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Is that all there is, Matt?

May 8th, 2008 by Bill Burt

You have got to be kidding me.
Ever since Matt Walsh started contacting various football writers around the country in September, that he had damning evidence of the Patriots “illegal” sideline taping practices, we expected the worst.
Why would anyone jump on the national stage and contact several national writers and tell them he could bring “Belichick” and the Patriots down to their knees, if he didn’t have the goods?
We have been right about this guy from the start. My guess is, as he noted in an ESPN.com story in September, that Belichick’s special assistant (and boyhood chum at Phillips Andover) Ernie Adams told Walsh about some not-so-wonderful tapings while they he and Belichick were with the Browns.
But big deal. What Walsh has to understand, as a former Super Bowl winning NFL coach told me in Phoenix, “Everyone has taped before. EVERYONE!” he said emphatically.
Belichick carried it out to an extreme when it was supposed to end. We know that story. In fact, it’s boring.
What we wanted to know was the goods, the goods that Walsh stole from the Patriots. What did he steal? Did he tape conversations with Adams or Scott Pioli? It sounded as if he could ruin the franchise.
But Walsh didn’t deliver. He did what he’s done for most of his career, at least according to his resume, he talked a bigger game than he really had.
I feel bad for this guy. His career, whether it’s in golf or vacuum cleaner sales, is probably going to take a hit here.
What else has Matt Walsh stolen from previous employers? Has he stolen a driver out of the pro shop? Has he stolen signed footballs from the Patriots? Has he taped conversations with everyone he has ever worked with, to protect himself?
This story is pathetic. Walsh pulled one over on a few people in our business who didn’t follow up and check this guy out.
I’m assuming most are in this corner? Does anybody out there feel Walsh has been vindicated?

Posted in Patriots | Comments

  • John
    Bill,
    are you giving a free pass to Tomassi? Shouldn't there be some blame thrown at Tomassi? At least Tomassi should come forth with his "Source" and give more explanation as to how the story evolved. Matt Walsh is no saint but the media must be held accountable also when they totally mis-represent the truth.
  • What is most bothersome about the Rams walkthrough story was that seemingly no one - certainly no one in the MSM - seemed to understand that taping an opponant's walkthrough before a Superbowl without being stopped by NFL security or stadium security or that team's own security is impossible. That is why Tomase's story was bogus from the moment it hit the streets - the scenario laid out could never have happened; if anyone from the Patriots tried to tape the Rams walkthrough THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN SEEN AND STOPPED BY SECURITY, BECAUSE THE NFL IS DIRECTLY LOOKING FOR SUCH TAPINGS BEFORE PLAYOFF GAMES.

    Other things that are bothersome here - when people say "The Patriots were taping inappropriately since 2000," do they understand that this rule wasn't there until about 2005? Do they also understand that the rule - running three paragraphs long - does not concern taping per se but IN-GAME USE OF TAPE FOOTAGE? If they understood that part then maybe they'd get that Belichick's interpretation of the rule was honest and in fact legitimate, and that Roger Goodell's rejection of that interpretation was out of line.
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