Former Raiders exec Lombardi refutes Davis’ claim
Posted: October 9th, 2008 | Adam Schefter
On Wednesday night’s Inside the NFL, former Oakland Raiders executive Michael Lombardi responded to the tampering allegations brought against the team by the New England Patriots.
At the time of the deal, Lombardi worked for the Raiders. Last week, Raiders owner Al Davis accused Lombardi of giving Bill Belichick inside info.
CRIS COLLINSWORTH: Did the tampering take place?
MICHAEL LOMBARDI: Absolutely not. After that press conference Al Davis threw everyone under the bus, Bob Kraft, Bill Belichick and myself, saying that I told Bill Belichick that Randy Moss could still run. Well, we were trying to trade Randy Moss to the New England Patriots. I thought that was good information to give Bill Belichick. But now he’s (Davis) accused all of us of making those charges and now he is going to have to face them.
COLILINSWORTH: Did you help Belichick to the determent of the Raiders?
LOMBARDI: Without a doubt, I did not. I was trying to do the best thing for the Raiders, always have … In this situation Bill Belichick is not going to always rely on my opinion for information he is going to look at what he sees on the tape.
COLLINSWORTH: If they are frivolous claims, is there something the league can do to the Raiders?
LOMBARDI: The Raiders received a letter form the league office this week saying, look, do you have anything to claim about the tampering charges, because it’s been 18 months? Do you have something to say, because if you don’t you are in violation of the club integrity rule. … They want to balance the integrity of the game, but they don’t want other clubs throwing mud against each other. That’s the point here. The Raiders have 18 months to make this charge and all of a sudden after this press conference, Al Davis does make the charge. I think it has more to do with (Randy Moss’) 23 touchdowns than it does with actual tampering.
