Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Specter's Spygate Probe is Necessary

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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review - Specter's Spygate Probe is Necessary

By: John Harris

Try as he might, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell can't make the Spygate controversy go away.

Soon after a memo from Goodell to the league's competition committee regarding ways "to preserve the integrity of the game" and "maintain public confidence" made front-page news last week, Sen. Arlen Specter rebutted the commissioner's assertion that downplayed any edge the New England Patriots gained from spying.

"The commissioner doesn't need new rules for the authority to impose penalities for prior misconduct," Specter told the New York Times. "If he's really serious, he ought to do it on his own now."

The timing of the media's "discovery" of Goodell's in-house memo is curious, to say the least, given that the league still hasn't interviewed former New England employee Matt Walsh.

Walsh allegedly has information regarding videotaping of Patriots' opponents that could further incriminate coach Bill Belichick.

So far, no Walsh. And still no satisfaction for teams such as the Steelers, who faced the Patriots four times during the period in question -- including twice in AFC Championship games -- with no explanation if any hanky-panky took place.

Apparently, protecting the greater good -- the reputation of the league -- is more important than the comfort level of any one team. Even the almighty Steelers, which says a lot about how seriously Goodell regards "Spygate."

Specter, who contines his personal crusade against the NFL, said Goodell's memo diverts attention from the real issue.

Specter even questions Goodell's sincerity about seeking the truth.

"I'd like to issue a challenge to the commissioner to make public the extensive exchange of correspondence between the league's lawyers and Walsh's lawyers," Specter said. "Any objective or accurate reading of the correspondence would show the NFL is trying to discourage Walsh from coming forward. We need to hear from Walsh."

Political grandstanding by Specter?

Of course it is.

But a closed mouth doesn't get fed.

The argument goes that Specter is sticking his nose in sports, where it doesn't belong.

Let him poke and prod, if it brings us closer to the truth.

There's something about Specter, who seems to be the only person, other than NFL owners, capable of making Goodell squirm.

Don't you want to know the full extent of New England's videotaping, and if it affected the outcome of games? Seems like Specter's the only one who does.

If Specter's second-guessing of Goodell results in a more sanitized league and restores the public's trust in the NFL, more power to Specter.

Especially if we never hear from Walsh.

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