Roger Goodell Is A Horid Commissioner

Did anyone actually watch this or have enough energy to watch this after sitting through the previous Congressional hearing of Roger Clemens? What genius of Roger Goodell to have his meeting with the Senator after Clemens' hearing. That doesn't mean I like Goodell. I just think thats brilliantly clever as a way to shift the focus of attention of Spygate.

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.

Specter said Goodell gave him that information during the 1-hour, 40-minute meeting, which was requested by Specter so the commissioner could explain his reasons for destroying the Spygate tapes and notes.

"There were a great many questions answered by Commissioner Goodell," Specter, the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, told reporters after the meeting. "I found a lot of questions unanswerable because of the tapes and notes had been destroyed."

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." In other words, Bill Belichick believed cheating was legal? And Goodell disagreed, but didn't do anything to stop it?

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.

Still, Specter wants to know why penalties were imposed on Belichick before the full extent of the wrongdoing was known and the tapes destroyed in a two-week span. Asked if he thinks there was a coverup, Specter demurred.

"There was an enormous amount of haste," Specter said.

He scoffed at the reasons Goodell gave for destroying the tapes and notes, particularly about trying to keep them out of competitors' hands and because Belichick had admitted to the taping.

"What's that got to do with it? There's an admission of guilt, you preserve the evidence," Specter said. As for keeping the tapes out of the hands of others: "All you have to do is lock up the tapes."

Belichick was fined $500,000 and the team was fined $250,000 because of the Spygate incident. The Patriots also forfeited a first-round draft pick. That penalty so so light Belichick basically got away with murder. They ended up acquiring the second pick anyway.

Specter has questioned the quality of the NFL's investigation into the matter and raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers. Specter also raised the threat of Congress canceling the league's antitrust exemption and reiterated that in the meeting with Goodell.

Goodell also said he has not heard from Matt Walsh, the former Patriots employee who performed some videotaping duties for the team.

Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby "he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly" in return for indemnity. Specter said he, too, wanted to talk to Walsh and perhaps offer a different deal.

Goodell also said he reserves the right to reopen the investigation if more information is uncovered.

So what actually was accomplished here?? Nothing! I still can't tell if Goodell knew about the cheatings, but did nothing to stop it. I still don't know exactly how long the Patriots were cheating or in what specific games. I still don't know why Goodell's penalty on the New England Patriots was so light. Finally, I still don't know if the New England Patriots was a conspiracy team protected by the NFL and Goodell from losing in order to draw in ratings and viewers.

I do find it funny, however, that lately whenever there is a dispute in sports....right away somebody wants to take it to the Congress. Doesn't our government have enough already to take care of? As an aside, I noticed from the Clemens hearings that a lot of Congressmen are bitter, old men who almost all the time already have their minds made up before cases begin and when they question people, they are only looking for the answers they want to hear. If the Congressmen don't hear answers they want to hear, they either probe further or just randomly come out with their own point of view. Just because they have more power and a louder voice doesn't mean they are any more credible.

Shady Brady and Bill Belicheat Music Video

I do not take credit for this music video and Peter Spano on this site was actually the one who discovered this video. However, I decided to post it because not only is it funny and sounds good, but is very relevant to the Spygate scandal.

By the way, 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. 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.

"We were aware of this before," Goodell said. "We pursued it and weren't able to get any information that was credible. We were aware of some of the rumors and we pursued some of them and we continue that. From Day 1, I said if we feel there is new information that's inconsistent with what we've been told [by the Patriots], I reserve the right to reopen it.

So while we wait for the interviews and evidence (if any), enjoy this music video.

Shady Brady and Bill Belicheat Music Video

Further Evidence Of Spygate Is Being Revealed

I love it. For months and months I've been writing about the Patriots cheating and how every week you should pick the Patriots to win because the NFL wants them too. It angered me that there was a team this good, but I truly believed they were only that good for unfair reasons (just like steroid users in baseball). I could flood this entire website with banners of how the Patriots are such a fake team if I wanted too, but for now since this story is in the early speculation stages, I'll wait until they get nailed before I make any drastic claims. For the record, I believe they have been cheating for years, and the latest story reveals that they've been cheating ever since the beginning of their dynasty in the Super Bowl against the Rams. If this whole story turns out to be true, then the Patriots will have ruined the game of football for me because the lines between fair and unfair will be blurred forever, but if I'm wrong about this whole case, I'll admit it when the time comes. But...for now, I'm just writing about the story as it continues to unfold everyday. Here's the latest in the Spygate situation:

An unnamed source has claimed a New England Patriots employee secretly videotaped the St. Louis Rams' pregame walk-through the day before Super Bowl XXXVI, the Boston Herald reported Saturday.

