New England Patriots

After meeting with former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell effectively closed the book on Spygate. Goodell also determined that a tape of the St. Louis Rams' practice before Super Bowl XXXVI never existed, prompting the Boston Herald to issue an apology for publishing the rumors "in the absence of firmer verification." More »

A murmur rippled across the room as the NFL revealed the tapes provided by former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh. The cause was not some new revelation of wrongdoing by New England, which was caught last September recording opposing coaches' signals in violation of league rules. More »

A former New England Patriots assistant has given the NFL eight videotapes showing that the Pats broke the rules by recording rival teams' play-calling signals—but the rumored tape of the St. Louis Rams isn't among them, the New York Times reports. There had been reports that the worker had a video of the Rams' practice the day before the 2002 Super Bowl. More »

Still red-faced from the Patriots' "Spygate" videotaping scandal last season, the NFL is searching for ways to rebuild fan trust and protect the "integrity of the game," reports the Washington Post . Commissioner Roger Goodell has outlined a plan aimed at stemming cheating that is expected to get the green light at the annual owners' meeting in Miami Monday. More »

Troubled cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones may be set to become a Dallas Cowboy, a source tells the Dallas Morning News . The suspended Titans player has expressed a desire to play for the Cowboys, and his agent Manny Arora notes that "If Tennessee chooses not to have him on their roster next year, it's in their best interest to trade him." More »

After flirting with several other teams, New England's record-setting receiver Randy Moss has decided to stay put to the tune of $27 million over three years, reports the Boston Herald . The price amounts to a discount of sorts—Moss had received a more lucrative offer from the Eagles over the weekend. More »

Free agents can mean the difference between a losing season and the Super Bowl. This year’s crop is wanting, but quality is available. Here’re 10 of the best: Patriot CB Asante Samuel: A playmaker Patriot WR Randy Moss: Stands pat? Bears LB Lance Briggs: Washington bound? Steelers OG Alan Faneca: Bear? Jet? Cardinal? Charger RB Michael Turner: In Tomlinson’s shadow More »

A former St. Louis Rams player and some fans are trying to make Spygate very costly for the New England Patriots, reports the Boston Herald . A lawsuit was filed yesterday in U.S. District Court in New Orleans seeking $100 million from the Patriots for taping the Rams last walk-through practice before the 2002 Super Bowl. The Patriots upset the Rams 20-17. More »

A small town in Nicaragua is celebrating New England's victory in the Super Bowl, the New York Post reports, with children donning T-shirts celebrating the NFL's first-ever 19-0 season. Yes, yes, the Giants were the actual victors Feb. 2, but the gear had to be ready for a Patriots win—and it was donated to a charity benefiting the needy kids. More »

The New York Jets were just the tip of the iceberg as far as spying goes for New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Senator Arlen Specter said yesterday that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him Belichick has been illegally taping opponents defensive signals since 2000, reports the Associated Press. Most of the tapes and other evidence has already been destroyed, however. More »

How can Patriots fans avoid blaming golden boy Tom Brady for his lackluster Super Bowl performance? Point at the woman, of course. Online posters have begun calling Gisele Bundchen a bad-luck charm à la Jessica Simpson, and even the Boston Herald has suggested that Brady's lady somehow contributed to New England's 17-14 Super Bowl loss, ABC News reports. More »

Tom Brady is used to pulling off daring fourth-quarter rescues, but not last night. Was he to blame? The Providence Journal ’s Robert Lee doesn’t think so, and neither does Wes Welker. “He’s everything you want in a quarterback,” the receiver said. "There was no rabbit in the hat," writes the Boston Globe's Bob Hohler. More »

Sure, Plaxico Burress' touchdown grab gave the Giants their shocking upset, but the catch of catches, the highlight of highlight reels, was David Tyree's impossible-looking snatch earlier that drive. On third-and-5 with Patriots Rodney Harrison and Asante Samuel looming, Tyree climbed a ladder in midair to come down with a 32-yard gain clutched against his helmet, the AP reports. More »

Tom Brady had one of his trademark brilliant fourth-quarter comebacks—but three minutes later, Eli Manning did, too, and the Giants shocked the formerly perfect Patriots, 17-14. Manning hit Plaxico Burress, who had guaranteed a Giants win several days before, on a 13-yard fade with 35 seconds left, and the Patriots were unable to answer. More »

Just when you thought the media had largely lost interest in Cameragate, Bill Belichick's New England juggernaut has been hit with a new allegation concerning spy videotaping. An unnamed source told the Boston Herald that a Patriots staffer hung around to capture the Rams on tape the night before 2002's Super Bowl XXXVI, which the underdog Pats won. More »

Seems everyone has an idea about how things will go down tonight in Phoenix. The Vegas line currently hovers around 12 points in the Patriots' favor, but the Giants' Plaxico Burress has already promised a 23-17 upset victory by his team. ESPN's experts don't have a consensus prediction, although the overwhelming favorite seems to be the Pats. More »

What has been a rough season for the Washington Redskins got a little brighter yesterday when both Darrell Green and Art Monk were elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, reports AP. New England linebacker Andre Tippett, San Diego/San Francisco defensive end Fred Dean, Minnesota/Denver tackle Gary Zimmerman and  Kansas City cornerback Emmitt Thomas were also elected. More »

Arlen Specter wants to know why the NFL destroyed evidence of spying by the New England Patriots, the New York Times reports. The Republican senator from Pennsylvania says commissioner Roger Goodell will eventually be called to answer for the tapes' destruction in the context of the league’s antitrust exemption. Goodell defended himself today, calling his action "the appropriate thing to do." More »

If you're a business with a stake in Super Bowl revenues, a good weekend lies ahead. Sunday's game is an economic powerhouse, and with millions in ticket sales and merchandising, the NFL is actually one of the lesser winners, BusinessWeek reports. Broadcaster Fox, for example, stands to make a mint: Last year, CBS took in $243 million in ad revenue. More »

In the final game of a historic season, it is a remarkable irony that Patriots coach Bill Belichick must defeat the team he once helped lead to greatness: the Giants, with whom he won two Super Bowls as defensive coordinator under Bill Parcells. Though he has won three more with New England, Belichick's New York defenses remain his bellwether of excellence. More »