Kraft On SpyGate

PALM BEACH, Fla.--The videotaping scandal involving the New England Patriots is what prompted NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to propose measures cracking down on cheating. Yet Patriots owner Robert Kraft said today he's supportive of Goodell's proposals.

"I think everything he's proposing is fine and good," Kraft said. "Everyone wants to make sure everyone is abiding by the rules."

Kraft spoke at some length about the "SpyGate" scandal and its fallout.

"We just finished a season where we won 16 games, having the first perfect season," he said. "We broke a rule in the first week of the season and we were penalized very heavily for that.... To me, we're way beyond that. As I reflect back on the season, I think years from now--and I know our fans feel this way--they'll relish the season. It was pretty remarkable.... I think we've covered the subject. We broke a rule in the first week of the season. We were penalized very heavily.... I think everything stands on its own after that."

Kraft denied that the Patriots taped the St. Louis Rams' walk-through before the Super Bowl in 2002, as reported by the Boston Herald during Super Bowl week. Kraft said he's hopeful that lawyers for the league and former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh will complete an agreement for Walsh to be interviewed.

"A newspaper made a damaging allegation about the so-called Matt Walsh affair," Kraft said. "I believe it's something that never happened. And if so, two months later, why has nothing come out?... I'm looking forward to him speaking and hopefully cleaning this up and completely exonerating us.... He never signed any confidentiality statement with us. So as far as I'm concerned, I don't know why he doesn't just come out and speak."

Kraft said that, to him, the Patriots' season wasn't tainted by the scandal.

"We've moved forward," he said. "Anyone in this world can attack anything. Ultimately it's about substantiation."

By Mark Maske |  March 31, 2008; 7:08 PM ET  | Category:  League , Patriots
Previous: No Change in Timetable for Consideration of Jones's Reinstatement | Next: More Ominous Signs on Labor Front

The comments to this entry are closed.