According to the report, an unnamed source close to the team during the 2001 season said that following the Patriots' walk-through at the Louisiana Superdome, a member of the team's video staff stayed behind and taped the Rams' walk-through
-- a non-contact, no-pads practice at reduced speed in which a team goes through its plays.

The cameraman was not asked to identify himself or produce a press pass and later rode the media shuttle back to the Patriots' hotel, the source told the Herald. It is not known what became of the tape, or whether the cameraman made the tape on his own initiative or at someone else's instruction, according to the report.

Mike Martz, who was St. Louis' head coach during the Super Bowl game in question, spoke to ESPN.com investigative reporter Mike Fish about the allegations.

"I hope that is not true," Martz said. "I have great respect for [Patriots head coach] Bill Belichick. It's hard to believe that is true. It's a serious allegation and I hope it is not true.

"Obviously if there is enough substance to it the league should look into it.''

In responding to the report, Patriots media relations official Stacey James said, "The coaches have no knowledge of it," according to the Herald.

The next day, the Patriots upset the favored Rams 20-17 for their first Super Bowl championship. New England will play the New York Giants in Super Bowl XLII on Sunday in a bid to become the first NFL team to finish a season 19-0.

Former Rams quarterback Kurt Warner, currently with the Arizona Cardinals, told Fish that if the league has heard those claims, he is surprised it has not spoken to former Patriots video department employee Matt Walsh. He said if Walsh or any other source has information, it should be investigated.

Walsh, a former Patriots video assistant, has suggested to ESPN.com that he has information that could have exposed the Patriots prior to the NFL catching New England taping the New York Jets' defensive signals during the 2007 season opener. The Patriots were fined $750,000 and lost a first-round draft pick as punishment.

"If I had a reason to want to go public, or tell a story, I could have done it before it even broke," Walsh told ESPN.com. "I could have said everything rather than having [Jets coach Eric] Mangini be the one to bring it out.

"If they're doing a thorough investigation -- they didn't contact me. So draw your own conclusions. Maybe they felt they didn't need to. Maybe the league feels they got satisfactory answers from everything the Patriots sent them."

Told of the newest allegation, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Saturday:

"We were aware of the rumor months ago and looked into it. There was no evidence of it on the tapes or in the notes produced by the Patriots, and the Patriots told us it was not true."

James reiterated that sentiment.

"The suggestion that the New England Patriots recorded the St. Louis Rams' walk-through on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI is absolutely false," James said. "Any suggestion to the contrary is untrue."

Rams spokesman Rick Smith, reading a statement from team president John Shaw, said, "At this point, we have no comment."

Walsh, 31, now an assistant golf pro at the Ka'anapli Golf Resort in Lahaina, Hawaii, worked for the Patriots from 1996 until the winter of 2002-03, when he was fired. He has hinted to ESPN.com that he has information that could be damaging to both the league and the Patriots but has declined to make it available, saying it could be seen as stolen property.

Walsh said he is fearful of potential legal action against him by either the league or the Patriots if he details what he knows. He refused to provide evidence of potential wrongdoing unless ESPN agreed to pay his legal fees related to his involvement in the story, as well as to an indemnity that would cover any damages found against him in court. ESPN denied his requests.

On Friday, Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., said he had written NFL commissioner Roger Goodell seeking an explanation as to why evidence in the NFL's investigation of the Patriots videotaping was destroyed.

"I am very concerned about the underlying facts on the taping, the reasons for the judgment on the limited penalties and, most of all, on the inexplicable destruction of the tapes," Specter wrote.

Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said the matter could put the league's antitrust exemption at risk. In a phone interview with The New York Times, which first reported Specter's interest in the matter, he said the committee at some point will call Goodell to address the antitrust exemption as well as the destruction of the tapes.

Goodell, in his previously scheduled news conference Friday from Phoenix, said, "I am more than willing to speak with the senator. There are very good explanations why the tapes were destroyed by our staff -- there was no purpose for them."

There were six tapes, according to Goodell -- some from the 2007 preseason and the rest from 2006. He said he had them destroyed because he was confident the Patriots had turned over all of the tapes and notes the NFL had requested in its investigation. He also said they were destroyed in order to prevent leaks to the media -- as some footage from one of the tapes was leaked shortly after the story broke.

"We wanted to take and destroy that information," Goodell said. "They may have collected it within the rules, but we couldn't determine that. So we felt that it should be destroyed."

Belichick had little to add on the subject.

"It's a league matter," he said Friday during his news conference. "I don't know anything about it."

Again, I'm just pleased that the cat is finally out of the bag and everyone who jumped on the Patriots bandwagon this year (not the original fans who always supported them) should learn not to always side with who's popular in the public eyes.

49ers Make Martz New Offensive Coordinator

The San Francisco 49ers hired Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator. His mission: to transform one of the NFL's worst offensives into a stellar powerhouse. The 49ers finished this season last in total points earned (219), total yards (3,797), passing yards (2,320), offensive touchdowns (23), first downs, sacks allowed, and third-down conversions. Something clearly had to be done with this offense. The 49ers believe that Martz is up to the challenge. Martz is optimistic about reconfiguring this poor offense. He was quoted as stating, "There are a lot of really outstanding pieces there that we just need to tie together. If we can do that, they're so well-established in special teams and on defense, I think the potential and the opportunity there is pretty exciting. It's not a challenge, it's an opportunity, and that's the part I enjoy." Martz claims to see great promise in a San Francisco offense built around running back Frank Gore. Martz stated that Gore has a huge potential for the 49ers offense and that he could impact the team just like Marshall Faulk did with the St. Louis Rams. "I think you can put him as the centerpiece and build around that," Martz said. "Frank is a little bit bigger, more physical, but he has the receiving skills, he's an unselfish pass-blocker, and he's really a complete player that really shouldn't come out of the game. That's hard to find in this league anymore." It is hard to disagree with Martz's assessment. The only way for the 49ers to improve their offense in the short-term is by focusing on Gore. The team has no note-worthy receivers or quarter backs. Clearly, the salvation of San Fransisco's offense rests upon the shoulders of its talented, but misused, running back. We'll see if Martz utilizes Gore to his potential and unlocks the 49ers greatest offensive weapon.

Willie Parker Is Out For The Season (Which Is Only 1 More Game)

The Pittsburgh Steelers' 41-24 victory over the St. Louis Rams was overshadowed by the injury sustained by leading rusher Willie Parker. Willie Parker's season ended after his first carry, and the Pittsburgh Steelers will miss the NFL's leading rusher if they get to the playoffs. But they don't miss him yet.

Najeh Davenport, a career backup running back with typical non-descript statistics, has two huge games since entering the league as a fourth-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 2002. Both have come against the St. Louis Rams, with Davenport's three-touchdown, 123-yard rushing effort pacing a 41-24 victory on Thursday night.

Parker, who has 1,316 yards, limped off the field with a broken bone in his lower right leg in the first quarter after only one carry for minus-1 yard. Davenport eased any worries with a game that rivaled his 178-yard effort for the Packers against the Rams, in a 45-17 Monday Night victory in 2004. He was filling in for Ahman Green at the time. The Steelers are lucky to have such a good backup running back, as Willie Parker's injury could really effect them in the playoffs, if they make it in.

The Steelers, 8-8 last season, can clinch the division with a Cleveland loss at Cincinnati on Sunday. They also can clinch a playoff berth if the Titans lose to the Jets.

It must be a curse to be a leading rusher this season. First, Ronnie Brown gets injured very early in the season and was out for the rest of the year. Then Adrian Peterson, who was the hottest running back in the league at one point, was injured and has produced mediocre numbers the past few weeks. Now, Willie Parker, who entered the game leading the league in rushing yards, will be out if the Steelers make the playoffs.

