NFL announces deal with Walsh; Goodell meeting set for May 13

[pats1]

http://www.profootballtalk.com/category/rumor-mill/

WALSH DEAL COMING
Posted by Mike Florio on April 22, 2008, 11:09 a.m.

Peter King of SI.com suggests in his MMQB column (which we sometimes don’t get around to perusing until TM) that the legal stalemate between the NFL and former Patriots video employee Matt Walsh could be resolved by the end of the week. (And we’re hearing that something could happen as soon as today.)

Writes King: “I can’t imagine Roger Goodell stepping in front of the media Saturday at the draft and figuring out some other way to say, ‘I think we’re close to a deal with him’ in some different way than he’s said it 53 times in the last two months.”

Amen. The last thing the league needs is another sideshow to distract from the draft. Remember last year’s Mike Vick fiasco? Vick was in attendance at Radio City Music Hall in connection with the league’s tribute to the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, only days after more than 50 dogs were removed from his property in Virginia.

“I’m never at the house,” Vick said while in New York. “I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven’t been doing the right thing.”

(And if you don’t know the rest of that story, we suggest that you cut the hair, shave the beard, and trim the nails that have been growing during your prolonged coma.)

Though Goodell is certain to be asked about the impact of Pacman’s hush money payment to the strip club shooter, Goodell can avoid being pressed about the chronic lack of a deal with Walsh if a deal with Walsh can get done.

(For those of you who were in a prolonged coma, Walsh has strongly hinted that he knows something about previously undisclosed cheating activities by the Patriots. A February 2 report from the Boston Herald claiming that the Pats videotaped the Rams walk-through practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI is widely believed to have been based on off-the-record information supplied by Walsh.)

 

[BradfordPatsFan]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

Of course it could get resolved before the end of the week. The draft is coming up and the NFL is taking center stage again.

 

[pats1]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

As predicted by some of our members:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=81225

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/messageboard/showthread.php?t=81098

 

[BradyManny]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

Good, let's get this over with so we can focus on football.

 

[Rob0729]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

If the league gets a deal done this week with Walsh, it means Walsh has nothing of substance. Goodell would much rather be fielding a ton of questions of why a deal isn't done than having videotape of the Rams' walkthrough being replayed over and over again on draft weekend.

It would also put pressure on Goodell to rush to deliver a harsh penalty on the Patriots without further investigating or be hit with a ton of questions why the Pats are drafting in the seventh spot. Also, if Walsh has wild, but unsubstantiated information that needs to be verified; what can Goodell do before the draft except let those allegations hang out there and investigate. All those would probably be worse in Goodell's mind than fielding more questions about why a deal isn't done with Walsh.

I think it is obvious that Walsh wants this story to break this week. No matter what proof he has for any allegations, it will be a cloud over the Patriots this upcoming weekend. Even if his allegations are so blatantly false that they lack any basis in reality, it won't stop the press from treating them like real allegations and pressing Pioli, Belichick, Goodell, and whoever the Pats draft with the seventh pick about it.

 

[ctpatsfan77]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

One line not quoted from King's article:

I have a feeling that by the weekend, we could have a resolution on this, and the Patriots may be in the clear.

As Rob pointed out, Goodell cannot possibly want the draft overshadowed by "OMG! CHEATERZZ!!1!!!" cr*p.

 

[BradyManny]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

It would also put pressure on Goodell to rush to deliver a harsh penalty on the Patriots without further investigating or be hit with a ton of questions why the Pats are drafting in the seventh spot. Also, if Walsh has wild, but unsubstantiated information that needs to be verified; what can Goodell do before the draft except let those allegations hang out there and investigate. All those would probably be worse in Goodell's mind than fielding more questions about why a deal isn't done with Walsh.

That's a great point, if there was anything of substance, they would most certainly have left themselves more time to deal with it before the draft. At this point, fortunately, there's absolutely no way for even Goodell to overreact and penalize us further for the 08 draft.

 

[Jimke]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

I wouldn't be surprised to see Goodell bury Bill Belichick and the Patriots

to appease the media and the other NFL teams. A long term suspension

for Belichick and the loss of several draft picks to really screw the

organization.

 

[richpats]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

I wouldn't be surprised to see Goodell bury Bill Belichick and the Patriots

to appease the media and the other NFL teams. A long term suspension

for Belichick and the loss of several draft picks to really screw the

organization.

Nothing would surprise me at this point

 

[blackglass3]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

I am not holding my breath (we have heard this before, of course), but I really hope this all comes out today or tomorrow and it gets finished.

