Goodell to be called before committee to address destroyed evidence in spygate

[TDmvp]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/01/sports/football/01nfl.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[TheReverend]

Honestly, I'm looking forward to finding out what exactly WAS on all the tapes... as it stands, I'm guessing 70 hours of Brady showering and the loud sound of Belicek's heavy breathing.

But doesn't the senate have something a little more important to do?

Could've sworn there was a war around somewhere...

[llayne]

About time this was addressed. The Pats should be docked their whole draft. At least Bel Cheat should be forced to wear a suite the rest of his coaching career, even in practice. Let the punishment fit the crime.

[Gcver2ver3]

About time this was addressed. The Pats should be docked their whole draft. At least Bel Cheat should be forced to wear a suite the rest of his coaching career, even in practice. Let the punishment fit the crime.

man please....


this is a waste of time.....


i'd like to see our politicians focused on more important issues...

[sirhcyennek81]

man please....


this is a waste of time.....


i'd like to see our politicians focused on more important issues...


Like steroids abuse in baseball...

:Broncos:

[sirhcyennek81]

Honestly, I'm looking forward to finding out what exactly WAS on all the tapes... as it stands, I'm guessing 70 hours of Brady showering and the loud sound of Belicek's heavy breathing.

But doesn't the senate have something a little more important to do?

Could've sworn there was a war around somewhere...


This would be funny if it wasnt so, so true...


:Broncos:

[Bronco Jamus]

They did cheat, but this is a complete waste of our government's time.

[TailgateNut]

I doubt this is an issue of "if they cheated". It's an issue of destruction of evidence. I do agree that there are more important issues which our goverment should address prior to dealing with something which I also consider a waste of valuable time at this time. Get caught up on our nations' business, then nail Goodell and Bellicheat!

[Drek]

Like steroids abuse in baseball...

:Broncos:

Thats pretty damn stupid too, but at least it has some correlation to public safety. MLB players using 'roids prompts minor leaguers to use them, which then prompts college and high school kids who want to make the minors to then use them. Its a vicious cycle.

This is something entirely encapsulated within its sport and in no way threatening the safety or health of a single person.

[rugbythug]

Thats pretty damn stupid too, but at least it has some correlation to public safety. MLB players using 'roids prompts minor leaguers to use them, which then prompts college and high school kids who want to make the minors to then use them. Its a vicious cycle.

This is something entirely encapsulated within its sport and in no way threatening the safety or health of a single person.

What do you think gave the CIA the idea????

[Gcver2ver3]

Like steroids abuse in baseball...

:Broncos:

eh....

if it were up to me i'd legalize steroids....

i did find humor in that mitchell report though...

[BMF Bronco]

The government needs to stay the **** out of sports.

[Cito Pelon]

man please....


this is a waste of time.....


i'd like to see our politicians focused on more important issues...

If it wasn't for a Senate Committee jumping all over MLB's ass, the cheating in baseball would still be a dirty little secret.

I'm sick and damn tired of cheaters. I want them exposed in MLB, the NFL, the Olympics and in any other sport that gives out awards. Otherwise, the awards are meaningless, true? Look at the MLB cheaters - guys that won MVP's have admitted they cheated, therefore the award was meaningless, and still is.

The Pats this year, whatever they won is meaningless because they're cheaters. Any awards they won in the past 5 years are meaningless, because they're cheaters.

If this hearing digs up the truth and drags names through the mud, that's what I want to see. If Goodell is hiding something, I want it found out what it is.

[yavoon]

definite coverup and damage control. interesting that goodell will have to try to slither around that obvious fact now.

[epicSocialism4tw]

If it wasn't for a Senate Committee jumping all over MLB's ass, the cheating in baseball would still be a dirty little secret.

I'm sick and damn tired of cheaters. I want them exposed in MLB, the NFL, the Olympics and in any other sport that gives out awards. Otherwise, the awards are meaningless, true? Look at the MLB cheaters - guys that won MVP's have admitted they cheated, therefore the award was meaningless, and still is.

