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Report: Senator wants explanation on NFL spying case

Fri 1st, February 2008

New York, NY (Sports Network) - Senator Arlen Specter, ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, wants NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to explain why the league destroyed evidence related to spying by the New England Patriots, according to a report in the New York Times.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was fined the maximum of $500,000 by the league for the use of equipment to videotape the New York Jets' defensive signals in Week 1.

In addition, Goodell fined the club $250,000, and stripped the Patriots of their first-round draft choice in 2008.

According to the New York Times, Specter, a Republican from Pennsylvania, said that Goodell would eventually be called before the committee to address the destruction of the tapes that revealed spying by the Patriots. Also, he said Goodell would be called to address the league's antitrust exemption in relation to its television contract.

"That requires an explanation," Specter said to the paper. "The N.F.L. 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 C.I.A. destruction of tapes. Or any time you have records destroyed."

Specter first wrote the commissioner about the tapes on November 15th, and wrote again after more than a month passed without a response.

The spokesman for the league said the letters did not reach the league office until late last week, according to the report. The league added that it spoke to the Senator's office several times during November and December, but that the letters were never mentioned. Specter said the league told his office last week it would not respond until after the Super Bowl.

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