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This guy is such a complete and utter arse, it is isn't funny. In his latest column, he is basically lobbying Goodell to suspend Belichick for stuff he has already been punished for if the new rule of him lower standard of evidence to punish teams for cheating goes through.
From his column:
Quote:
"The analogy is in the criminal world," said Ray Anderson, the NFL's vice president of football operations. "It's the proof beyond a reasonable doubt. In the civil world, it's preponderance of the evidence, meaning more likely than not that something occurred. So we are looking to enforce a standard of proof that would be more in line with preponderance of the evidence."
In other words, given the preponderance of evidence standard, Goodell can take the appearance of spying and level harsh penalties. This could have an impact on Spygate.
Unless new evidence turns up, Spygate is over as far as Goodell and the NFL are concerned. The Patriots lost a first-round choice and $250,000. Belichick was fined $500,000. After a quick investigation, it was determined Belichick had ordered the taping of other teams' signals. He handed over those tapes. Although he didn't think he was doing anything against the rules, Belichick -- according to Goodell -- admitted he had been taping signals for years. The six tapes were destroyed. In Goodell's eyes, the case was closed.
Matt Walsh, a former Patriots videographer who may have more evidence of the team's covert taping, has been negotiating with league lawyers before he discusses Spygate. Goodell has always said he would reopen Spygate if there is new evidence.
That's where the "preponderance of evidence" discussion could produce an interesting twist to the Spygate case. If Walsh testifies after the owners meeting and has new evidence, the standard of proof against Belichick might be less, and the coach could face a possible suspension based on a lower standard of proof. There isn't a double jeopardy provision in Goodell's original decision on taping signals.
Goodell said at the Pro Bowl that Belichick had signed a document that he turned over all evidence involving spying. If there is another level of spying and evidence Belichick hasn't presented or knew of and didn't fess up to, Goodell has the authority to act again. After all, he would have caught Belichick in a lie and the coach would have to pay for that lie.
It's pretty obvious from Goodell's actions that he believes Belichick has given him everything in regards to Spygate. The commissioner has said on numerous occasions that he has seen no additional evidence against Belichick that would merit further penalties.
Nevertheless, Walsh isn't going away. Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter isn't going to stop ripping Goodell for not interviewing Walsh. Specter, currently on a book tour, wants to know whether all information regarding Spygate has been released. A smart politician, he knows mentioning Walsh in any national forum will draw headlines.
I think Goodell must clear the air about Walsh, who will determine whether Spygate lives or dies. If Walsh has evidence to implicate Belichick for doing more spying, it must be aired. If he has nothing, we need to know that, too. The integrity of the sport must be the highest concern.
You can almost see this goober drolling at his keyboard at Goodell suspending Belichick.
I am sorry. But if Walsh produces tapes of the Pats videotaping opposing defensive signals, that will not trigger more actions against Belichick no matter what the standard of evidence Goodell has. Walsh testifying of other allegations of cheating without evidence to support it won't either.
Goodell isn't going to suspend a coach even with a lower standard of burden of proof without him having some proof the allegations are true. It may not be the smoking gun, but he is going to want to make sure that it is more likely than not that the allegations are true.
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I think Clayton would love to come out and say "Walsh taped the walk-through and Goodell will suspend BB because of it". But Clayton doesn't have the sack to say something like this because it might pan out that Walsh has got nada.
So he writes the above paragraph even though it doesn't stand up to a logical read.
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It sounds like the NFL is trying to penalize the Pats, change the rules/standards, and then add on to the original penalty. Give that one to Arlen Specter.
It's been quiet in the league lately w/the lull before the draft so the cryptkeeper needed something to write about. There is nothing to his story and nothing will happen further with "spygate."
Clayton goes back-to-back today, with a whole different spin on Kraft's remarks about Walsh today. The chicken neck seems to want to replace Easterbrook on the spygate Pats bashing bandwagon. Guess which link is worth clicking on?
So you don't have to click on espn, here's Clayton's take.
After reporting facts and quotes in the first half of the article, Clayton switches to editorial mode by stating "Spygate isn't going anywhere, and the commissioner realizes that. Integrity is the big theme of this owners meeting. Goodell is putting in mechanisms to better police the sport. He wants teams to sign documents each season that they didn't spy. He is pushing for spot checks in coaches' boxes and on the field.
Goodell believe he owes that to the public.
"I believe that the public understands that we responded very aggressively to the Patriots issue," Goodell said. "We were the ones to discover it, disclose it and discipline it with unprecedented discipline. To date, all the discussion and all the other rhetoric have been on rumors. We've known Coach Belichick has done that [spying on signals] through his career. From my standpoint, I think these steps are necessary.
"We recognize there has been a great deal of discussion about this. There is a questioning of our integrity. I believe strongly in the integrity of our game and I know our clubs do, too," he said.
In the meantime, the lawyers are trying to work out the Walsh testimony.
Goodell said at the Pro Bowl that Belichick had signed a document that he turned over all evidence involving spying. If there is another level of spying and evidence Belichick hasn't presented or knew of and didn't fess up to, Goodell has the authority to act again. After all, he would have caught Belichick in a lie and the coach would have to pay for that lie.
Even if Walsh shows up with a tape, Belichick still would have turned over all evidence in his possession -- which is what he attested to to Goodell. How was BB to know that some guy he fired five years ago stole a tape? Clayton is a damned fool.
Clayton goes back-to-back today, with a whole different spin on Kraft's remarks about Walsh today. The chicken neck seems to want to replace Easterbrook on the spygate Pats bashing bandwagon. Guess which link is worth clicking on?
So you don't have to click on espn, here's Clayton's take.
After reporting facts and quotes in the first half of the article, Clayton switches to editorial mode by stating "Spygate isn't going anywhere, and the commissioner realizes that. Integrity is the big theme of this owners meeting. Goodell is putting in mechanisms to better police the sport. He wants teams to sign documents each season that they didn't spy. He is pushing for spot checks in coaches' boxes and on the field.
Goodell believe he owes that to the public.
"I believe that the public understands that we responded very aggressively to the Patriots issue," Goodell said. "We were the ones to discover it, disclose it and discipline it with unprecedented discipline. To date, all the discussion and all the other rhetoric have been on rumors. We've known Coach Belichick has done that [spying on signals] through his career. From my standpoint, I think these steps are necessary.
"We recognize there has been a great deal of discussion about this. There is a questioning of our integrity. I believe strongly in the integrity of our game and I know our clubs do, too," he said.
In the meantime, the lawyers are trying to work out the Walsh testimony.
What a tool.
I love this part of the article from Clayton's piec today:
Quote:
One new revelation came out during the first official day of the owners meeting. Patriots owner Robert Kraft said Walsh never signed a confidentiality clause when he left the team in 2003. Kraft, speaking to reporters in the hallway of The Breakers hotel, believes Spygate should be over.
Really?!? it came out today? You mean when it came out in Mike Fish's piece on ESPN.com buried in his article published over a month ago, it didn't come out then? This shows you how much the media is onesided on this story. They have been hiding things that are in favor of the Patriots' side of the story that collegues from their own media outlet don't know what they are posting.
John Clayton is a joke
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