The Pats this year, whatever they won is meaningless because they're cheaters. Any awards they won in the past 5 years are meaningless, because they're cheaters.

If this hearing digs up the truth and drags names through the mud, that's what I want to see. If Goodell is hiding something, I want it found out what it is.

Amen, brother.

[24champ]

eh....

if it were up to me i'd legalize steroids....



I'm sure a lot of parents whose kids died as a result of using steriods at a young age, would agree.::)

[Smiling Assassin27]

Honestly, I'm looking forward to finding out what exactly WAS on all the tapes... as it stands, I'm guessing 70 hours of Brady showering and the loud sound of Belicek's heavy breathing.

But doesn't the senate have something a little more important to do?

Could've sworn there was a war around somewhere...

agreed. and i'm also unsure as to WHY a senator would even care, let alone have the actual authority to question a commissioner of a private sports league on a disciplinary issue not related to the law.

[yavoon]

agreed. and i'm also unsure as to WHY a senator would even care, let alone have the actual authority to question a commissioner of a private sports league on a disciplinary issue not related to the law.

I think senate hearings can be hold on most anything, you are asked to attend(you don't have to). and remember the NFL gets lotsa favors from government, from tax payer financed stadiums to special exemption from monopoly status, to the legal ability to discriminate against freshman and sophomores in college.

[bpc]

I'm all for catching cheaters in MLB because most of those products are illegal. For a senator to get involved with NFL matters with some team video taping the other coaches? Who cares, the NFL has already doled out punishment.

Go fix the economy or vote on something that matters.

[Gcver2ver3]

I'm sure a lot of parents whose kids died as a result of using steriods at a young age, would agree.::)

show me examples of someone who died from steroids....

no proof of that.....

think about what you just said though (even though its not true)...if its illegal and people are still croaking...then may as well legalize it so they can have doctor's cooperation on properly using it....

whether its legal or not...it'll be done....

lets put our resource into real problems...into like i don't know...poverty or something...

[Gcver2ver3]

If it wasn't for a Senate Committee jumping all over MLB's ass, the cheating in baseball would still be a dirty little secret.

I'm sick and damn tired of cheaters. I want them exposed in MLB, the NFL, the Olympics and in any other sport that gives out awards. Otherwise, the awards are meaningless, true? Look at the MLB cheaters - guys that won MVP's have admitted they cheated, therefore the award was meaningless, and still is.

The Pats this year, whatever they won is meaningless because they're cheaters. Any awards they won in the past 5 years are meaningless, because they're cheaters.

If this hearing digs up the truth and drags names through the mud, that's what I want to see. If Goodell is hiding something, I want it found out what it is.

gimme a break....it sports.....

let the senate take on real matters....

[Inkana7]

Anybody catch what the sliding ESPN bar said about some former Pats employee who has "damning" evidence against the Pats and the NFL in the form of video?

[sirhcyennek81]

show me examples of someone who died from steroids....
no proof of that.....

think about what you just said though (even though its not true)...if its illegal and people are still croaking...then may as well legalize it so they can have doctor's cooperation on properly using it....

whether its legal or not...it'll be done....

lets put our resource into real problems...into like i don't know...poverty or something...

You can argue that AIDS has not killed anyone directly, but led to other complications that have killed. Steroids weakens the body and allows relatively minor things on their own to kill people. You dont legalize it because "everyone is doing it anyway". You dont properly use a substance that is harmful to the body. Exercise and nutrition is a healthier way to get results.

:Broncos:

[chadta]

If it wasn't for a Senate Committee jumping all over MLB's ass, the cheating in baseball would still be a dirty little secret.

I'm sick and damn tired of cheaters. I want them exposed in MLB, the NFL, the Olympics and in any other sport that gives out awards. Otherwise, the awards are meaningless, true? Look at the MLB cheaters - guys that won MVP's have admitted they cheated, therefore the award was meaningless, and still is.

