1. Welcome! Please take a few seconds to create your free account to post threads, make some friends, remove a few ads while surfing and much more. ClutchFans has been bringing fans together to talk Houston Sports since 1996. Join us!

NFL Suspends Four Players in Saints' Bountygate

Discussion in 'Football: NFL, College, High School' started by emjohn, May 2, 2012.

  1. rezdawg

    rezdawg Member

    Joined:
    Feb 15, 2000
    Messages:
    18,351
    Likes Received:
    1,149
    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.
     
  2. Honey Bear

    Honey Bear Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2006
    Messages:
    5,102
    Likes Received:
    555
    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.
     
  3. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2003
    Messages:
    48,989
    Likes Received:
    19,932
    Damn right, gimme my McFlurry.
     
  4. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    114,379
    Likes Received:
    177,375
    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]
     
  5. macalu

    macalu Member

    Joined:
    May 19, 2002
    Messages:
    16,942
    Likes Received:
    836
    Roger Goodell not impressed.
     
  6. TheRealist137

    TheRealist137 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Messages:
    35,461
    Likes Received:
    22,625
    Get pwned Roger hahaha!
     
  7. BigBird

    BigBird Member

    Joined:
    Jun 26, 2012
    Messages:
    4,444
    Likes Received:
    286
    wow, all I can say is wow.
     
  8. DonnyMost

    DonnyMost Member
    Supporting Member

    Joined:
    May 18, 2003
    Messages:
    48,989
    Likes Received:
    19,932
    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/09/07/saints-nfl-suspensions-appeal/index.html

    Good for them. NFL can eat it.
     
  9. Lil Pun

    Lil Pun Member

    Joined:
    Oct 6, 1999
    Messages:
    34,143
    Likes Received:
    1,038
    So what about Payton, does he have any options?
     
  10. emjohn

    emjohn Member

    Joined:
    Jul 29, 2002
    Messages:
    12,132
    Likes Received:
    567
    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.
     
  11. vinsensual

    vinsensual Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2008
    Messages:
    8,460
    Likes Received:
    794
    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?
     
  12. TheRealist137

    TheRealist137 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 27, 2009
    Messages:
    35,461
    Likes Received:
    22,625
    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.
     
  13. wallyj12

    wallyj12 Member

    Joined:
    Jul 4, 2006
    Messages:
    2,601
    Likes Received:
    356
  14. conquistador#11

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2006
    Messages:
    39,185
    Likes Received:
    28,360
    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.
     
  15. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    114,379
    Likes Received:
    177,375
    <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p>Per source: Saints bounty punishment announcement coming soon. Possible some may have been reduced. Stand by, chumps.</p>&mdash; 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>
     
  16. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    114,379
    Likes Received:
    177,375
    <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>&mdash; 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

     
    #36 J.R., Oct 9, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 9, 2012
  17. Castor27

    Castor27 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2001
    Messages:
    10,197
    Likes Received:
    1,634
    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.
     
  18. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    114,379
    Likes Received:
    177,375
  19. J.R.

    J.R. Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2008
    Messages:
    114,379
    Likes Received:
    177,375
    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
     
  20. Castor27

    Castor27 Moderator
    Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2001
    Messages:
    10,197
    Likes Received:
    1,634
    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.
     

Share This Page