Tom Curran • E-mail

PALM BEACH, Fla. - The Spygate drumbeat continued at the NFL owners meetings Monday.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell both were buffeted by questions about the seven-month-old incident that pulled back the rug on the Patriots’ habit of improperly using a sideline camera to record opponents’ defensive signals.

When asked if he felt the practice tainted his team’s previous three Super Bowl wins, Kraft looked at his questioner and said, “You’re, you’re something else.”

But the widely held suspicion that there actually is “something else” will continue until former Patriots employee Matt Walsh tells what he implies he knows about more sinister practices in New England.

Both Kraft and Goodell said they want Walsh to have his say.

“A newspaper (The Boston Herald, on the eve of the Super Bowl) made a damaging allegation about the so-called Matt Walsh affair,” Kraft said. “I believe that it’s something that never happened and if so, why two months later, hasn’t anything come out. We live in a society where people can make allegations and it has to be substantiated.

“I’m looking forward to him speaking and hopefully cleaning this up and completely exonerating us,” Kraft said. “I know we and the NFL have done everything we could do to help his lawyers have him speak. He never signed any confidentiality agreement with us, so as far as I’m concerned, I don’t know why he just doesn’t come out and speak.”

The Patriots might have taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI, the Herald and ESPN reported just before this year's Super Bowl. The Patriots came out with a strongly worded denial. But since then, Sen. Arlen Specter asked for a more complete investigation, including Walsh’s testimony. Walsh, represented by Washington lawyer Michael Levy, was said to be reticent to talk because he didn’t want to be sued by the Patriots for breaking any confidentiality agreements. The wrangling to get him to talk apparently continues.

“Matt is free to speak to anybody, but he has asked for some conditions,” Goodell said. “We have met with over 50 people, and he is the only one indicating he has conditions. He has implied through the media that he may have information I have not been aware of. If he does, I would be anxious to see it.”

As for the notion the Patriots' reputation is permanently stained, Kraft said, “I think we’ve covered the subject. We broke a rule the first week of the season. We were penalized very heavily ($750,000 in fines and the loss of their first-round pick) and look what happened after that game (the Patriots went 18-1, losing in the Super Bowl).

"To me that says more than anything. The players worked very hard and coaches worked very hard and accomplished something remarkable, and I think everything stands on its own after that.”

Asked why he believed Walsh was so reticent to talk, Kraft said, “Why do you think he’s reticent? He’s over his head.”

The issue is sure to continue Tuesday, when Patriots coach Bill Belichick is scheduled to meet with the media.

Goodell not rushing Pacman's return
Even though the Cowboys and Titans are working to hammer out a deal to move still-suspended corner Adam (Pacman) Jones to Dallas, Goodell isn’t accelerating his timetable on lifting Jones’ suspension.

“I said I would make a decision prior to the start of training camp,” Goodell said. “I have seen some of his recent comments on Michael Irvin’s radio show, and some of those comments were encouraging. I’ve always said he has to accept responsibility for his (actions). The Cowboys know the consequences and the status of the player. I don't feel any obligation to do more than I said, to reconsider his status. I said I will make an evaluation or decision by the start of training camp.”

MORE FROM NFL

NFL Section Front

Former Chargers safety Kiel dies NFLPA reportedly ready to oust director Upshaw Expert: Rookie riches not Goodell's top problem Randy Moss buys a NASCAR truck team Curran: NFL coaches on the hot seat in 2008 Favre says reports of comeback 'all rumor' Curran's blog: Favre story won't fade away Opinion: It's time for Cardinals to stick with Leinart NFL Rumors: Cooley opens his own eBay store   Fantasy Fix video: Still 'Super' Chargers? NFL Section Front   Add NFL headlines to your news reader: