The New England Patriots said reports of...

The New England Patriots said reports of wide receiver Irving Fryar gambling on NFL games last season are not supported by evidence up to this point.

A Boston Globe story reported that NFL investigators last month apparently presented gambling information about Fryar, and possibly other Patriots, to Coach Raymond Berry.

A statement released by the Patriots said, in part: “ . . . it is tragic when a newspaper takes what is an unsubstantiated rumor--and nothing more than that--and puts it out for public display and in so doing, ruins a person’s name.”

The New York Times reported Friday that Sherwood Blount, an agent recently retained by Fryar, said Fryar has denied that he placed bets on NFL games. Blount said Fryar “informed us that there is no truth to the allegations. We stand by our client and we will do everything we can to help him with this matter.”