Walsh interview will air on Gumbel’s HBO show

Former New England video assistant Matt Walsh dismissed Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s attempts to minimize the impact of the team’s illegal taping of opponents’ coaching signals.

” … it was something that they continued to have me do throughout the two years I worked in video, under Coach Belichick,” Walsh told HBO’s Andrea Kremer in an interview scheduled to air Friday on “Real Sports With Bryant Gumbel.”

“If it was of little or no importance, I imagine they wouldn’t have continued to do it, and probably not taken the chances of going down onto the field in Pittsburgh or shooting from other teams’ stadiums the way we did.”

The Spygate investigation began after the NFL confiscated tapes from a team employee who recorded the New York Jets’ defensive signals during the 2007 opener. Belichick was fined $500,000, while the team was fined $250,000 and forced to forfeit its 2008 first-round draft choice.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell essentially declared an end to the case after a 31/2-hour meeting Tuesday with Walsh, who supplied the league with tapes of coaches’ signals made by the Patriots. After meeting with Walsh later Tuesday, Sen. Arlen Specter called for an independent investigation. The senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Specter criticized Goodell, saying he has made “ridiculous” assertions that wouldn’t fly “in kindergarten.”

Ravens, Suggs agree

Baltimore has reached a compromise with franchise player Terrell Suggs, his agent said. Suggs filed a grievance against the team in March after the Ravens tagged him with the one-year, $8.065 million linebacker tag. He was seeking to be paid the defensive end franchise designation of $8,879,000.

Now, Suggs will be paid a one-year tender worth nearly $8.5 million as a hybrid defensive end/linebacker.

Around the league

Kellen Winslow wouldn’t be practicing anyway, but the star tight end’s absence from Cleveland’s organized team activities this week is notable. Winslow, who underwent off-season knee surgery and is recovering in San Diego, has made it clear he wants the Browns to redo his contract. … Prosecutors in Miami say a fifth person has been charged in the slaying of Washington Redskins star Sean Taylor. Miami-Dade County State Attorney’s Office spokesman Ed Griffith says that Timothy Brown, 16, is charged with first-degree murder.