Injury News Around The NFL

We have some more fallen soldiers...

Rams quarterback Marc Bulger will not play this weekend after suffering a setback in his recovery from a concussion, the St. Louis Rams announced Saturday morning. The team also announced that Brock Berlin, who has never attempted a pass in a regular-season game, would start Sunday at Cincinnati.....and I picked the Rams to win? Cross that out now. Then again, probably one of the best defenses to try out a new QB on would be the Bengals defense.

New Orleans Saints tailback Reggie Bush will not require surgery to repair a partially torn ligament in his left knee, but the second-year veteran almost certainly will not play Monday night at Atlanta, and the former Heisman Trophy winner is likely to miss the rest of the season.

The Houston Texans placed Ahman Green on injured reserve Friday, ending the season for the player signed to be their featured running back. Green missed Houston's last three games with a left knee injury that's bothered him for months. He rushed for 260 yards on 70 carries this season, less than what the Texans expected when he signed a four-year, $23 million contract in March. What a bust.

Starting quarterback Jason Campbell sustained a potential season-ending knee injury in the second quarter of the Washington Redskins' game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday night, as the third-year veteran dislocated his left patella.

Jets wide receiver Jerricho Cotchery was listed as doubtful Friday -- but not out -- for New York's game against Cleveland with an injured right index finger that kept him on the sideline last week. Cotchery, who reportedly broke the finger in practice last Monday, hasn't been seen in the locker room or on the practice field during media availability since. The Jets' injury report listed Cotchery as limited in practice Friday after he didn't participate the previous two days.

Free safety Gibril Wilson will miss his second straight game and Pro Bowl linebacker Antonio Pierce will be a game-time decision for the New York Giants on Sunday against the Eagles in Philadelphia. Rookie Michael Johnson will replace Wilson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury. Pierce sprained an ankle against Minnesota two weeks ago. He played last week against Chicago but the injury limited him in practice this week. Chase Blackburn would start if Pierce cannot play.

Despite quarterback Jeff Garcia's contention that he is sufficiently recovered from a back injury to return to the lineup, Tampa Bay coach Jon Gruden remains uncertain about who will start when his team meets the Houston Texans on Sunday in a game that could secure the NFC South title for the Buccaneers. Garcia practiced on a limited basis most of the week, then skipped the Friday walk-through session, muddying the quarterback picture a bit. The expectation of most players is that Garcia, who missed last week's victory at New Orleans, will start. But Gruden has adopted an uncharacteristically cautious stance on his quarterback, and insisted he won't make a decision between Garcia and Luke McCown until Sunday morning.w Orleans Saints, Reggie Bush, Houston Texans, Ahman Green, Washington Redskins, Jason Campbell, Jerricho Cotchery, New York Jets, New York Giants, Gibril Wilson, Jeff Garcia, Tampa Bay

My Interpretation Of Week 10 In The NFL

I was going to wait until the end of the Colts-Chargers game to begin writing this, but as a Colts fan this game is just so bad I have to stop watching before I scream so hard at the television I vomit chunks all over myself.

Buffalo 13 beats Miami 10 - This game almost scared me. No team should EVER lose to Miami this year, but Buffalo almost did. What annoyed me tremendously was seeing Losman playing again. They were doing great and actually winning with Edwards. WHY WOULD YOU BRING LOSMAN BACK!? They almost lost to Miami and even when they were losing Losman stayed in. Bring back Edwards.

Denver 27 beat Kansas City 11 - I was right about Denver beating KC, but they won't be in first place because the way it looks right now San Diego is going to win. This game was a walk in the park for Denver. Kansas City will keep losing for the rest of the year while Denver makes a second half charge for the division lead. When was the last time Denver was not in the playoffs?

Green Bay 34 shut out Minnesota 0 - Peterson was shut down and got injured. That is how you beat the Vikings. Green Bay did what its been doing best this season: win. I must comment on their running game. The rushing yardage was unusually high this week, but still Favre put up amazing passing numbers.

Atlanta 20 beat Carolina 13 - This was close, but I expected Atlanta to win. At least they knew who their QB was.

