Saints' Bounty Investigation, Updated: Suspensions Overturned Then Re-Issued

[JO_75]

Vilma requested, then declined an opportunity to be heard by Roger Goodell.

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/04/vilma-requested-then-declined-an-opportunity-to-be-heard-by-goodell/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/04/vilma-requested-then-declined-an-opportunity-to-be-heard-by-goodell/[/url]

[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia,]“Your counsel contacted our office in mid-March to request an opportunity to be heard prior to a determination of discipline,” Goodell writes. “You were offered the opportunity to do so, which your counsel then declined.”[/font][/color]

[color=#000000][font=Georgia,]Goodell also explains that the NFL asked the NFLPA to facilitate a meeting with Vilma, and that the NFLPA declined.[/font][/color][/quote]

GUILTY! GUILTY! GUILTY!

Sorry but this just PROVES Vilma was guilty and did this, if he was innocent he wouldn't have cancelled his meeting with Goodell. Plus if you were innocent, wouldn't you meet with him and do everything to clear your name? Yet he declines it, because your guilty Vilma, Goodell should ban you from the NFL!

But hey Vilma if your innocent like you say, just talk to him... oh wait your not going to because your GUILTY!

[arnie_uk]

i read an article yesterday that vilmas had a history of bounties dating back to the U. He collected $1000 multiple times for hitting a QB, i cant remember his name, but they played him a number of times throughout his college career. The highest bounty was $5000 but he never took the QB out of the game so he never got that.

The source of the article was the man paying the bounties. Some rich club owner down in miami, cant remember his name either lol

[arnie_uk]

[url="http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=ys-jonathan_vilma_allegations"]http://sports.yahoo.com/investigations/news?slug=ys-jonathan_vilma_allegations[/url]

found the article

[ravensdfan]

Sorry but these guys are guilty as sin. Perhaps the NFLPA would be better served to look out for the players that could have potentially had their career ended by this behavior.

Just my opinion.

[JO_75]

For some odd and stupid reason the Louisiana Senate is getting involved and is trying to help the Saints. The Senate passed a resolution 28-1 urging the NFL to "reconsider" the suspensions of the Saints players and coaches.

[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia,]The resolution, which had already passed the State House of Representatives, says this is a matter of concern for the state because [b]“[/b][/font][/color][b][url="http://www.legis.state.la.us/billdata/streamdocument.asp?did=783992"]the New Orleans Saints have produced countless exciting and magical moments[/url][color=#000000][font=Georgia,] for the city of New Orleans, the state of Louisiana, the Gulf Coast region, and the entire country,” and because “the taxpayers of Louisiana have invested millions of dollars into the success of the Saints organization by supporting stadium improvements, practice facilities, and other incentives.”[/font][/color][/b][/quote]

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/15/louisiana-senate-votes-28-1-to-urge-nfl-to-reconsider-saints-suspensions/"]http://profootballta...ts-suspensions/[/url]

Lamest excuse I have heard for passing a resolution.

[arnie_uk]

Vilma is suing Roger Goodell for defamation, he "made public statements concerning Vilma which were false, defamatory and injurious to Vilma’s professional and personal reputation"

Does this mean he isnt actually challenging his suspension?

[Clutch Ravens]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1337282675' post='1079007']
Vilma is suing Roger Goodell for defamation, he "made public statements concerning Vilma which were false, defamatory and injurious to Vilma’s professional and personal reputation"

Does this mean he isnt actually challenging his suspension?
[/quote]

Injurious? Is that even a real word?

Dude deserves his suspension. There's evidence of him personally putting bounties on guys because he's way too soft to ever deliver a huge hit.

[arnie_uk]

[quote name='Clutch Ravens' timestamp='1337285896' post='1079069']
Injurious? Is that even a real word?

Dude deserves his suspension. There's evidence of him personally putting bounties on guys because he's way too soft to ever deliver a huge hit.
[/quote]i duno, ask twitter, albert breer i think tweeted it

[Guest Moderator 6]

This just sheds more light on Vilma's integrity.

[berad]

I used to like Vilma on the Jets... since then, well...

[BirdWatcher]

[quote name='Clutch Ravens' timestamp='1337285896' post='1079069']

Dude deserves his suspension. There's evidence of him personally putting bounties on guys because he's way too soft to ever deliver a huge hit.
[/quote]

Is there really evidence? None of us have actually seen it.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Moderator 3' timestamp='1337288192' post='1079106']
Is there really evidence? None of us have actually seen it.
[/quote]

According to the nfl.com article,

"That evidence also was reviewed by former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White, who told NFL Network that [url="http://www.nfl.com/goto?id=09000d5d828d6d4a"]the information is solid and thorough[/url] and "In my life as a prosecutor, I've had a lot less (evidence) to obtain a conviction. So no question about how solid the evidence is."

