Way back in September 2007, Bill Belichick issued a short, written apology "to everyone who has been affected, most of all ownership, staff and players," in the wake of the videotaping scandal. Once he stepped in front of the podium that day, he said, "I'll make a comment when it's over."
That was that, but apparently, it wasn't satisfactory for Goodell.
In Peter King's extensive feature about the commissioner in this week's issue of Sports Illustrated, Goodell said he felt "deceived" by Belichick's actions following the punishment enforced by the league.
"I was given assurances that [Belichick] would tell his side of the story," Goodell told SI, according to ESPN.com's Mike Reiss. "He went out and stonewalled the press. I feel like I was deceived."
Much like the videotaping controversy itself, Belichick said he thought he had interpreted Goodell's message properly.
"I did not make any assurances about thoroughly discussing the subject publicly," Belichick told SI. "I said I would address it following the league's review. I then did that in a way I thought was appropriate. I don't think that was deceptive."
Goodell issued a $500,000 fine to Belichick and a $250,000 fine to the team, in addition to stripping the Patriots of their first-round draft pick in 2008.
In his original statement, Belichick apologized but claimed the actions didn't help the team gain a competitive advantage.
"We have never used sideline video to obtain a competitive advantage while the game was in progress," he said. "Part of my job as head coach is to ensure that our football operations are conducted in compliance of the league rules and all accepted interpretations of them. My interpretation of a rule in the Constitution and Bylaws was incorrect."
King explains that the message to publicly apologize verbally was not directly given to Belichick, as Goodell told Kraft the request.
