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League source: Pats taped Miami offensive signals

A video tape turned over by former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh may show that head coach Bill Belichick's staff illegally recorded its opponent's offensive signals, too. (AP File Photo)

BY BOB GLAUBER | bob.glauber@newsday.com

9:03 PM EDT, May 9, 2008

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The Patriots recorded signals of the Dolphins' offensive signals during a game in 2001, a league source confirmed Friday, although it is uncertain whether the taping will result in further sanctions against New England or coach Bill Belichick.

ESPN.com reported Friday that one of the tapes submitted by former Patriots video employee Matt Walsh included the offensive signals. Previously, it was believed the Patriots had taped only opposing teams' defensive signals.

As a result of the Spygate episode, which began when the Patriots were caught videotaping the Jets' defensive signals in a Week 1 game last season, Belichick was fined $500,000, the team was docked an additional $250,000, and the Patriots' own first-round pick in 2008 was forfeited.

League spokesman Greg Aiello said Friday that it was "premature" whether any of the information Walsh submitted to the NFL will result in further sanctions. Aiello confirmed that the penalties that resulted from last season's investigation into the Patriots' videotaping procedures covered defensive and offensive signals. It is unclear whether Belichick informed the league that he had also taped opposing teams' offensive signals.

One of Walsh's tapes was of the AFC Championship Game after the 2001 season, in which the Patriots beat the Steelers. The existence of that tape had already been known, and the league informed Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) about it. Steelers owner Dan Rooney called the taping of those signals a "non-issue." The Patriots had included the existence of that tape in notes they provided the league in September.

Walsh has not provided tape tape of a walk-through of the Rams' practice the day before the Patriots' first Super Bowl win after the 2001 season. Belichick has consistently denied he taped the practice. Had there been a tape of that practice, there is a likelihood that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell would have slapped Belichick with a lengthy suspension, perhaps for a year. There is a good chance Belichick would have lost his job over such a tape, since it went beyond the taping of opposing teams' signals.

Walsh is scheduled to meet with Goodell on Tuesday morning to discuss the content of all of the tapes.

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