NFL Commisioner Roger Goodell has upheld the suspensions of Jonathan Vilma, Scott Fujita, Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove according to Albert Breer of NFL.com. In his letter to the players, Commissioner Goodell noted that: “Throughout this entire process, including your appeals, and despite repeated invitations and encouragement to do so, none of you has offered any evidence that would warrant reconsideration of your suspensions. Instead, you elected not to participate meaningfully in the appeal process…†“Although you claimed to have been ‘wrongfully accused with insufficient evidence,’ your lawyers elected not to ask a single question of the principal investigators, both of whom were present at the hearing (as your lawyers had requested); you elected not to testify or to make any substantive statement, written or oral, in support of your appeal; you elected not to call a single witness to support your appeal; and you elected not to introduce a single exhibit addressing the merits of your appeal. Instead, your lawyers raised a series of jurisdictional and procedural objections that generally ignore the CBA, in particular its provisions governing ‘conduct detrimental’ determinations…†Commissioner Goodell reiterated the process followed prior to determining discipline: “In sum, I did not make my determinations here lightly. At every stage, I took seriously my responsibilities under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. I determined the discipline for each of you (1) only after a long, detailed and professional investigation by NFL Security’s experienced investigators;(2) only after the results of that investigation were carefully reviewed by an independent expert, former United States Attorney Mary Jo White;(3) only after I heard the appeals of the Saints’ coaches and staff regarding discipline for their roles in the program;(4) only after representatives of NFL Security, along with Mr. Pash and Mr. Birch, spoke with Players Association attorneys at length regarding the investigation; and (5) only after giving each of you multiple opportunities to meet with the NFL investigators and to share with them your version of the events surrounding the program. The suspensions imposed were reasonable action taken to preserve public confidence in, and the integrity of, the game of professional football.†The commissioner further stated:“While this decision constitutes my final and binding determination under the CBA, I of course retain the inherent authority to reduce a suspension should facts be brought to my attention warranting the exercise of that discretion. The record confirms that each of you was given multiple chances to meet with me to present your side of the story. You are each still welcome to do so.†Source: The Redzone
Playing the role of commissioner, then the role of appeals committee. And from the "hard evidence" they actually have toward this, its not exactly convincing. If it happened, fine punish them. But, Vilma shouldn't get the same time as his coach. I read somewhere before that why should he? He tells them no, he gets benched. Possibly ruins the rest of his career for standing against a coach. A player is told to do what a coach says/acts. Was it still wrong? Yes. This has all become a huge joke, and Goodell has long been an idiot, before this.
Well the NFLPA signed the CBA that gave Roger the power to do all this so the players should kick themselves in the butt for listening to DeMaurice, well everyone except the Steelers...Roger is doing his job, obviously the NFLPA did not... FYI Chipper, I hardly think WE have seen all the evidence and we won't but it should be up to the players to show why they aren't responsible for this. I honestly don't think they would bench a player for saying "I don't want to contribute any money to this, I think it's wrong"...it's obvious the whole team didn't participate, you'd think someone would have the freaking balls to say NO...
I'm pretty sure Vilma got the same fine because he willingly put up his own money as an enticement for someone to hurt a particular player. The when you go to the appeal and they ask why you think your punishment is wrong all you say is you don't have jurisdiction over what happened, not that you didn't do it, not that it didn't happen. Well, they believe they do have jurisdiction and have been presented with no reason to take your appeal seriously. So the verdict stands. All they can do now is go to a court of law and ask if they have jurisdiction. We all know how that is going to end.
NFLPA is at fault for letting Roger have the be all, end all decision. It was a poor decision on the NFLPA's part to approve it.
Innocent until proven guilty should carry into the NFL considering this is a significant issue that will significantly affect the careers and legacy's of all involved. Obviously Roger thinks they've been proven guilty (although who knows, maybe this time he's just sticking to his guns to save his ass), but regardless it never should have been the players job to "show why they aren't responsible" specifically.
Why should the players have to prove something they didn't put in place? And they still have no hard evidence toward the players in this case. We haven't seen all of the evidence, and Roger won't release it. If he has the proof, show it. If they were completely wrong, they yes they should be punished. It is sickening to know these programs exist. But, they have no hard evidence. The evidence they've shown so far is being torn apart, and not even a 100% proof that it's even legit.
CHip, as much as I can't stand Roger, I'm sure he has evidence pinning this to the players punished. If not there will be a massive lawsuit in the near future.
from what i've read the players didn't meet with him as posturing for their lawsuits...something about they didn't want to officially recognize the process or some BS like that
Thing is, there's no reason Roger SHOULD release it to the public: especially with ongoing litigation and further possible litigation.
