Czarnecki: If Walsh doesn't have evidence, let's move on - New England Patriots Forums

***pats1*** · 04-01-2008, 05:02 PM

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7...40813162&ATT=5

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If Walsh doesn't have evidence, let's move on
by John Czarnecki

John Czarnecki has been the editorial consultant for FOX NFL Sunday since its 1994 inception. This season marks Czarnecki's 30th year covering the NFL. He is one of 44 selectors to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Updated: April 1, 2008, 3:41 PM EST

PALM BEACH, Fla. - This was an odd setting for an interrogation. Bill Belichick was sitting in an ocean-view restaurant at the Breakers, a hotel worthy of millionaires. The wind blew off the surf while the morning sun was in his eyes if he stared to his left.

Like New England owner Bob Kraft did the previous day, the Patriots coach basically called Matt Walsh's bluff. You know, the Hawaiian golf pro and former employee of the Patriots' video department who has claimed for months that he taped the Rams' final walk-through practice in the Superdome on Saturday prior to the 2002 Super Bowl.Belichick revealed that he was interviewed by several league officials after losing to the Giants in Super Bowl XLII regarding Walsh's allegations. "They have asked me the same question maybe 10 different ways," Belichick said. "I don't know what more (the league) could possibly do."

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upstater1 · 04-01-2008, 05:11 PM

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What I do remember of that week was that Rams coach Mike Martz was extremely nervous about practicing at the Saints' facility because he feared Jim Haslett and his staff would be taping his practices. He wanted their coaches removed from the building. That didn't happen, but all of the windows that faced the practice field had their drapes closed. Remember, this was a time when Haslett, now the Rams defensive coordinator, and Martz really didn't get along. There was a real rivalry between the two and their teams.

So yes, Martz was concerned about being videotaped, but it was by the Saints' staff, not the Patriots.

LOL, yeah, the NFL and Goodell are such a bunch of hypocrites.

I want our #1 pick back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

sebman2112 · 04-01-2008, 05:26 PM

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

BPF · 04-01-2008, 05:48 PM

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Originally Posted by sebman2112

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

I called in on Felger's show a while back and made the point that the walk-through taping would be useless because there was 18 weeks of tape on the Rams tendencies, formations, etc. but he kept going back to the fact that BB would be suspended if there is a tape.

ScottieC · 04-01-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebman2112

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

They have been waiting this long because they wanted blood and they wanted to spin it their way. With the STANDING OVATION (HELL YA!) that Bill and Kraft got today, it's looking more and more like the NFL might just take a hard line against Walsh and say, "What ever you got you got on your own and if you ain't got nothing..........OH MY GOD ARE WE GOING TO SUE YOUR ASS OFF."

The Great Fork · 04-01-2008, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebman2112

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

Czarnecki actually said that a couple months ago in another article.

***pats1*** · 04-01-2008, 09:19 PM

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Originally Posted by The Great Fork

Czarnecki actually said that a couple months ago in another article.

Are you sure? I checked the archive, and this is the closest I could find:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/7...the-Super-Bowl

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The Patriots took a team photo in University of Phoenix Stadium on Saturday, but did no walk-thru practice.

BPF · 04-01-2008, 11:09 PM

Now the Sporting News is jumping on the bandwagon and says Spygate is over.

http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn...c.php?t=394250

Koma · 04-02-2008, 12:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebman2112

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

That is a great question and I hope someone in the media offers some commentary on this angle.

I would guess that Czarnecki wasn't the only journalist present for the Rams walk-through and I can't believe that every one else's memory was hazy about how serious or casual the event was.

Along the same vein, no one else knew that Martz was worried about the Saints taping their practices? Why would he be worried? I thought only one team in league history ever taped signals or practices and they weren't from New Orleans.

Martz and Warner have spoken to reporters about this alleged incident, but I don't remember reading them characterizing the walk-through as relaxed or "disorganized." I don't remember potential spying by the Saints being mentioned before. Did they not mention those things, or were they excluded from the articles so the media could present a more straight-forward story?

It's interesting to read now, but frustrating that Czarnecki (and others) could have said this 2 months ago.

***DarrylS*** · 04-02-2008, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sebman2112

Reading that article, I was glad to see what Czarnecki said about the Rams walk-through (taping it to gain info would have been a joke), but I wonder why it took so long for someone in the media to actually say this?

I remember a number of us (patsfans.com members) said the very same thing, back when the Patriots were first accused of taping that walk-through.

Even the day of the Superbowl.. Jimmy Johnson, Howie Long et al all said that filming a walkthrough would not be helpful.. all this is the idle, bored press trying to create problems for the leagues finest franchise, but underreporting this type of info, btw Martz and the Rams could have said something also, so there is complicity.. there was not even some smoke, all the while Matt Walsh got some free fact time.. and wasted time in our lives that we will never get back.