INDIANAPOLIS (AP) -NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hopes the NFL is close to an agreement that will allow former New England Patriots employee Matt Walsh to tell the league about the tapes he is said to have made of the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl.

``The lawyers are still talking and we're anxious to speak to him. We're anxious to get an agreement to get him to come forth.'' Goodell told the Associated Press on Wednesday before the start of the NFL combine.

``We hope to be abl

Miller started 46 games in three seasons with the Bears and has started 160 of his last 161 overall. A 12-year veteran, he started in Super Bowls with Chicago and the St. Louis Rams.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

BOSTON (AP) -Patriots coach Bill Belichick broke his silence on New England's twin taping controversies, denying he told anyone to tape the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl and apologizing for all the attention generated by Spygate.

Belichick also told the Boston Globe he ``couldn't pick Matt Walsh out of a lineup.'' Walsh, a former Patriots employee, reportedly taped St. Louis' walkthrough practice the day before the Patriots beat the Rams 20-17 in the championship.

``In my entir

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A lawsuit filed Friday by a former St. Louis Rams player and others seeks millions of dollars in damages from the alleged taping of Rams practices by the New England Patriots before the 2002 Super Bowl.

The Patriots won the game 20-17 in the Superdome.

The $100 million suit, filed on behalf of former Rams player Willie Gary in U.S. District Court in New Orleans, names the Patriots, team owner Robert Kraft and head coach Bill Belichick.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All r

Attorney Michael Levy said that to date, the NFL's initial proposals are not sufficient protection for Walsh, who is said to have taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough practice the day before they played the Patriots in the 2002 Super Bowl. The Patriots won 20-17.

``Under our proposal, Mr. Walsh is only protected if he in good faith is truthful. And he will be,'' Levy told The Associated Press on Fr

Walsh told The Associated Press last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

Goodell said he has offered Walsh a deal whereby ``he has to tell the truth and he has to return anything he took improperly'' in return for indemnity. Specter

Matt Walsh, the former Patriots assistant coach who performed some videotaping duties for the team, said last week during the Pro Bowl in Hawaii that he couldn't talk about allegations that he taped a walkthrough practice by the St. Louis Rams before the 2002 Super Bowl. New England, a two-touchdown underdog, won that game 20-17.

He would not say if he had been contacted by the league or by Specter's office.

``We were aware of this before,'' Goodell said, referring to 2002 allegations

Inquiring minds want to know, and this is one scandal that won't go away simply because the NFL wants it to.

- Stop th

Walsh, who did not return phone messages and an e-mail from The Associated Press, reportedly videotaped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough the day before the February 2002 Super Bowl against New England.

``We were aware of this before,'' Goodell said. ``We pursued it and weren't able to get any information that was credible. We were aware of some of the rumors and we pur

Meeks and former New York Giants coach Fassel have each met with Snyder multiple times about the job. Both have had to wait o