"In the last seven days, the lawyers have had intensive and constructive discussions regarding some new and promising approaches," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said in a prepared statement. "They have made substantial progress toward an agreement that will allow Mr. Walsh to be interviewed. Both sides are optimistic that any remaining issues can be addressed successfully and they are committed to reaching a full agreement as promptly as possible."
Walsh is also a central figure in inquiries by Republican Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania and lawyers who have filed class-action suits against the Patriots and coach Bill Belichick in Louisiana and New Jersey. The agreement also may cover the terms of Walsh cooperating in those matters.
"I have consistently asked the NFL to provide appropriate legal protections for Mr. Walsh," said Michael N. Levy of McKee Nelson in Washington, who represents Walsh. "In recent discussions I have had with the league's lawyer, we have made substantial progress toward this end, and I am hopeful that we will be able to craft an agreement with the necessary legal protections so Mr. Walsh can come forward with the truth."
The chief sticking point in the talks had been Walsh's request for the NFL to sign a contract agreeing to indemnify him against any legal and financial damages stemming from Spygate and to pay all his attorney fees. Walsh, who worked as a Patriots video assistant from 1999 to 2001 and was fired by the team in 2003, is an assistant golf pro in Hawaii.
The recent progress indicates both sides have made key concessions since late February, when their latest negotiating letters reflected deep divisions between them. The Globe obtained copies of the letters from a Washington source.
Walsh's lawyer, in a letter Feb. 25 to NFL attorney Gregg H. Levy, described the proposed indemnification agreement as standard for major corporations "and likely similar to the type of protection that [NFL] Commissioner [Roger] Goodell would receive were he threatened with litigation for activities undertaken in the course of his employment."
The NFL, however, considered the proposal anything but standard.
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