Peter King: Matt Walsh doesn't have "the goods" on the Patriots

[Rob0729]

From his MMQB:

7. I think I don't have a lot of expectations that the continued fascination with Spygate will bear much fruit this offseason. I hear one news-media outlet spent two weeks, off and on, talking with former Patriots video employee Matt Walsh recently and came away convinced that Walsh did not have the goods on the Patriots -- or if he did, he was holding out for something (money? legal indemnification?) and left the impression he knew something but not quite the mother lode the Arlen Specters of the world wish he did.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/10/tyree/4.html

So best he is full or crap and at worst he is trying to extort money from the media to pretty much give them stuff that will not be all that useful.

 

[DefenseRules]

From his MMQB:



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/10/tyree/4.html

So best he is full or crap and at worst he is trying to extort money from the media to pretty much give them stuff that will not be all that useful.

For some reason, this does not surprise me.
Haven't you noticed that this story has been slowly, been moved to the back burner. That worthless excuse for a report...John Tomase...was on FSN last week and he didn't mention ONE WORD about it. Felger didn't mention a word either. I found it VERY interesting.

 

[Marko]

From his MMQB:



http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/10/tyree/4.html

So best he is full or crap and at worst he is trying to extort money from the media to pretty much give them stuff that will not be all that useful.

And this was known when? The mf'ers tried to screw w/superbowl!

 

[nittanylions52]

For some reason, this does not surprise me.
Haven't you noticed that this story has been slowly, been moved to the back burner. That worthless excuse for a report...John Tomase...was on FSN last week and he didn't mention ONE WORD about it. Felger didn't mention a word either. I found it VERY interesting.

Not sure what else you want them to say until Walsh says something. He's made it clear he's holding back for legal indemnification. But even now that Goodell has granted it, he can't talk to the press until he's talked to the NFL or Specter.

Maybe Walsh doesn't have anything. That would certainly be a relief for the Pats and the league. But while he probably has sour grapes towards NE, he would get crucified for lying about something like this, or even exaggerating.

 

[marcus]

F Tomase.

Peter King at least bothers to try to verify.

F the Herald

 

[BelichickFan]

It was a story long enough for everyone to f*ck up Super Bowl weekend. I'll never forgive fat tasAsse for that.

 

[patriotfan32]

Unfortunately, people are going to remember the accusations. Its a lot more difficult to dispel them. That is why if Tomase wanted to run with such a potent story, the least he should have done is had more than one source to confirm the accusation.

 

[pats60]

Unfortunately, people are going to remember the accusations. Its a lot more difficult to dispel them. That is why if Tomase wanted to run with such a potent story, the least he should have done is had more than one source to confirm the accusation.

You are right . The pats are considered guilty till proven innocent.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

From his MMQB:

7. I think I don't have a lot of expectations that the continued fascination with Spygate will bear much fruit this offseason. I hear one news-media outlet spent two weeks, off and on, talking with former Patriots video employee Matt Walsh recently and came away convinced that Walsh did not have the goods on the Patriots -- or if he did, he was holding out for something (money? legal indemnification?) and left the impression he knew something but not quite the mother lode the Arlen Specters of the world wish he did.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/peter_king/02/10/tyree/4.html

So best he is full or crap and at worst he is trying to extort money from the media to pretty much give them stuff that will not be all that useful.

Still didn't stop that other media outlet from running with what they had once Specter started bloviating. Better to run with something we don't think we really have than not only to find out maybe we did...same thing Tomase did and he should be canned for it when the dust settles. He's done on this beat if not in this sports market either way.

Clayton (ESPN) and Felger (ESPN/Comcast) were gabbing about this at the end of the week and John stated that he thought "the story" would drag on for the next 4 months... I guess it will if certain people want it to because via veiled inuendo they can make it so.

The only thing that closes this chapter is Goodell. This crap about open ended penalties pending further information, which he used to get the naysayers off his ass, is at the root of this. TAPING DEFENSIVE SIGNALS, that was what the investigation and penalty was for. BB admitted guilt, stipulated he gave Goodell everything on it, accepted his penalty. Not every potential transgression he may have ever committed in his coaching lifetime. Allowing this to continue to meander like some scavenger hunt based totally unsubstantiated rumor is BS. They gonna investigate every NFL team rumor from here on out with an eye toward potential congressional oversight?

 

[patsox23]

I think you guys don't really understand what reporting is. You seem to have an issue with Tomase reporting (on his BLOG, for God's sake) the blockbuster news - which it was - that this guy is making allegations and that he may know something. I know you don't like him, and you don't like the story, but your hyperventilating sure seems to miss the point of what was ACTUALLY reported.

 

[Rob0729]

Still didn't stop that other media outlet from running with what they had once Specter started bloviating. Better to run with something we don't think we really have than not only to find out maybe we did...same thing Tomase did and he should be canned for it when the dust settles. He's done on this beat if not in this sports market either way.

Clayton (ESPN) and Felger (ESPN/Comcast) were gabbing about this at the end of the week and John stated that he thought "the story" would drag on for the next 4 months... I guess it will if certain people want it to because via veiled inuendo they can make it so.

The only thing that closes this chapter is Goodell. This crap about open ended penalties pending further information, which he used to get the naysayers off his ass, is at the root of this. TAPING DEFENSIVE SIGNALS, that was what the investigation and penalty was for. BB admitted guilt, stipulated he gave Goodell everything on it, accepted his penalty. Not every potential transgression he may have ever committed in his coaching lifetime. Allowing this to continue to meander like some scavenger hunt based totally unsubstantiated rumor is BS. They gonna investigate every NFL team rumor from here on out with an eye toward potential congressional oversight?

