Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh told commissioner Roger Goodell that he passed along information from the Rams' walk-through before Super Bowl XXXVI to a Patriots assistant coach, ESPN's Sal Paolantonio reported.
Paolantonio attributed the information to a league attorney present at the news conference and present in the meeting. The Boston Globe has a transcript here.
Walsh provided this information when questioned by NFL security chief Milt Ahlerich. Two things Walsh said he passed along to a Patriots assistant: Rams running back Marshall Faulk lined up as a kick returner during the walk-through, and the Rams rolled a tight end a certain way based on a certain look from the defense.
We can never know much credence the Patriots might have given to information provided by a low-level video assistant through an assistant coach one day before a game. We can confirm that Faulk returned a single kickoff for a single yard against the Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI. Rams tight ends Ernie Conwell and Jeff Robinson caught four passes for 26 yards.