[BirdWatcher]

But was that the evidence against Williams? The team as a whole? Vilma specifically? We don't know.

[arnie_uk]

we dont need to know...

[BirdWatcher]

[quote name='arnie_uk' timestamp='1337366049' post='1079613']
we dont need to know...
[/quote]

I would normally agree that this kind of stuff is none of our business, but not in this case. Very serious charges were 'announced' about Vilma without a shred of evidence ever being made public. If the NFL can back up their claims, then they need to prove it. Otherwise Vilma will win his case and we'll all know that it was a pack of lies.

[ravensdfan]

[quote name='Moderator 3' timestamp='1337345854' post='1079381']
But was that the evidence against Williams? The team as a whole? Vilma specifically? We don't know.
[/quote]

The article was specifically about Vilma so I'm guessing the "evidence" includes that which led to his suspension.

[JO_75]

Unnamed Saints players have come out and said that they feel they are being "railroaded."

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/21/report-saints-players-believe-theyre-being-railroaded/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/05/21/report-saints-players-believe-theyre-being-railroaded/[/url]

Cry, Cry, Cry. Would you like some cheese with your wine? Sorry but Gregg Williams is loud and clear in the audio and just take your damn suspensions and move on. The Saints are acting like a bunch of babies right now. I hope Drew Brees leaves New Orleans so he doesn't have to be included in this mess and hopefully the Super Bowl Host Curse hits them hard!

[tigerave]

Theres always a drama with theSaints;it doesnt surprise me at all.Now Brees and his contract,since Katrina Im tired of hearing a/b them.

[Passepartout]

Last thing for a city that has been through so much since Katrina.

[tigerave]

Last Thing,Well be hearing a/b them all next season too.

[TheRavenouseD2008]

more then that they have a Ledger from the bounty pool

[JO_75]

HUGE UPDATE: Bounty Suspensions have been OVERTURNED!

[quote][b][size=4][color=#000000][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana]In a stunning development, players suspended for their roles in the Saints' 2009-2011 Bounty Scandal have had their bans overturned on appeal.[/font][/color][/size][/b]

[b][size=4][color=#0000FF][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif, Verdana]Perhaps the most notable suspension lifted is RE Will Smith's. The Saints' best pass rusher will be able to start Sunday against the Redskins. Browns SLB Scott Fujita and Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma, among others, are now eligible to play football in Week 1.[/font][/color][/size][/b]
[/quote]

[url="http://rotoworld.com/headlines/nfl/240227/shocker-bounty-suspensions-are-overturned"]http://rotoworld.com...-are-overturned[/url]

Did not expect this at all, and it has now come out that Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis' suspensions remain in tact, and only the players suspensions have been lifted. Thoughts?

[Purple Nurple]

Holy crap was the first thought that came to mind. Incredible.

[BirdWatcher]

Overturned by whom?

[Gordo52]

Wow. What about Payton? Or is it all just through the NFLPA?
nevermind.

I wonder if they stayed in shape. I'd expect them to start playing week 2.

[redrum52]

I'm happy the players won. I wonder how Dictator Goodell feels about this. The coaches suspensions will probably be upheld cause you can't any they didn't know.

[JO_75]

[quote name='Moderator 3' timestamp='1347048335' post='1141783']
Overturned by whom?
[/quote]

Appeals Panel.

[quote][color=#000000][font=Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif][size=4]An internal appeals panel has overturned the bounty suspensions imposed on the players, a source with knowledge of the decision tells PFT. The development was first reported by Jim Trotter of SI.com.[/size][/font][/color]
[/quote]

[url="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/07/appeals-panel-overturns-bounty-suspensions/"]http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/09/07/appeals-panel-overturns-bounty-suspensions/[/url]

[IH EART DA RAVENS]

I suppose the pay sheet listing exact payoffs for injuries and audio of players asking for said money wasn't enough. Wonder how this would all have played out if they had taken out Tom Brady instead of Favre or Warner?

[Guest Moderator 6]

Talk about a last minute change for these players. And the guys they will be replacing? I feel bad for them. Did they count towards teh 53 man roster before, or is someone getting cut to make room for them?

[YYZ66]

[quote name='IH EART DA RAVENS' timestamp='1347050496' post='1141812']
I suppose the pay sheet listing exact payoffs for injuries and audio of players asking for said money wasn't enough. [b]Wonder how this would all have played out if they had taken out Tom Brady[/b] instead of Favre or Warner?
[/quote]

They all would have been banned permanently from the NFL.