Initially, I was in support of the league...but given that the NFL has yet to show any evidence to anyone, I have slowly grown more skeptical of their allegations. I hope Vilma destroys Roger.
After 30,000 posts, nauseating line by line commentary on each and every happening in the NFL, frantic guesswork regarding every possible outcome on the latest rotowire newsflash, blinding inaccuracy after blinding inaccuracy being juxtaposed with small samples of truth from reality... I think we need to give this one to Donny. He needs it.
Adam Schefter @AdamSchefter [rquoter]Saints players won on appeal... With Saints winning appeal, suspensions are voided as Roger Goodell doesn't have jurisdiction and Stephen Burbank does.[/rquoter]
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/09/07/saints-nfl-suspensions-appeal/index.html Good for them. NFL can eat it.
I am not pulling in favor of the Saints....but this needed to happen to Goodell. From the minute he started his New Sheriff in Town business with arbitrary punishments ahead of actual convictions, I knew this would spiral out of control. Saints are guilty as hell, but the NFL kangaroo court needed a course correction.
So the NFL/Goodell can only suspend those who break the PED rule? Behavioral stuff like Lynch's DUI is now free from league repercussions?
the question is where is the proof? Yeah we have gregg williams soundbite, but where is the PROOF that the players actually had the intent to injure when playing? There is none, and the players know it, that's why they went so hard to appeal cause they know that the NFL has no proof.
lol..the NFL is sending a memo out to everyone they are just going to re-suspend them.. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.co...-suggests-that-suspensions-will-be-re-issued/
Victory is his. But what if 15 years from now Vilma thinks he is being chased by two headed demons and is about to break mentally? I'm sure they wouldn't waste any time filing a lawsuit against the league. Let's be honest, the reason why the commissar is making the league safer and punishing those involved in the bounty gate conspiracy is to avoid future law suits for head trauma. And bounty gate looks really bad when you have former players like art monk going after the nfl. Which one is it? Do you want to be safe or not? You can't have your gatorade and drink it too.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Per source: Saints bounty punishment announcement coming soon. Possible some may have been reduced. Stand by, chumps.</p>— mike freeman (@realfreemancbs) <a href="https://twitter.com/realfreemancbs/status/255754825948614656" data-datetime="2012-10-09T19:41:16+00:00">October 9, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Sources: Goodell upholds Vilma suspension but keeps game checks on PUP; Fujita reduced 3 games to 1, Hargrove reduced 8 to 7, Smith stays 4</p>— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) <a href="https://twitter.com/mortreport/status/255770320559034368" data-datetime="2012-10-09T20:42:51+00:00">October 9, 2012</a></blockquote> <script src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script> NFLPA: "For more than six months, the NFL has ignored the facts, abused the process outlined in our collective bargaining agreement and failed to produce evidence that the players intended to injure anyone, ever. The only evidence that exists is the League’s gross violation of fair due process, transparency and impartiality during this process. Truth and fairness have been the casualties of the league’s refusal to admit that it might have made a mistake. We will review this decision thoroughly and review all options to protect our players’ rights with vigilance." NFL Statement Spoiler
That is pretty damning evidence by the players themselves. I have read a lot of commentary from people criticizing the punishments, in light of the court throwing them out initially. The court did not say Goodell couldn't suspend the players, but the wording and reasoning he used initially fell outside his jurisdiction. It is why I think you see a lot of "conduct detrimental" language in his letters. That does fall under his jurisdiction and he is allowed to punish such conduct. I don't think the players get this overturned (obviously) on appeal, but they do still have a court case pending. However, if Goodell has proof of the conversations he had with the players and they admitted a program existed, then I don't see how they get them overturned in court either.
Goodell recuses himself from bounty appeals. Former NFL Commish Paul Tagliabue will hear the appeals.
Tagliabue affirms factual findings of Commissioner Goodell...concludes Hargrove, Smith, Vilma "engaged in conduct detrimental" and vacates all player discipline. "Unlike Saints' broad organizational misconduct, player appeals involve sharply focused issues of alleged individual player misconduct in several different aspects...My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell's findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines. However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization." "Having reviewed the testimony very carefully, including documentary evidence that is at the center of the conflict, and having assessed the credibility of the four central witnesses on these matters, I find there is more than enough evidence to support Commissioner Goodell's findings that Mr. Vilma offered such a bounty (on Brett Favre)." ----- Our statement on PT's ruling: "We respect Mr. Tagliabue’s decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters. This matter has now been reviewed by Commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Panel, and Mr. Tagliabue as Commissioner Goodell’s designated appeals officer. The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league. Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football." End of NFL statement. -@gregaiello
Kind of what I expected last week. Tagliabue gave the NFL an out from all the mess. Allowing them to end it, while at the same time saying, "See we told you we had evidence". In my mind I think they are guilty, but I also feel like this has drug on way too long.