NFL: What Is Roger Goodell Afraid Of?

By now, I'm sure most of the sports world is tired of hearing about it. It has been the hot topic of the NFL off season, and it is the story that just won't die.

Yes, bear with me, but I would like to talk about Spygate.

On Tuesday morning, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell met with former New England video assistant Matt Walsh to review tapes Walsh had in his possession.

The tapes supposedly showed no new evidence, and unless Senator Arlen Specter get his wish, Spygate is essentially dead. Goodell felt that the Walsh tapes showed no new information that the league didn't already know about, thus putting the issue to bed.

There is no one happier about this than Roger Goodell. The league was never able to find the smoking gun, that rumored tape of the Rams' Super Bowl walk-through from 2001.

But let's be honest here. The league didn't want to find it.

I know that the Boston Herald apologized for its "false" story about the alleged tape this morning. Understand though, the Boston Herald would not have published its story unless it had a very credible source. The Herald did not fabricate the story from thin air. 

However, the tape was not found, so it must not be true—according to the NFL and the Patriots. But it make me wonder, what was on those destroyed tapes that Goodell had in his possession?

The league released Walsh's video to the media for review late Tuesday morning, but what I am wondering is: Why the inconsistency?

Why release Walsh's tapes, but destroy the ones confiscated from the Patriots video library? Goodell has tap danced all around this issue, giving various excuses.

What was on those tapes? Goodell said it was similar to the same kinds of things presented on Walsh's tapes. But again, what was so kosher about the Walsh tapes, as opposed to those seized from the Patriots. There had to be something.

I understand that the NFL has already fined and punished the Patriots. But I am all for Specter's call for an independent investigation.

Goodell didn't want any part of this from the start. He had been reluctant to meet with Walsh until recently. His punishment was weak and amounted to nothing more then a slap on the wrist to Bill Belichick and the franchise.

Taking away the first pick was a joke. The Patriots still ended up with one of the most coveted linebackers in the draft. Where is the deterrence for any other team doing or attempting to do something similar?

I know that the cheating may have been only a minimal advantage, but when you know what play is being called, that helps. Plus, it is still cheating.

Goodell doesn't want to deal with this issue because he knows the Patriots are the NFL's cash cow.  He knows that if the Patriots dynasty is tainted, then so is the NFL over the past six seasons. He might have to deal with taking away championships, if he dug deeper. He might have to deal with suspensions and more punishment, if he really investigated this.

At the end of the day, nothing more will probably come of this situation. But the commissioner, who has been tough on player conduct, let one of the biggest violations of league conduct go. What is he afraid of?