Ex-Patriots video aide sends league eight tapes

Former Patriots video assistant Matt Walsh sent the NFL eight videotapes that show New England violated league rules by recording opposing coaches' play-calling signals, Walsh's lawyer said.

The tapes include signals by coaches of five opponents in six games from 2000-02, but don't include video from the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough before the 2002 Super Bowl.

The NFL said it received a letter from Michael Levy, the lawyer for Walsh, detailing the tapes that were scheduled to arrive today at the league's New York offices.

The tapes sent to the NFL show the Patriots recorded signals in regular-season games against Miami, Buffalo, Cleveland and San Diego, and against Pittsburgh in the 2002 AFC Championship Game.

"This is consistent with what the Patriots had admitted they had been doing, consistent with what we already knew," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello told the Associated Press.

Walsh is scheduled to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell next Tuesday.

A woman who was a passenger on Cedric Benson's boat when he was arrested Saturday night in Austin, Texas, said the Chicago Bears running back did not seem intoxicated and did not resist arrest, the Chicago Tribune reported.

Elizabeth Cartwright, 22, a friend of Benson's from the University of Texas, said she thought Benson was getting beaten up by police so he phoned her father and urged him to call 911.

Benson was charged with boating while intoxicated and resisting arrest, but Cartwright said she is willing to support his account.

The Vikings, who did not have a first-round pick in last month's draft and added only five players, were given the second-smallest amount of money for their rookie pool, according to ESPN. The Vikings' pool, as established by the NFL, is $2,055,780. Only Cleveland, which also had five picks, has a lower total ($1,789,980).

Oakland, Jacksonville and San Diego were tied with the Vikings and Browns for the fewest picks this year. The Raiders, however, will have $4,119,700 to work with because it's going to cost them more to sign a rookie class that includes running back Darren McFadden, the fourth overall pick in the draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs, who obtained the Vikings' first-round pick and also two selections in the third round in exchange for Pro Bowl defensive end Jared Allen, were given a league-leading $8,221,790. The Chiefs had 12 picks overall.

• The Vikings said they will hold their veteran minicamp June 6-8.

JUDD ZULGAD

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid's son was sent to state prison after admitting he smuggled 89 prescription pills into a county jail.

Garrett Reid pleaded guilty to drug smuggling charges on Wednesday and faces a minimum of two years in state prison.

The 25-year-old Reid, however, could be released earlier to a less restrictive facility if he is accepted into a drug-treatment program, Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.

Reid is already serving time in the county jail for a heroin-fueled car crash that injured a motorist. Jail officials say he smuggled the pills inside when he surrendered last fall, just before his guilty plea to crash-related charges.

• Offensive tackle David Diehl signed a two-year extension with the New York Giants that will keep him under contract through the 2013 season. Diehl, who had four years left on an extension he signed in 2005, will earn $31 million.

• The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent linebacker Edgerton Hartwell to a one-year contract, hoping he can revive a career beset by injuries in recent seasons. Hartwell, 30, sat out all of last season.