Who's Sorry Now? Patriots Spygate Edition

So who does one believe in this Matt Walsh vs. Bill Belichick videotaping-the-Rams-Super-Bowl-walkthrough controversy? Is Walsh, as Belichick would have us believe, a rogue agent, out there operating without any decent restraint, totally beyond the pale of any acceptable human conduct? Or is Belichick involved in a Nixonian coverup, with guest star Scott Pioli as Spiro Agnew? One thing that may have me leaning toward the latter ... Big Bill has issued an apology. Not in connection to the Walsh allegations of course; but for the taping incident with the Jets early in the season. Repeating; Belichick has apologized. Yes, the Apocalypse is nigh.

So, enjoy. From Mike Reiss' story in the Boston Globe on Sunday:

The Patriots' videotaping of signals was deemed to cross the line, which Belichick apologized for yesterday. "I respect the integrity of the game and always have and always will," he said. "I regret that any of this, or to whatever extent it has in any way brought that into question or discussion or debate. The decision was made by the commissioner, the practice was immediately stopped, and we're not doing it. ... I take responsibility for it. Even though I felt there was a gray area in the rule and I misinterpreted the rule, that was my mistake and we've been penalized for it. I apologize to everybody that is involved — the league, the other teams, the fans, our team, for the amount of conversation and dialogue that it's caused."

Well and good. But here's the problem Belichick runs into with his newest controversy. If there is indeed a tape out there of the Rams' walkthrough prior to the 2002 Super Bowl, does anyone believe that Bill had no knowledge of it, and that he could not, as he put it, "pick Walsh out of a lineup?" There's just no plausible deniability; Belichick attends to the details of his team the way that Tony Shalhoub attends to the washing of his hands. All I'm saying is that there may be more juicy apologies in store here.

And speaking of that ...

• "Sorry we tried to make up for years of Duke favoritism all in one night." — ACC officials

• "Sorry we're changing our name to Chico's Bail Bonds" — Detroit Red Wings

• "Really sorry we have an Ultimate Fighting section now." (Bows head, shuffles away slowly) — MSNBC

• "I regret nothinnnnnnnggggggggggggggggggggggg!"

Belichick And Pioli Speak Out [Boston Globe]