Exclusive: Belichick Talks On Spy-Gate
It was one of the biggest sports stories of the year: the New England Patriots, caught video-taping a rival team's coaches as they sent signals to their players. This week, a former employee said the Patriots had been doing it for years. Now, the team's head coach is answering back, in an exclusive interview with CBS News chief investigative correspondent Armen Keteyian.
In the latest episode of the NFL's "Spy-gate," a defiant Bill Belichick decided to break his silence today to challenge the charges and motives of former Patriot's video operator Matt Walsh.
"There was no deception," Belichick said.
It was Walsh who shot video during Belichick's first two seasons in New England in 2000 and 2001. He went public this week, calling the coach "arrogant." Walsh claims Belichick's contention that he just "misinterpreted" the rules was false and that the taping was actually a deliberate, illicit scheme by the Patriots to cheat their way to victory.
Today, in an exclusive interview with CBS News, Belichick fired back at Walsh's.
"I don't know what his agenda is, and again, he was fired for poor job performance," Belichick said. "There's not a lot of credibility. You know he's tried to make it seem like we're buddies and belong to the same book club and all that. And that's really a long, long stretch."
Belichick says Walsh was in no position to know.
"For him to talk about game-planning and strategy and play-calling and how he advised co-ordinators, is - it's embarrassing; it's absurd," Belichick said. "He didn't have any knowledge of football. He was our third video assistant."
During Walsh's entire time with the team, Belichick said he operated under the belief that the NFL's bible - its constitution and bylaws - allowed taping as long as it wasn't used to aid a team during the playing of a game.
He says Walsh was instructed to shoot the game, including hand signals, in plain sight, wearing Patriots gear. And he provided the video to the league - and CBS News - as evidence.
"Why would Matt Walsh say he was told by his superiors to avoid detection, not wear Patriots clothing, and to lie about what he was shooting?" Keteyian asked Belichick.
"I never told anybody to do that," Belichick said. "All I can tell you is what the facts are. You look at the tape. You see him filming the game. You tell me how discreet it is."
Belichick acknowledged when the rule was clarified by the league in September, 2006 - outlawing "videotaping of any type" during a game, he stepped over the line.
"Bill, you got the memo," Keteyian said. "I mean, you couldn't be any more clear than…"
"I made a mistake," Belichick said. "I was wrong. I was wrong."
In the end, "spy-gate" will not likely be remembered for illegal tapes or even Matt Walsh, but for its impact on the legacy of a three-time Super Bowl champion coach and how his team achieved greatness.
"People have said you flat-out cheated," Keteyian said. "What do you say to those people?"
"What I've said to you," Belichick said. "I told you the truth."
Copyright 2011 CBS. All rights reserved. In the latest episode of the NFL's "Spy-gate," a defiant Bill Belichick decided to break his silence today to challenge the charges and motives of former Patriot's video operator Matt Walsh.
"There was no deception," Belichick said.
It was Walsh who shot video during Belichick's first two seasons in New England in 2000 and 2001. He went public this week, calling the coach "arrogant." Walsh claims Belichick's contention that he just "misinterpreted" the rules was false and that the taping was actually a deliberate, illicit scheme by the Patriots to cheat their way to victory.
Today, in an exclusive interview with CBS News, Belichick fired back at Walsh's.
"I don't know what his agenda is, and again, he was fired for poor job performance," Belichick said. "There's not a lot of credibility. You know he's tried to make it seem like we're buddies and belong to the same book club and all that. And that's really a long, long stretch."
Belichick says Walsh was in no position to know.
"For him to talk about game-planning and strategy and play-calling and how he advised co-ordinators, is - it's embarrassing; it's absurd," Belichick said. "He didn't have any knowledge of football. He was our third video assistant."
During Walsh's entire time with the team, Belichick said he operated under the belief that the NFL's bible - its constitution and bylaws - allowed taping as long as it wasn't used to aid a team during the playing of a game.
He says Walsh was instructed to shoot the game, including hand signals, in plain sight, wearing Patriots gear. And he provided the video to the league - and CBS News - as evidence.
"Why would Matt Walsh say he was told by his superiors to avoid detection, not wear Patriots clothing, and to lie about what he was shooting?" Keteyian asked Belichick.
"I never told anybody to do that," Belichick said. "All I can tell you is what the facts are. You look at the tape. You see him filming the game. You tell me how discreet it is."
Belichick acknowledged when the rule was clarified by the league in September, 2006 - outlawing "videotaping of any type" during a game, he stepped over the line.
"Bill, you got the memo," Keteyian said. "I mean, you couldn't be any more clear than…"
"I made a mistake," Belichick said. "I was wrong. I was wrong."
In the end, "spy-gate" will not likely be remembered for illegal tapes or even Matt Walsh, but for its impact on the legacy of a three-time Super Bowl champion coach and how his team achieved greatness.
"People have said you flat-out cheated," Keteyian said. "What do you say to those people?"
"What I've said to you," Belichick said. "I told you the truth."
Isn''t there something more important, like Britney Spears parking a car or Lindsay Lohan passing gas?
The Giants Won the Super Bowl
"It''s gotta hurt, Tom Brady, the Patriots fans, Coach
Belichick going into the Super Bowl undefeated and unable to beat the New York Giants. I think the Super Bowl was the best Super Bowl of all time, and the best win in that no team had ever come into the game undefeated, and the way the Giants won that game it exceeded Joe Montanas comeback against the Bengals in the 80''s. Your comparing the Bengals to the Patriots: Super Bowl 42 was the Giants Game, and "it''s gotta hurt all Patriots fans, players, and especially coaches. www.jamestowncalif.com
Let''s not forget the softball tournament recently where the one team in the field carried the other team''s home run hitter around the bases after she hurt herself and could not run after slamming it over the wall.
This was the epitome of sportsmanship. I nearly cry every time I see the video on You Tube. Just beautiful.
Turned out this was the only over the fence home run the hitter had ever hit, and being her senior year, in a tournament, it was so very special for her. Her own team was unable to help her because of the rules. So the other team came in and gave her what she rightfully earned.
Both teams are winners in my book. There CAN be something to be said for moral victories.
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Posted by fstop100 at 07:31 AM : May 17, 2008
-Yes, fstop100 I agree. I have a 5 and a half month old son, first child. I want him to have compassion and treat all people fairly and be a great example of humanity and leadership. That''s what I want for his future, to instill good values.
However, society doesn''t always reward good values, so while I will teach him how to treat others respectfully, I will also teach him how to watch his back. Unfortunately, that''s the way it is in this day and time. We would hope just being a wonderful human being would be enough, but unfortunately, we also have to be on guard from others who care not about good, solid values.
GREAT STATEMENT. I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. THE PROBLEM IS, IF WE PUNISH ALL THE LIARS AND CHEATERS, WE WOULD NOT HAVE ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATES TO BASH DURNING ELECTION YEAR. BUT HEY, WE HAVE GOT TO START SOMEWHERE. GOOD LUCK.
GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.