The Pats this year, whatever they won is meaningless because they're cheaters. Any awards they won in the past 5 years are meaningless, because they're cheaters.

If this hearing digs up the truth and drags names through the mud, that's what I want to see. If Goodell is hiding something, I want it found out what it is.

amen, rep for the post of the year

[Bronco Jamus]

Could this be the begining of the end for Goodell?

[Gcver2ver3]

You can argue that AIDS has not killed anyone directly, but led to other complications that have killed. Steroids weakens the body and allows relatively minor things on their own to kill people. You dont legalize it because "everyone is doing it anyway". You dont properly use a substance that is harmful to the body. Exercise and nutrition is a healthier way to get results.

:Broncos:

lol...terrible analogy....people die from AIDS everyday....it breaks down their immune system allowing common bacteria to kill em...

there is no real evidence of steroids killing people...

if any drug is abused, it'll kill you...no big news flash there...

but lets not get off tangent here...my real point is that its a waste of time and tax dollar focusing on this bull.....

i could care less about a tape being destroyed...

as usual govt officials are focused on the wrong things....

i think it's a publicity move personally

[yavoon]

lol...terrible analogy....people die from AIDS everyday....it breaks down their immune system allowing common bacteria to kill em...

there is no real evidence of steroids killing people...

if any drug is abused, it'll kill you...no big news flash there...

but lets not get off tangent here...my real point is that its a waste of time and tax dollar focusing on this bull.....

i could care less about a tape being destroyed...

as usual govt officials are focused on the wrong things....

i think it's a publicity move personally

one would imagine that congress is able to do more than one thing at a time. the old walking and chewing gum tactic.

[Gcver2ver3]

one would imagine that congress is able to do more than one thing at a time. the old walking and chewing gum tactic.

i'll believe it when i see it...

[broncolife]

Thats pretty damn stupid too, but at least it has some correlation to public safety. MLB players using 'roids prompts minor leaguers to use them, which then prompts college and high school kids who want to make the minors to then use them. Its a vicious cycle.

This is something entirely encapsulated within its sport and in no way threatening the safety or health of a single person.

Patriots cheating prompts kids to cheat by making them think cheating can make someone succesful. So they cheat on all thier test and get good grades but dont know shiat when they get out of school because they have been cheating the whole damn time and they grow up to be useless bums who commits suicide because they cant spell dog.

[400HZ]

I hope Warren Specter fines the Patriots another draft pick.

[broncolife]

I hope Warren Specter fines the Patriots another draft pick.

Yeah the san fran one:)

[400HZ]

I mean Arlen Spector. Who's Warren?

[gunns]

The government should stay out of sports. It's not their job. It's not what they were elected for.

But it is the job of commissioners of each sport and neither one in baseball nor the NFL has done their job, except to perhaps cover up. If Goodell...and Belicheat can be exposed for what they truly have done then go for it.

[snowtrx]

As a tax payer, I believe that Spector deserves a swift kick in the nuts! This is nothing but grandstanding by someone manipulating his powers in government. Does he really think this meeting will accomplish anything? What a waist of time and money. At least with MLB they knew they could accomplish something.

[yavoon]

As a tax payer, I believe that Spector deserves a swift kick in the nuts! This is nothing but grandstanding by someone manipulating his powers in government. Does he really think this meeting will accomplish anything? What a waist of time and money. At least with MLB they knew they could accomplish something.

ppl said that about the baseball meetings, but its likely that the senate hearings were the ONLY thing that accomplished anything there.

[boltaneer]

The matter may not compare to the CIA's destruction of interrogation tapes, Specter said Friday, but he added, "I do believe that it is a matter of importance. It's not going to displace the stimulus package or the Iraq war, but I think the integrity of football is very important, and I think the National Football League has a special duty to the American people -- and further the Congress -- because they have an antitrust exemption."

I think this is a good explanation. The integrity of the game is the most important thing the NFL has to offer to the fans.

[Bronx33]

We can call this the integrity bowl then.

