Wed Apr 23 16:51:01 2008

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Walsh to meet with NFL Commissioner Goodell

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New York, NY (Sports Network) - Former Patriots employee Matt Walsh has reached a deal with the NFL that will allow him to speak openly with the league about any knowledge or physical evidence he may have of the club's alleged spying tactics.

The deal requires that Walsh return any tapes and other paraphernalia in his possession that belong to the Patriots. In return, both the NFL and the New England franchise have promised not to sue Walsh. In addition, both entities will repay any expenses Walsh incurs while making the trip to New York for the interview.

The meeting is scheduled to take place on May 13 in the Commissioner's office in Manhattan.

"The New England Patriots are pleased to learn that Matt Walsh is finally willing to come forward to meet with the NFL," the team announced in a statement released on Wednesday. "We are eagerly anticipating his honest disclosures to Commissioner Goodell next month and the return of all the materials he took during his time of employment. We fully expect this meeting to conclude the league's investigation into a damaging and false allegation that was originally levied against the team on the day before this year's Super Bowl."

"It is important to note that there has never been a confidentiality agreement restricting Matt Walsh and no legal protections were ever necessary for him to speak to the NFL, to media outlets or to anyone else regarding his employment with the Patriots. He demanded to be released from responsibility for his statements, and after a frustrating and lengthy negotiation period, a settlement has finally been reached. Walsh has been granted a significant number of privileges through this agreement, none of which the Patriots or the NFL were obligated to give."

Walsh, a former Patriots assistant coach who is now a golf pro in Hawaii, has intimated that he has evidence of the Patriots' spying, specifically a tape of the St. Louis Rams walkthrough prior to facing New England in Super Bowl XXXVI. Walsh, who was fired in January 2003 for allegedly tape-recording a conversation with vice president of player personnel Scott Pioli, had asked for legal protection from the league in order to come forward.

Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was fined $500,000, and the team was fined $250,000 and forfeited its first-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft after a New England employee was caught videotaping New York Jets coaches during the 2007 season opener.

The Patriots and the NFL have both denied reports of the alleged taping of the Rams walkthrough. New England upset the Rams in Super Bowl XXXVI.