Super Bowl walkthroughs are a CLOSED WORKOUT

[Mooch]

From CNNSI from 2/2/02:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2002/playoffs/news/2002/02/02/pats_practice_ap/

According to a pool report from the closed workout, the Pats went through a 5-minute walkthrough and then spent an hour strolling around the field and taking pictures.

From what I understand, all pre-Super Bowl walkthroughs are closed in this fashion and only a single pool reporter is allowed to attend.

If that's the case, can someone explain to me how Matt Walsh was able to "hide amongst the media" on his way back from supposedly videotaping the Rams walkthrough? And in a closed workout, wouldn't someone VIDEOTAPING IN AN EMPTY STADIUM stick out like a sore thumb?

This story is pretty hard to believe....

 

[RhodyPatriot]

Then why did both Michael Holly (media) and Dale Arnold (media) both state they've been at walk throughs before and they're is nothing much to be learned. Very informal, lots of joking around by the players etc. Be curious to hear what former players Fred and Steve has to say on WEEI in a couple of minutes.

 

[Charlotte Pats Fan]

It's quite possible that the alleged unnamed taper ( florio says it's got to be Walsh) is a effin liar

 

[Gunnails]

From CNNSI from 2/2/02:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2002/playoffs/news/2002/02/02/pats_practice_ap/



From what I understand, all pre-Super Bowl walkthroughs are closed in this fashion and only a single pool reporter is allowed to attend.
If that's the case, can someone explain to me how Matt Walsh was able to "hide amongst the media" on his way back from supposedly videotaping the Rams walkthrough? And in a closed workout, wouldn't someone VIDEOTAPING IN AN EMPTY STADIUM stick out like a sore thumb?

This story is pretty hard to believe....

===================================

How many camera men are allowed?, Is the stadium really empty while the teams go threw there closed practice walk threw/workout. I would bet there are plenty of people hanging about, cleaning up, seting up camera positions, runing cables, delivering beer, etc.

 

[DefenseRules]

It's quite possible that the alleged unnamed taper ( florio says it's got to be Walsh) is a effin liar

NOOOOOOOOOO...yah think? According to the media that CAN'T BE POSSIBLE.

 

[Mooch]

Then why did both Michael Holly (media) and Dale Arnold (media) both state they've been at walk throughs before and they're is nothing much to be learned. Very informal, lots of joking around by the players etc. Be curious to hear what former players Fred and Steve has to say on WEEI in a couple of minutes.

They're probably talking about regular season walkthroughs. Super Bowl practices are closed to the media except for ONE POOL REPORTER. This year for the Pats it was Dan Pompeii.

 

[RhodyPatriot]

===================================
How many camera men are allowed?, Is the stadium really empty while the teams go threw there closed practice walk threw/workout. I would bet there are plenty of people hanging about, cleaning up, seting up camera positions, runing cables, delivering beer, etc.

Exactly!! They're very informal get togethers. This notion that anyone is going to learn the state secrets of any team based on their final walk through is hilarious.

 

[BelichickFan]

Based on the description of the walkthough :

"the Pats went through a 5-minute walkthrough and then spent an hour strolling around the field and taking pictures"

unless the Rams took it a lot more seriously, there was nothing much to film.

My guess from the stuff we've read about Walsh - he stayed behind on his own and recorded some stuff for his personal collection. Tomase himself said his source has no idea what happened to the tape and Walsh clearly seems to be interested in his financial options. Then when Spygate happens, he just happens to have a tape that he recorded; sure it was for his own memorabilia but he doesn't have to say that now. Of course, the tape is stolen property but, you know, technicalities.

 

[PatriotsReign]

Based on the description of the walkthough :

"the Pats went through a 5-minute walkthrough and then spent an hour strolling around the field and taking pictures"

unless the Rams took it a lot more seriously, there was nothing much to film.

My guess from the stuff we've read about Walsh - he stayed behind on his own and recorded some stuff for his personal collection. Tomase himself said his source has no idea what happened to the tape and Walsh clearly seems to be interested in his financial options. Then when Spygate happens, he just happens to have a tape that he recorded; sure it was for his own memorabilia but he doesn't have to say that now. Of course, the tape is stolen property but, you know, technicalities.

This entire topic is one of the several "useless to discuss" topics we have had posted on Patsfans.com over the past 2 weeks. I'd rate this one far below the alleged Randy Moss dating violence non-issue.

Until someone has evidence this happened, what is the use of this discussion...seriously. Nothing will happen unless somone shows the video AND proves it was once Patriot property. You may want to ask yourself, if it was ever Patriots property, how did it get in someone else's hands?