[snowtrx]

ppl said that about the baseball meetings, but its likely that the senate hearings were the ONLY thing that accomplished anything there.

But they saw that they could do something about MLB. They knew steroids was a problem and felt MLB wasnt doing enough. Tell me, we already heard what Goodell is going tell this guy, what in the world could come out of it? That the Pats cheated? That Jimmy Johnson is correct and a lot of teams cheated?

[yavoon]

But they saw that they could do something about MLB. They knew steroids was a problem and felt MLB wasnt doing enough. Tell me, we already heard what Goodell is going tell this guy, what in the world could come out of it? That the Pats cheated? That Jimmy Johnson is correct and a lot of teams cheated?

hammer belicheat some more? maybe scare the crap outta the NFL and get them to try harder in this area? I don't buy the ol cynical bull**** of "everyone does it." nor do I find it acceptable that the league should operate on an "everyone does it" mentality. we already know that sports leagues will lie to us basically forever, urged on by players unions. lets face it, the steroids thing would have NEVER come out w/o congress.

[snowtrx]

So your saying the most that can come out of it is finding out the Pats cheated. :spit:
What a waist of time and money. OUR money. The government could never use the Anti-Trust exemption given to the NFL as recourse to dicipline the participants of the NFL. Legally impossible. Legally, steroids are against Federal Law, legally anyone can tape anything taking place in a public open space. This is just a bitter Eagles fan grandstanding to furthor his political carrer at our expense.

The league didnt opperate in a "everyone doest it" mentality, they punished the Pats to what they feel fits the crime.

[yavoon]

So your saying the most that can come out of it is finding out the Pats cheated. :spit:
What a waist of time and money. OUR money. The government could never use the Anti-Trust exemption given to the NFL as recourse to dicipline the participants of the NFL. Legally impossible. Legally, steroids are against Federal Law, legally anyone can tape anything taking place in a public open space. This is just a bitter Eagles fan grandstanding to furthor his political carrer at our expense.

The league didnt opperate in a "everyone doest it" mentality, they punished the Pats to what they feel fits the crime.

we can at the very least find out how much they cheated. but I guess its totally kosher to you for the NFL to bury this story. destroying the tapes proved to me that the NFL knows there was a lot more cheating, possibly superbowl cheating, and it just wanted it to go away.

[boltaneer]

Those who are dismissing this as a waste of time may not realize what a giant issue this may actually be.

It's one thing for the Patriots to have cheated against the Jets in a regular season game. But if Goodell destroyed evidence from years past, possibly involving Super Bowl(s), this thing becomes a whole new ball of wax.

I really like what Goodell has done in his short tenure but if he did pull something like this, I'd want him to face the consequences. He's the commissioner so he has no one to answer to in the NFL. He needs to answer to someone if this is the case.

And the NFL just isn't a "sport". It's a multi-billion dollar industry.

[Bronx33]

Those who are dismissing this as a waste of time may not realize what a giant issue this may actually be.

It's one thing for the Patriots to have cheated against the Jets in a regular season game. But if Goodell destroyed evidence from years past, possibly involving Super Bowl(s), this thing becomes a whole new ball of wax.

I really like what Goodell has done in his short tenure but if he did pull something like this, I'd want him to face the consequences. He's the commissioner so he has no one to answer to in the NFL. He needs to answer to someone if this is the case.

And the NFL just isn't a "sport". It's a multi-billion dollar industry.


That would be only the few excuses as to why evidence was destroyed.

[snowtrx]

we can at the very least find out how much they cheated. but I guess its totally kosher to you for the NFL to bury this story. destroying the tapes proved to me that the NFL knows there was a lot more cheating, possibly superbowl cheating, and it just wanted it to go away.

The Pats cheated! The government cant shed any new light on that. Whats next, a senator from Denver wanting to dig into if the 49ers cheating affected the SB outcome, or a KC senator wanting to dig into if the Broncos cheating affected the SB or divisional round outcome?

