Sports / NFL Specter: Patriots Spying Since 2000 Senator says NFL chief told him Belichick thought it was legal By Mitch Pritchard, Newser Staff Posted Feb 14, 2008 1:14 AM CST Copied National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell after meeting with Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pa., in Washington Wednesday, Feb. 13, 2008 on Capitol Hill. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook) (Associated Press) The New York Jets were just the tip of the iceberg as far as spying goes for New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Senator Arlen Specter said yesterday that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told him Belichick has been illegally taping opponents defensive signals since 2000, reports the Associated Press. Most of the tapes and other evidence has already been destroyed, however. Specter described Goodel's comments during their meeting yesterday about the NFL's investigation of "Spygate," in which the Pats were caught taping the Jets in the season-opener. Goodell told Specter that Belichick thought his actions were legal. "We are going to agree to disagree on the facts," Goodell said he told Belichick. Specter and Goodell said they may interview Matt Walsh, a former Patriots employee involved the in earlier taping. (More NFL stories.) Report an error