 

[BelichickFan]

This entire topic is one of the several "useless to discuss" topics we have had posted on Patsfans.com over the past 2 weeks.

I think we all agree with that.

You may want to ask yourself, if it was ever Patriots property, how did it get in someone else's hands?

If he used Patriots' equipment (videotape, camera, etc) and was being paid by the Patriots for the SB weekend then they own the workproducts produced.

 

[sebman2112]

They're probably talking about regular season walkthroughs. Super Bowl practices are closed to the media except for ONE POOL REPORTER. This year for the Pats it was Dan Pompeii.

As other reliable posters have mentioned, most SB walk-throughs are simply a casual event, and aren't some kind of heavily involved practice with secret info that either team would like to poach. Really, I'm surprised some people seem to know so little about the process. Remember, the Patriots privately going through their actual walk-through in their hotel a few years back? Do you really think 5 minute walk-throughs (with family and others present) involve a lot of plays/info?

It's a joke to me that some still can't seem to get this. SB walk-throughs in the actual stadium are mostly for show, and generally aren't "guarded" events. If it was a guarded event NE's cameraman wouldn't been allowed on the field. When the Chargers went through an actual walk-through before the AFCCG they asked that all cameras and media be removed, as they wanted a private walk-through.

Also, your average walk-through isn't exactly private (unless the teams specifically ask for a private walk-through), and everyone knows other teams would like to spy on your walk-throughs, which is why teams will run dummy plays, and keep any information of importance to a minimum. For those wondering, I've heard a number of NFL players & and coaches talk about this.

PS: I don't know exactly how Martz ran the show, but I know **** Vermeil went through everything of importance in their private meetings, and their SB walk-through was pretty much the same way NE used their Walk-through (5 minutes of casual practice, then fooling around and taking photos).

 

[NEPatriot]

this spygate thing is out of control. The timing can't be right. Somebody are not very happy to see pats achieve 19-0 and it is the reason we keep hearing about it in this season and next season UNTIL everybody is tired of hearing it.

if pats was not in this SB, the spygate issue would not be mentioned .

 

[PatriotsReign]

If he used Patriots' equipment (videotape, camera, etc) and was being paid by the Patriots for the SB weekend then they own the workproducts produced.

Which makes any film someone may have, stolen property. If it isn't stolen property and the individual owns the film, then he wasn't working for the Patriots...pretty simple logic!

 

[Cramden]

Which makes any film someone may have, stolen property. If it isn't stolen property and the individual owns the film, then he wasn't working for the Patriots...pretty simple logic!

That's exactly how I was looking at it earlier today. Even if he is in possession of a tape it will be a case of he said she said as far as whether he was freelancing or working upon team orders, nothing more.

By the way, does anyone think yesterday's piece on Ernie Adams making him look like some type of stealthy genius was a setup for today's stories?

 

[NEPatriot]

If it isn't stolen property and the individual owns the film, then he wasn't working for the Patriots...pretty simple logic!

it also means that pats can sue his ass in court for damaging pats reputation. He will definitely spend the rest of his life in a 5x5 cell with brother Joe.

 

[BelichickFan]

Which makes any film someone may have, stolen property. If it isn't stolen property and the individual owns the film, then he wasn't working for the Patriots...pretty simple logic!

Right, that's what I was saying. I thought you were disputing it but I probably just misunderstood.

 

[Bella*chick]

That's exactly how I was looking at it earlier today. Even if he is in possession of a tape it will be a case of he said she said as far as whether he was freelancing or working upon team orders, nothing more.

By the way, does anyone think yesterday's piece on Ernie Adams making him look like some type of stealthy genius was a setup for today's stories?

That could be Adams' new job description! Instead of Director of Football Research, he could be Stealth Genius.

We could get it printed up on T-shirts.

 

[Cramden]

That could be Adams' new job description! Instead of Director of Football Research, he could be Stealth Genius.

We could get it printed up on T-shirts.

Fantastic!!! Someone cal AD and get him started on this.

 

[allworldrussfrancis]

By the way, does anyone think yesterday's piece on Ernie Adams making him look like some type of stealthy genius was a setup for today's stories?

Absolutely. This whole thing seems like a coordinated effort. None of this info is new - remember during the spygate week the guy on profootball talk saying there would be a bombshell about SB36? They had this stuff from Walsh and are just now pushing it. Disgusting.

 

[Rob0729]

Tom Curran addressed this issue when he talked about this rumor in Spetember (yes, this report is far from new news). He stated that the final walkthrough is open to friends and families of the team. So they are not private like practices earlier in the week.