The real question is will Matt Walsh be all over the tv like Clemens/McNamee Senate hearing?

 

[DefenseRules]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

Nothing would surprise me at this point

The Pats should just give up the #7 pick, suspend BB and call it a day. These bastards ruined the Super bowl for me why not just put us fans who are sick of this **** out of our misery early?

 

[RussFrancis]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

Im not believing this for a second. NOT A SECOND! We're supposed to walk the plank again, days before the draft, because as Peter King says, " I sense a thaw in the air"????? NO. Not this time. What's that? He also throws in, "I have a feeling...we COULD" blah, blah, blah, blah. NOPE. Not happenin'. He doesnt know squat. He can feel whatever he wants. He can thaw out his ice cold relationship with the Pats organization at this point for all I care. He doesnt know the first thing about this situation or the New England Patriots right now. He's speculating just like the rest of the world because, as has been pointed out by some astutely opinionated voices on this board, that OF COURSE, its 5 days before the draft and its time to once again unveil this story to further hype an NFL event. Sell another story. Fuel the sports talk radio fire. This is highly predictable. But the 2 words at this point that I absolutely CAN NOT STAND are "COULD" and "MAY". Nothing personal against all the reporters out there trying to make a living and suck a few words out of a schmoe like Matt Walsh only to fuel another hideous story about the world's greatest professional sports franchise, but shut your collective mouths UNTIL NEWS IS ACTUALLY NEWS. Not when it COULD be news, or MAY be news. Give us the actual story!! Reporting anymore is absolutely brutal.

 

[BrianPat]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

I think people are over reacting with concern, somehow King gathered info on this, this thaw in the air dosen't warrant his report. Also, the key part already brought up, he thinks the Pats are in the clear. Here's to hoping his information is better then fatso at the Herald !! I bet Tomass is a little upset that King stole his spotlight !

I dislike them both after last year !!

 

[Kontradiction]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

I'm just hoping this gets resolved before next season. The last thing I want to see is another media circuis like last year.

 

[signbabybrady]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

That's a great point, if there was anything of substance, they would most certainly have left themselves more time to deal with it before the draft. At this point, fortunately, there's absolutely no way for even Goodell to overreact and penalize us further for the 08 draft.

actually not so great of a point when you consider any draft penalizations come in the following NFL year. Once the new NFL year was started we were no longer at risk of losing seven.

 

[Pats726]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

More BS I think all know it is close to the draft and what better time to bring it all up...AS predicted..just like the sun coming up in the morning...I have less respect for him at each added BS story he prints about this...

 

[Rob0729]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

actually not so great of a point when you consider any draft penalizations come in the following NFL year. Once the new NFL year was started we were no longer at risk of losing seven.

Except what you are saying is incorrect. The 49ers were fined on March 24th for tampering and lost their fifth round pick and swapped 3rd round picks with the Bears in this upcoming draft eventhough the new NFL Year started.

As far as I know, the commissioner can strip any team of a pick(s) up to the momement they go on the clock.

 

[DarrylS]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

All I can say is f....ing predictable, what a bunch of scum sucking douchebage media whores.. move on folks, let someone else get some face time.

 

[DGameguy]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

They can take every pick away from us they want this year except for number 7 overall and the third round pick from the raiders. The league cannot strip a team of a draft pick acquired through a trade. This is why they didn't take the SF pick in the first place.

I will believe it when I see it. There have been too many false alarms. There's been an immediate Walsh break announced two or three times before this. Also, Peter King did not say that it would come out today. Mike Florio added in that he is hearing it could possibly maybe might come out today.

Question: How can the NFL and the Patriots grant Walsh immunity? I know that he has asked specifically for immunity against any illegal things he might have done...but then these actions wouldn't solely be subject to civil court am I correct? If they were criminal actions, wouldn't the government have to agree to terms of immunity?

I think you really have to look at Walsh's series of demands that were asked and met to get the picture.

1. Wants an attorney and legal fees paid for - He's been set up by some mysterious figure (cough Arlen gough).

THEN

2. Says he is bound by a confidentiality agreement and wants to be released from it - Turns out said agreement doesn't exist

THEN

3. Demands immunity from prosecution for any illegal action he may divulge during his meetings with the league's officials

He's stalling. He's stalling because he thought he could get something out of the NFL and the Pats to go away, and they called his bluff. He won't be talking, and if he actually does, it will be nothing new.

 

[TruthSeeker]

Re: PFT/Peter King: Walsh deal could come as soon as today (4/22)

It all means nothing until he talks. That's when I'll wake from my coma.