In a sharp rebuke to his successor's handling of the NFL's bounty investigation, former commissioner Paul Tagliabue overturned the suspensions of four current and former New Orleans Saints players in a case that has preoccupied the league for almost a year. Tagliabue, appointed by commissioner Roger Goodell to handle the appeals, still found that three of the players engaged in conduct detrimental to the league. He said they participated in a performance pool that rewarded key plays -- including bone-jarring hits -- that could merit fines. But he stressed the team's coaches were very much involved. The entire case, he said, "has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization." The team's "coaches and managers led a deliberate, unprecedented and effective effort to obstruct the NFL's investigation," the ruling said. Source: ESPN.com
I am sorry but how do you find there is truth in what RG, not RGIII, said but not do anything about it. He vacated the findings so Vilma will drop his lawsuit. Nothing was gained. Just a lot of wasted time. He basically said they were guilty but he is giving them a pbutt.
Or he doesn't agree but just won't throw Goodell under the bus which would undermine his credibility on everything forever.
according to ESPN,he is still pursuing the lawsuit. Basically,PT Found that the saints were guilty,but he did not have enough evidence to prove it,and because the coaches manipulated it so bad,they could not impose any fines or sanctions against the players.
[ame=http://www.nfl.com/videos/new-orleans-saints/0ap2000000109586/Tagliabue-vacates-player-suspensions]Tagliabue vacates player suspensions - NFL Videos[/ame]
[ame=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000109589/Casserly-explains-Tagliabue-decision]Casserly explains Tagliabue decision - NFL Videos[/ame]
[ame=http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-videos/0ap2000000109735/Taglibue-s-final-decision-on-Saints-bounty-case]Taglibue's final decision on Saints bounty case - NFL Videos[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JMcUNEs8Jq4&feature=g-subs-u]Player Suspensions Vacated - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gjvZ2qrC5RY&feature=g-subs-u]Woodson: Bounty Case Mishandled - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNXcQKSCoe8&feature=g-subs-u]Saints players cleared in bounty case - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWAR8SFuxiI&feature=g-subs-u]Pierce: A Black Eye For The League - YouTube[/ame]
