THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Arlen Specter and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell could meet next week to discuss the league's investigation into spying allegations against the New England Patriots.

The two staffs are working on setting up the meeting, Specter's office confirmed Tuesday.

Last week, Specter, R-Pa., questioned the quality of the NFL investigation and Goodell's decision to destroy video evidence uncovered by the league earlier this season.

Goodell fined New England coach Bill Belichick US$500,000 and docked the team $250,000 and a first-round draft pick after the Patriots were accused of videotaping New York Jets defensive coaches as they signalled to players during the Sept. 9 season opener.

Specter, the top Republican on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, also had raised the possibility of congressional hearings if he wasn't satisfied with Goodell's answers.

The Patriots lost to the New York Giants 17-14 in the Super Bowl on Sunday, ending their bid to become the first NFL team to go 19-0.