When the league destroyed the evidence, I assumed they where hiding something and burying this story. I just assume they are hiding something different than you think.

[snowtrx]

This is not a publicly traded company people. Everyday Joes are not impacted by anything the NFL wants to do. Goodell has 32 bosses to answer. If 31 of them have a problem with what he destroyed, then let them deal with him, not the US government

[yavoon]

This is not a publicly traded company people. Everyday Joes are not impacted by anything the NFL wants to do. Goodell has 32 bosses to answer. If 31 of them have a problem with what he destroyed, then let them deal with him, not the US government

the NFL is in deep w/ the gov't. the anti-trust exemption, tax payer funded stadiums. the NFL is not some capitalist stalwart that the gov't is meddling w/.

[yavoon]

The Pats cheated! The government cant shed any new light on that. Whats next, a senator from Denver wanting to dig into if the 49ers cheating affected the SB outcome, or a KC senator wanting to dig into if the Broncos cheating affected the SB or divisional round outcome?

When the league destroyed the evidence, I assumed they where hiding something and burying this story. I just assume they are hiding something different than you think.

maybe now that the tapes are destroyed no1 can shed light on the true nature and magnitude of the pats cheating. then again, maybe not. I certainly would like to know how far belicheat went, and I know as a near certainty we aren't being told it.

[snowtrx]

the NFL is in deep w/ the gov't. the anti-trust exemption, tax payer funded stadiums. the NFL is not some capitalist stalwart that the gov't is meddling w/.

On this issue, the gov't has no business here and the NFL fear not. If the NFL chose to become the WWF, then thats their choice.

Now in regard to the Sunday NFL ticket monopoly and the NFL Network rights issue, NFL FEAR MUCH. That is effecting the rights of everyday Joes!

[snowtrx]

maybe now that the tapes are destroyed no1 can shed light on the true nature and magnitude of the pats cheating. then again, maybe not. I certainly would like to know how far belicheat went, and I know as a near certainty we aren't being told it.

Sad, but totally true. It feels like getting the US governement to tell us the truth, its just not gonna happen.

I want to know how far BB went and how far the entire league went. I want to know who makes the tapes of the close up QB audibles that the dolphins purchased last year. Some assume BB, but I dont think he would sell the dolphins a tape of his own QB.

[yavoon]

Sad, but totally true. It feels like getting the US governement to tell us the truth, its just not gonna happen.

I want to know how far BB went and how far the entire league went. I want to know who makes the tapes of the close up QB audibles that the dolphins purchased last year. Some assume BB, but I dont think he would sell the dolphins a tape of his own QB.

well its not the government coughing up truth it knows, its the government prying the truth from others. look what it did in steroids? thats 8000% better because of those hearings, they'd be NOWHERE w/o those hearings. we'd be hearing about how the union is "strongly maintaining its position" on the "steroids issue."

[Bronco Bob]

agreed. and i'm also unsure as to WHY a senator would even care, let alone have the actual authority to question a commissioner of a private sports league on a disciplinary issue not related to the law.

Because this private sports league was given an anti-trust exemption by Congress.
And if they did something like destruction of evidence then maybe this
private sports league ought not be given an anti-trust exemption.

[snowtrx]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3226465

He says he taped their first SB. This guy better be part of Specter's inquiry.

[Bronco Jamus]

It is fraud. From that perspective, maybe it should be investigated. Just not at the Federal level.

[boltaneer]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3226465

He says he taped their first SB. This guy better be part of Specter's inquiry.

This is getting very interesting.

[Cito Pelon]

agreed. and i'm also unsure as to WHY a senator would even care, let alone have the actual authority to question a commissioner of a private sports league on a disciplinary issue not related to the law.

As Specter said, because the NFL has an Anti-Trust Exemption which is an Act of the US Congress bestowed on them. I guess it could be said that the US Congress is the boss of the the NFL.

[snowtrx]

http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d8066ccba

Goodell sums up Spygate in my mind.