The Boston Herald newspaper apologized on Wednesday for a false report on the New England Patriots videotaping the St. Louis Rams’ final walkthrough a day before the teams met in the 2002 Super Bowl.‘Sorry Pats’ read the newspaper’s front-page headline a day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said there was nothing new in videotapes he received showing the Patriots taping opposing teams’ signals and that no additional penalty against New England was being considered.

“We own up to the error on the walkthrough story,” the tabloid said in its apology for this year’s February 2 story quoting unidentified sources and published a day before New England’s 17-14 Super Bowl loss to the New York Giants.

Boston newspaper apologizes for false Pats tapes story | Sports | Reuters

U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter on Wednesday urged the National Football League to order an outside probe into the videotaping of opposing coaches’ signals by the New England Patriots, saying the integrity of the game was at stake.Specter, speaking one day after NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell declared the matter closed, said that it would be up to Congress to take a look if the league refuses.

The NFL forbids teams from videotaping opposing coaches’ signals because it can provide an unfair advantage.

U.S. senator seeks outside probe in Patriots spying | Sports | Reuters