So, What Is Arlen Specter’s Problem?
Muddying yesterday’s Super Bowl spectacle was a media push by Sen. Arlen Specter to point a cynical finger at the Patriots and the NFL. The timing seemed well orchestrated to coincide with the biggest weekend in sports, but the motive still doesn’t seem clear. Is Specter really that vindictive over how the NFL supposedly snubbed an inquiring letter of his in November?
After a Boston Globe report on Saturday alleged that the Patriots’ illegal videotaping went as far back as the 2002 Super Bowl — where they had videos of the St. Louis Rams’ walk-through practices right before the Pats played them (and won) — Specter appeared on both ESPN and CNN yesterday with a boatload of questions for NFL commissioner Roger Goodell about why the evidence from the spygate controversy had been destroyed.
Specter says he wrote Goodell in November about Super Bowl XXXIX, where the Eagles lost to the Patriots by three points, but got no response. He questioned the impact of the NFL’s punishment against the Pats — hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines and a removal of a first-round draft pick — telling reporters, “If this is the toughest penalty in the history of the game, that doesn’t say a whole hell of a lot,” and opined that it seemed as if the league had let the Patriots “investigate themselves.”
The league, in turn, has said it’s willing to talk with Specter, and a meeting may happen as early as this week. Some have suggested Specter has an ulterior motive for bringing this up, but the NFL’s handling of the situation does seem to be suspicious.
This has the makings of becoming something bigger than previously suspected. But does Arlen Specter really want to clean up the league, or does he just hate Roger Goodell?
Were the Eagles cheated? [Inquirer]
Your Tax Dollars at Work [Boston Daily]
February 4th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Specter himself said the Eagles loss in 2005 is a factor. Sour grapes, indeed:
http://tinyurl.com/39banj
February 5th, 2008 at 9:56 am
Why is this a government issue? Were any U.S. laws broken?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:14 am
Doesn’t the government have more pressing issues to examine? Since when does a Senator have jurisdiction over the NFL (or any other national sports league)?
I agree; he must still have sour grapes from the 2004 Eagles loss.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:42 am
This is just another example of a dim-whited lifetime politician with nothing more important to do with our tax dollars. Has anyone ever wished we could just clean out that whole nest of criminals in Washington? They are all liars and thieves, constantly sniffing around for face time, uncaring that they are exposing themselves as the cretins they are , knowing full well they will be re-elected by the dumbed down American public.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:52 am
Johnny cheated on his 4th grade math test and Arlen Specter wants to subpoena Johnny.
February 5th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Senator Specter if you open this NFL issue with a Congressional investgation we want your hand on the bible so we can openly question your ethics. You are just looking for publicity and someone to believe your Eagles really aren’t 2004 Superbowl losers. Get a grip and make an attempt to do the real job voters put you in office to do. Stop wasting our tax dollars!
February 5th, 2008 at 1:24 pm
Can’t all you people see what Specter is doing? He sees how popular Rendell is because he is “THE BIG EAGLES FAN” and is on the post game show on Comcast. Rendell utilized this media spot brilliantly to show the naïve voters how much of a good guy he is and these “birds” in the Philly area responded by overwhelmingly voting him in as governor (the 5 counties around Eagles country carried him). Specter sees this and he wants these voters to do the same for him.
The amazing thing is that this works with so many voters – People get the government they deserve.
Bob Klinicki
West Chester, PA
February 5th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
We’re so sorry the Patriots beat the Eagles in the Super Bowl. I’m sure a dimwit like Specter needs to find a reason other than the fact that they were just beaten that year. It wasn’t the Patriot QB who was vomiting through the entire 4th quarter. Way to waste tax money, Sen Sphincter.
February 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I wouldn’t maintain that all US Congress Representatives and Senators are thieves and such but I would say it’s a least analogous to the fox guarding the hen house.
The thing is that with anti-trust exemptions MLB and the NFL should be held accountable when they break the public trust. Here’s a thought take away the anti-trust exemption and let them play on a level playing field with all other industries. The get Congress back to freaking work doing something contructive in a manner that would honor the institution they makeup.
There must be something more important to do than investigate professional sports.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
My question is how is destroying tapes that the NFL viewed worse then this whole CIA destroying tapes. maybe this joker should stick with the corrupt Government and leave sports alone. The Eagles lost because their QB faded into oblivion like my wish for this REPUBLICAN joke
February 5th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Sen. Specter-here’s a quote from the Boston Globe in 2002. I’d REALLY be interested to hear your comments on this one:
“The Patriots worked on special teams, red zone, short-yardage, and goal-line situations amid a security scare that developed midway through the practice. According to the pool report, inside linebackers coach Pepper Johnson got the attention of team official Berj Najarian and pointed to an open window on the third floor of a nearby brown Colonial, one of five houses just to the west of the field. These houses had concerned the Patriots when they first saw the practice field on Tuesday, but through the first few days of practice, those fears were quelled. A telescope was clearly visible in the window. According to the pool report, 15 minutes later a person appeared at the window, then vanished. League and team officials watched the house with binoculars as the Patriots continued practice, and no one appeared at the window for the session’s remaining 45 minutes.” -Nick Carfado, Boston Globe, 2/2/02
February 5th, 2008 at 7:48 pm
The media hate a one topic news cycle; the cameras were rolling and Specter lips were flapping.
Heaven help the good people of Pennsylvania for tolerating such pomposity!