Former Patriots assistant Matt Walsh will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on May 13, 2008 regarding New England's videotaping of opposing teams. The league reached an agreement with Walsh on April 23rd after two months of negotiations. As part of the agreement, the NFL and the Patriots have promised not to sue Walsh and the league will compensate him for expenses, both travel and legal fees, that he incurs in connection with the interview.
Walsh, who worked as a video assistant with the Patriots from 1997-2003, has agreed to provide the NFL with any documents, including videotapes, he has related to the allegations. The agreement provides that Walsh cannot speak to any third parties, including the media, before his interview with the NFL. Walsh will also be required to return any tapes and other items in his possession that belong to the Patriots.
"I am pleased that we now have an agreement that provides Mr. Walsh with appropriate legal protections," attorney Michael N. Levy, Walsh's lawyer, said in a statement. "Mr. Walsh is looking forward to providing the NFL with the materials he has and telling the NFL what he knows."
Last September, Patriots coach Bill Belichick acknowledged using such videotapes on a regular basis, calling it a misinterpretation of the rule. Goodell fined Patriots coach Bill Belichick $500,000, the team was fined $250,000 and was stripped of its first-round draft choice for taking video of New York Jets coaches on the sideline of the 2007 season opener. However, during Super Bowl week, there were reports of possible earlier videotaping by the Patriots, including the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl. Belichick has fervently denied the existence of any such tapes.
But the specter of what information Walsh might have has hung over the matter since the Super Bowl, when Walsh reportedly said he had other tapes.
"I've never seen a tape of another team's practice. Ever!" Belichick said at last month's NFL owners meetings. "I think they've addressed everything they possibly can address. I've addressed so many questions so many times from so many people I don't know what else the league could ask." I guess we will have to see what happens when Walsh and Goodell meet.