Commissioner To Address Controversy
Your tax dollars at work.......
POSTED: 5:41 am EST February 1, 200
UPDATED: 7:31 am EST February 1, 2008
BOSTON -- Less than three days before the Super Bowl, a leading national lawmaker wants to reopen the New England Patriots spying investigation.
The story erupted last September when the Patriots were caught recording the New York Jets' defensive signals. The infraction cost the Patriots $750,000 and a first round draft pick.
Now, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to face lawmakers, according to the New York Times.
Specifically, Specter wants to know why the league destroyed video tapes related to "Spygate." He said the committee also wants to question the NFL about the league’s antitrust exemption in relation to its television contract.
"That requires an explanation," Specter told the Times. "The NFL has a very preferred status in our country with their antitrust exemption. The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game. It’s analogous to the CIA destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed."
He even raised the idea of calling members of the Patriots before the Judiciary Committee, but said he would take things one step at a time.
"It’s premature to say whom we’re going to call or when. It starts with the commissioner. He had the tapes, and he made the decision as to what the punishment could be. He made the decision to destroy them."
Specter and the league have been in contact about the issue through December, but he said the NFL told him it wouldn't respond until after the Super Bowl.
A lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, Specter said he was concerned about the integrity of sports.
The Patriots were caught videotaping the Jets defensive signals during the Sept. 9 opening game of their undefeated season. The NFL promised a full investigation and required the Pats to turn over any other videos it had ever recorded. After reviewing the tapes, the league said it destroyed them "to prevent them from being used to gain a competitive advantage," according to the Times.
Goodell will address the controversy Friday morning at a news conference in Phoenix.
Your tax dollars at work.......
POSTED: 5:41 am EST February 1, 200
UPDATED: 7:31 am EST February 1, 2008
BOSTON -- Less than three days before the Super Bowl, a leading national lawmaker wants to reopen the New England Patriots spying investigation.
The story erupted last September when the Patriots were caught recording the New York Jets' defensive signals. The infraction cost the Patriots $750,000 and a first round draft pick.
Now, Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to face lawmakers, according to the New York Times.
Specifically, Specter wants to know why the league destroyed video tapes related to "Spygate." He said the committee also wants to question the NFL about the league’s antitrust exemption in relation to its television contract.
"That requires an explanation," Specter told the Times. "The NFL has a very preferred status in our country with their antitrust exemption. The American people are entitled to be sure about the integrity of the game. It’s analogous to the CIA destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed."
He even raised the idea of calling members of the Patriots before the Judiciary Committee, but said he would take things one step at a time.
"It’s premature to say whom we’re going to call or when. It starts with the commissioner. He had the tapes, and he made the decision as to what the punishment could be. He made the decision to destroy them."
Specter and the league have been in contact about the issue through December, but he said the NFL told him it wouldn't respond until after the Super Bowl.
A lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan, Specter said he was concerned about the integrity of sports.
The Patriots were caught videotaping the Jets defensive signals during the Sept. 9 opening game of their undefeated season. The NFL promised a full investigation and required the Pats to turn over any other videos it had ever recorded. After reviewing the tapes, the league said it destroyed them "to prevent them from being used to gain a competitive advantage," according to the Times.
Goodell will address the controversy Friday morning at a news conference in Phoenix.