Unfortunately, I don't think this will ever end. There may be an end to any investigations, but the damage is done and irreparable. To a decent size of the public, the Pats will always be guilty and there is no way to disprove a rumor.

I still think this is a witch hunt against the Patriots. There are plenty of rumors out there about other teams cheating, why only focus on the rumors of the Patriots? Just because they got caught violating the rules once, doesn't mean it gives them the right to investigate every allegation that isn't supported by evidence. The police can't pull someone over for drunk driving and use that to get a search warrant to search their home for drugs.

As for Clayton, when I hear him talking about this stuff. He acts like a kid on Christmas morning waiting impatiently for everyone to wake up so he can open his presents. I think he wants this story to keep going so he has an eventful offseason. I think it is more wishful thinking on his part rather than actual insight.

 

[fgssand]

Will Tomase ever come forward and admit he had nothing??

Where is the proof and where is the story?

Are there no facts ??

How can he keep going on as if he did nothing wrong?? Or does he think he was right??

Does he not fit the definition of "yellow journalist"??

 

[patsacolachick]

I think you guys don't really understand what reporting is. You seem to have an issue with Tomase reporting (on his BLOG, for God's sake) the blockbuster news - which it was - that this guy is making allegations and that he may know something. I know you don't like him, and you don't like the story, but your hyperventilating sure seems to miss the point of what was ACTUALLY reported.

Sorry, I believe this was a front-page story for the Herald, not a little blog item. Very, very different animal.

 

[Pats726]

F Tomase.

Peter King at least bothers to try to verify.

F the Herald

Even Patriot hater Easterbrook could not verify and he had talked to Walsh for months...THAT to me showed how low the Herald went...

 

[BelichickFan]

You seem to have an issue with Tomase reporting (on his BLOG, for God's sake) the blockbuster news - which it was - that this guy is making allegations and that he may know something.

First, it wasn't just on tomASSe's blog, it was a full article.
Second there were no quote from Walsh making any specific allegations whatsoever.
Third, even if Walsh made allegations that doesn't mean they should be printed without some corroboration.

It was B.S. from the B.S. reporter looking for the big strike the weekend of the Super Bowl.

 

[Pats726]

Will Tomase ever come forward and admit he had nothing??

Where is the proof and where is the story?

Are there no facts ??

How can he keep going on as if he did nothing wrong?? Or does he think he was right??

Does he not fit the definition of "yellow journalist"??

Maybe a journalist that FAILED journalism 101....2 sources...Tomase should be gone..

 

[ctpatsfan77]

It wouldn't matter whether it was front page on the Herald or on his blog. By having his material published by a "legitimate" news source, his words are automatically given more weight.

Either way, there was no credible story, yet he chose to publish, and not merely that, but waited until less than 48 hours before the SB to do it.

I'd love to see him try and get quotes from Patriots players next season.

 

[fgssand]

I think you guys don't really understand what reporting is. You seem to have an issue with Tomase reporting (on his BLOG, for God's sake) the blockbuster news - which it was - that this guy is making allegations and that he may know something. I know you don't like him, and you don't like the story, but your hyperventilating sure seems to miss the point of what was ACTUALLY reported.

Are you kidding me??

Was not in his blog (as others have pointed out), but front page stuff. The average reader now thinks this was all true - where is the proof, where are the facts and where is the story?? Aren't writers supposed to be above rumor mongering??

It was yellow journalism at it's worst - timed at the worst possible moment, meant to infuriate the team & fans for the simple reason of selling a few papers and getting a few website hits.

What kind of free press is this when you can report any rumor or story from a disgruntled ex-employee any time you want too - from a so called beat writer that people assumes has facts to back up what the guy was spewing.

Maybe I am off base here, but it seems to me the media business should be doing a better job of policing themselves or risk losing whatever credibility remains in the profession.

 

[Palm Beach Pats Fan]

I think you guys don't really understand what reporting is. You seem to have an issue with Tomase reporting (on his BLOG, for God's sake) the blockbuster news - which it was - that this guy is making allegations and that he may know something. I know you don't like him, and you don't like the story, but your hyperventilating sure seems to miss the point of what was ACTUALLY reported.

You seem to be under the impression that Tomase initially reported that Matt Walsh claimed to have taped the Ram's walk-through.

He did no such thing.

He reported that unnamed sources claim an unnamed person who might have been affilliated with the Patriots might have taped a practice, and the tape might have been viewed by the Patriots.

Later, subsequent reports offer vague comments by Walsh saying that he knows a few embarrassing things.

Tomase did not make any specific allegation in his initial story attributable to Walsh.

These were serious allegations that deserve serious punishment, and thus require real evidence including secondary sources, and not just single unnamed sources.

That is tabloid journalism.
That is the Herald, the NY Daily News, and the National Enquirer.

Go to these papers for updates on Bigfoot or bat boy, not for truth or responsible journalism.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

He reported that unnamed sources claim an unnamed person who might have been affilliated with the Patriots might have taped a practice, the taped that might have been viewed by the Patriots.

That is true, but it still does not change the fact that it was an utterly irresponsible act of journalism, and, IMO, one for which he should be suspended, if not outright fired.