NFL: Saints Bounty Thread

[AsylumGuido]

(12-11-2012 04:55 PM)papachaz Wrote:  what you've posted and what I've read are different, I don't know which to believe, and in reality, don't care. Here's the excerpt from what I just read about it.

"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)," Tagliabue continued in his statement.

I still don't see how defamation can be proved, and I do think that this will be appealed out until vilma is out of the NFL. Regardless of what saints fans think, a New Orleans judge is NOT an impartial party. I can't believe the NFL hasn't requested a change of venue.

I'm also wondering, PT clearly said there were grounds for punishment, (fines) so does the NFL now fine them, or just let it go?

For the record, I have been anti Goodell in his handling of suspensions and fines, and his sissification of the No Fun League ever since he started. I was cheering the fans booing him at the draft last year during the lockout. His handling of the lockout, the refs, too harsh of fines for hits that don't even deem a flag in the games and now the way he handled this.....man I wish we had Pete Rozelle back

You notice he said he found there is enough evidence to support Goodell's findings. He is not saying that he agrees with Goodell's finding in totality. That is why he stated the following saying the evidence does not convince him personally of an actual bounty being placed upon Favre.

"Adding to the complexity, there is little evidence of the tone of any talk about a bounty before the Vikings game. Was any bounty pledged serious? Was it inspirational only? Was it typical "trash talk" that occurs regularly before and during games? The parties presented no clear answers. No witness could confirm whether Vilma had any money in his hands as he spoke; no evidence was presented that $10,000 was available to him for purposes of paying a bounty or otherwise. There was no evidence that Vilma or anyone else paid any money to any player for any bounty-related hit on an opposing player in the Vikings game.

"I neither excuse nor condone the alleged offer of a bounty on Favre, whether offered by any player, coach, other Saints' employee or third party. Such conduct has no place in the game of professional football. I cannot, however, uphold a multi-game suspension where there is no evidence that a player's speech prior to a game was actually a factor causing misconduct on the playing field and that such misconduct was severe enough in itself to warrant a player suspension or a very substantial fine. Nor can I find justified a suspension where Williams and other Saints' personnel so carefully crafted an environment that would encourage and allow a player to make such an ill-advised and imprudent offer. I therefore vacate the suspension of Jonathan Vilma."