Philadelphia 33 beat Washington 25 - This was an excellent seesaw game, but all it did was postpone the Eagles inevitable fate of not making the playoffs. They needed to bounce back after that embarrassing loss last week and Westbrook did a nice job of rushing and receiving to lead his team to a win.

Jacksonville 28 beat Tennessee 13 - This was the first game I called wrong. Reviewing the Stats, Young had a bad game (2 interceptions) while the Jaguars went crazy with the running game (3 touchdowns). Now they are tied and it will be a run for the Wild Card between these 2 teams.

I just noticed the score of the Colts-Chargers game is 23-7.....my only hope is after 4 interceptions Manning pulls a Romo and comes back to win.....

Pittsburgh 31 beat Cleveland 28 - This was an amazing game. After this seesaw battle, Pittsburgh proved to be the dominant team. But wow, Cleveland's offense is amazing and they proved to be the 4th best team in the AFC. They'll grab the other Wild Card position.

St. Louis 37 FINALLY beats New Orleans 29 - I am very proud of myself for getting this game right. St. Louis had their full squad back and played like the Rams of years past. Drew Brees and New Orleans didn't fool me one bit. Last week's amazing game was a fluke. Don't be sold on this team because the Saints are not the team they once were and any glimmer of hope that they try to sell you, Drew Brees will just throw it away (literally).

Cincinnati 21 beat Baltimore 7 - I'm surprised Baltimore even put up 7. I'll admit, the Ravens defense was good. They held the Bengals to 7 field goals. However, to match that the Ravens would have to score 3 touchdowns....and that is just too big of a task for the Ravens to accomplish.

Chicago 17 beat Oakland 6 - Grossman and Griese split time and actually did well. Their receiving and running game also was stellar. Finally, their defense and special teams were solid. This is a very rare thing when the Bears have all aspects of the game working. As for Oakland, they had McCown as their QB. Enough said.

Dallas 31 beat Giants 20 - This was supposed to be the game of the week. Though it was a great game until Eli Manning made foolish mistakes and screwed up as usual, the Browns-Steelers game was more exciting. I said this many times and I'll say it again: The Giants will never amount to anything with an inconsistent QB like Eli Manning.

Arizona 31 beat Detroit 21 - This was the second game I picked wrong. Detroit will still make a Wild Card, but they need to take advantages of easy games like this. Detroit losing to Arizona leads me to believe they will get crushed when they play the Packers or Cowboys in the playoffs.

At Half: San Diego 23 is embarrassing Colts 7 - Vinatieri just missed an easy field goal. This symbolizes the whole game thus far. In Manning's defense, its not entirely his fault. HE IS PLAYING WITH A BUNCH OF SCRUBS. They only have 17 players on offense, so they can't make substitutions and they are stuck with who they have on the field. There is zero pass protection. The receivers (who the hell are Fletcher and Thorpe) as well as Wayne are messing up routes. In fact, one of Manning's interceptions was a result of Wayne, who decided to just stop running in the middle of the route. If you look at Rivers' numbers thus far, they are horrible, but does it really matter when his opponent's offense are beating themselves. If the Colts don't get their starters back soon, they will end up repeating this game again in the playoffs.

Monday Morning Headlines: Week 10

• Fred Taylor cracks 10,000 Yard in His Career: First off, congratulations to Fred Taylor. He has been one of the most underrated runners in league history. The only player I can think of who did more with less credit is Curtis Martin. Just because Fred Taylor plays the game right and never calls out his coaches, he doesn't get the media attention; now he will

• Dallas Shows Who #1 in NFC East: See the article below for details.

• Rex Returns and Leads Team to Victory: See the article below for details.
  

• St. Louis Finally Wins: After starting the season 0-8 for the first time in franchise, the Rams looked very impressive in their win over the resurgent Saints. The Rams are finally healthy, and I would expect them to win a few more games before this season is over. They are not as bad as their 1-8 record shows.
  

• Adrian Peterson Sprains Knee: It looks like something has finally slowed down Adrian Peterson. After running wild through all NFL defenses, Peterson has just sustained a knee injury that may cost him a good amount of time. Lets wait to her the results, but a sprained knee is never good.