Boston, MA -- (Sports Network) - The Boston Herald apologized to its readers and the New England Patriots for shoddy reporting during the NFL's "Spygate" affair.

On February 2, the newspaper reported that a member of the New England Patriots' video staff, Matt Walsh, taped the St. Louis Rams' walkthrough on the day before Super Bowl XXXVI.

On Tuesday, Walsh met with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for over three hours to discuss what he knew about the team's videotaping practices.

Walsh sent the NFL eight tapes showing that the Pats recorded play-calling signals by coaches of five opponents over six games between 2000 and 2002.

However, the tapes did not include video of the Rams' walkthrough practice prior to Super Bowl XXXVI.

"It was clear there was not an overt attack or access to the Rams walkthrough," Goodell said. "No one asked (Walsh) to tape the walkthrough and he's not aware of anyone else who taped the walkthrough."

The Herald then admitted that it neither possessed nor viewed a tape of the Rams' walkthrough before Super Bowl XXXVI and never spoke to anyone who had.

"We should not have published the allegation in the absence of firmer verification," the newspaper said in a statement on its Web site.

"The Boston Herald regrets the damage done to the team by publication of the allegation, and sincerely apologizes to its readers and to the New England Patriots owners, players, employees and fans for our error."