Senator should be tackling real issues

PHOENIX

In case Sen. Arlen Specter didn't receive the memo, the country is at war and the economy is failing and education is deteriorating and the housing market is dreadful and health-care costs are outrageous and many are left with the choice of buying groceries for the week or a gallon of gas.

Broad perspectives and political agendas mix like Metallica and John Coltrane. The idea of Specter being genuinely concerned about why NFL commissioner Roger Goodell destroyed evidence of the Patriots' early-season cheating ways when there are far more serious issues of national importance screams of your typical posturing moment.

Specter might not ultimately like the answer he receives, but gosh darn it, there has to be a photo op in this somewhere for him. He has made a career of showboating, and this smells no different.

Goodell had his annual State of the NFL Super Bowl news conference Friday, and for 50 minutes received more questions about Spygate than any other topic, which proves the matter is considered far from dead in several NFL cities and reiterates the notion he overall has done a commendable job running America's most powerful sports league the last two years.

Despite how soft he appeared Friday.

Goodell's explanation for destroying the six tapes and numerous notes -- that he was convinced New England had turned over all of its cheating data and didn't want any additional leaks -- is frail at best.

At worst, it draws suspicion given Goodell is an employee of the NFL and the cheating team involved is headed by the league's most powerful owner (Robert Kraft).

What would have been the harm of locking the evidence up and guaranteeing its protection? The NFL is a multi-billion dollar corporation. What, it can't afford a good enough safe to keep out some lackey who wants to sell the stuff to a TV network?

"The reason I destroyed the tapes is they were totally consistent with what the team told me," Goodell said. "It was the appropriate thing to do, and I think it sent a message. The actual effectiveness of taping and taking of signals from opponents -- it is something done widely in many sports. I think it probably had limited, if any effect, on the outcome of games.

"That doesn't change my perspective on violating rules and the need to be punished."

Cheating opens the gates for conjecture. Whether the Patriots did more of it than the games in 2006 and 2007 Goodell spoke about or whether any of it had a bigger influence on outcomes than he suggests is certainly debatable.

Already, one former video assistant with the Patriots has hinted to ESPN.com that the cheating dates much longer than two seasons, and yet the top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee initiating his weight into the saga is serious overkill.

Specter is a lifetime fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, who lost to the Patriots in the Super Bowl three years ago. Shouldn't his intentions for pursuing the matter be questioned?

It's one thing for the government to intervene in matters of steroids and human growth hormone, the use of which is illegal. It's another for officials such as Specter to poke their noses into an issue that should be handled entirely within Goodell's office.

This is a good commissioner who has a chance to be great. He has been incredibly tough on player conduct. He rightly eliminated the failing NFL Europe. He increased access to assistant coaches. He promotes and protects the NFL shield the way a mother watches over her child. He spoke Friday about things such as possibly reseeding the playoffs to make certain that more late-season games carry weight.

Also, if anyone has a chance to help the league avoid a labor disaster when it's officially time to confront those revenue-sharing issues and a new collective bargaining agreement, it is someone with Goodell's proven negotiating skill. He has big, important, global ideas. It just happens that Friday wasn't his best moment and destroying that evidence not his smartest move.

"I'll be more than welcome to speak to (Specter)," Goodell said. "I'm not sure there isn't a coach in the league who doesn't expect their signals are being intercepted in some way by other teams.

I think it was coach (Bill) Parcells who said any coach who doesn't expect his signals to be stolen is stupid.

"(But) I think what (New England) did this season was done within the rules on a level playing field, and I think their record is extraordinary. There is no indication that (taping) benefited them in any of their Super Bowl victories."

You have every right to question that. Debate it. Distrust it. So does Arlen Specter.

But that's where the senator's involvement should end, unless he can suddenly help more people purchase a home and fill their tanks.

Ed Graney's column is published Sunday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday. He can be reached at 383-4618 or egraney@reviewjournal.com.