Jonathan Vilma Sues Roger Goodell

I don't know if suing Roger Goodell will come amount to everything but I love it.

The suit in U.S. District Court in New Orleans claims Goodell, "relied on, at best, hearsay, circumstantial evidence and lies" in making comments about Vilma while discussing the NFL's bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints.

Goodell has said Vilma was a leader of the team's bounty program that put up thousands of dollars for hits which took out opposing teams' star players from 2009-11, including $10,000 each on then-Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and then-Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre during the playoffs in 2010.

"Commissioner Goodell opted to make very public and unfortunately erroneous allegations against Jonathan," said Vilma's attorney, Peter Ginsberg. "By making these false and public statements, he has significantly harmed Jonathan's reputation and ability to make a living. ESPN

The suit states that Vilma seeks an unspecified sum in excess of $75,000 and alleges that damaging statements by Goodell were made "with reckless disregard of their truth or falsity and/or with malice.

In the 16 page document it says this:
35. Vilma never established, or assisted in establishing, a Bounty Program or any similar program in violation of NFL rules.
36. Vilma never "pledged," made or received payments of any kind encouraging or resulting from an opposing player being carried off the field, i.e., "cart-offs."
37. Vilma never "pledged," made or received payments of any kind encouraging or resulting from an opposing player being unable to return to the game, i.e., "knockouts."
38. Vilma never "pledged," made or received payments of any kind encouraging or resulting from an opposing player being injured.
39. Vilma never "targeted" an opposing player in any manner that would violate NFL rules.
40. Vilma never engaged "in unsafe and prohibited conduct intended to injure players."
41. Vilma never "participate[d] in a program that potentially injured opposing players."
42. Vilma never "embraced" a Bounty Program or any similar program in violation of NFL rules.
43. Vilma never paid, or intended to pay, $10,000, or any amount of money, as an incentive to any player to knock Warner, Favre, or any other player, out of the 2009 Divisional Playoff Game, 2010 NFC Championship Game, or any other game.
44. Vilma never placed $10,000, or any amount of money, on any table or anywhere else as part of a Bounty Program or any other program in violation of NFL rules.

Vilma has put on twitter; "As I've said before..I NEVER PAID, NOR INTENDED TO PAY ANY AMOUNT OF MONEY, TO ANY PLAYER FOR INTENTIONALLY HURTING AN OPPONENT."

If anything, this puts pressure on Roger Goodell to release evidence, because for him to suspend 4 players for an extended amount of time without releasing evidence is absolute bullshit. Even the biggest Goodell supporters have to admit, that's a little fishy.

If Goodell has evidence, I see no reason to not release it. That would squash any type of speculation from people like me and shut up upset players and fans of the New Orleans franchise.

I also hate Goodell, and I don't think he has enough evidence to support his suspensions. I think in Goodell's mind he wanted to flex his commissioner powers and make a statement, rather than fairly judge players. He wanted to make a statement and he made Jonathan Vilma unfairly a scapegoat and suspended him for listening to his coach. Also, in the report he doesn't deny a bounty program, he just denies his involvement, and if he had no involvement in the program the Captain needs to write Vilma a letter of apology.

Goodell must be stopped, and they need for him to not be the judge for appeals as well. The whole system is fucked, and Goodell needs to release evidence.