press conference today at noon in Washington, D.C.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell needs to conduct one more SpyGate-related interview, with former Patriots assistant and current New York Jets quarterbacks coach Brian Daboll, who was given information from the Rams' walk-through practice by Walsh prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.
Pittsburgh Steelers chairman Dan Rooney and head coach Mike Tomlin declared the end to the SpyGate scandal yesterday.
Staying in the Keystone State, Marcus Hayes of the Philadelphia Daily News doesn't trust Matt Walsh, Roger Goodell or the New England Patriots, referring to Walsh as "the Brian McNamee of the NFL".
Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes that the only reason the SpyGate is going away is because Roger Goodell wants it to go away.
Paul Domowitch doesn't want to be John Tomase, the Patriots beat writer who penned that now infamous February 2nd article for the Herald.
Tom Sorenson of the Charlotte Observer wonders if the Patriots videotaped the Carolina Panthers during Super Bowl XXXVIII.
NFL Non-SpyGate News and Notes
Buffalo Bills second-round wide receiver James Hardy allegedly pulled a gun on his father on Mother's Day.
Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor is headed to the finals of "Dancing With the Stars".
Cleveland Browns tight end Kellen Winslow and center LeCharles Bentley weren't present at the Browns' first voluntary practice of the off-season.
If Cincinnati Bengals running backs Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry can stay healthy, they could establish the power-running game Marvin Lewis. Former Bengals wide receiver Bennie Brazell will not be re-signed.
The Baltimore Ravens and franchised player Terrell Suggs reached a compromise on Tuesday. Suggs, who plays defensive end and linebacker, was designated as a linebacker when the Ravens placed the franchise tag on him in February, which saved the Ravens, and cost Suggs, approximately $814K in 2008. Pending league and union approval, Suggs will be a "defensive end/linebacker", and have a franchise tender of $8.5 million dollars.
Twenty-seven players made their Jacksonville Jaguars practice debut on Tuesday, including wide receiver Jerry Porter, who caught the first pass of the OTA's. Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer is skipping the voluntary workouts because he wants a new contract.
Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger will be closely evaluating the wide receivers on the Titans roster. First there was Sergeant Winslow, now there's Lieutenant LenDale. What do I mean? Here's Titans running back LenDale White on the knee that bothered him throughout the 2007 season:
"Contrary to what people believe, I am a soldier. I played on it all year and I didn't complain, not once. I waited until the season was over to get it fixed and now it is fixed and I'm feeling good."
Houston Texans cornerback Jacques Reeves will likely be the Texans' starting right cornerback this season, at least until Dunta Robinson is healthy again.
Former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Mark Schlereth's "Stinkin' Good Green Chili" made it's public debut.
The Kansas City Chiefs will release unhappy safety Glen Wesley, perhaps as early as this week.
Defensive end Greg Spires officially signed with the Oakland Raiders on Tuesday, as did undrafted free agent defensive tackle Tranell Morant and wide receiver Marcel Reese.
Jean-Jacques Taylor of the Dallas Morning News writes that former Dallas Cowboys running back Troy Hambrick, who was sentenced to 5 years in prison for dealing crack, never grew up.
The New York Giants were the only team in 2007 that did not employ a long-snapping specialist.
Prosecutors will not seek the death penalty against the four people charged in the murder of Sean Taylor.
Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette remains convinced that future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre will stay retired, but could Favre end up playing for a team like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008?
The Minnesota Vikings are negotiating to purchase property in the area of their proposed new stadium.
For the first time since Ford Field opened in 2002, the Detroit Lions are offering split-season ticket packages.
Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher expects to skip the team's mandatory mini-camp at the end of the month.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jeff Garcia may skip the team's voluntary practice sessions in protest of the Bucs' refusal to renegotiate his contract. Such a holdout may give a motivated Brian Griese a shot to supplant Garcia at the top of the depth chart. Buccaneers defensive tackle Jovan Haye signed his one-year tender. Buccaneers running back Cadillac Williams, who is rehabbing a nasty knee injury, thinks he'll be ready to do some on-field work by training camp.
The death of former Carolina Panthers center Curtis Whitley came as a shock to his family.
Steve Wyche writes that the most glaring need on the Atlanta Falcons was not addressed during or after the 2008 draft. “Everything you do in the NFL is played out in the eyes of the public,", says Falcons owner Arthur Blank.
Seattle Seahawks Pro Bowl middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu apologized after his arrest for suspicion of DUI.
The St. Louis Rams will hold their training camp at Concordia University in Mequon, Wisconsin.
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