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.

More Goodell Douchebaggery

I'm sure you're getting sick of my Goodell hatred and I'm sure you just think I'm incredibly biased due to my affiliations with the Steelers and Saints, however, what was the NFL thinking when the voted on and passed Goodell to be the judge and jury when it comes to suspensions and appeals. Only one team (The Steelers) voted against this and now every player is going to be unfairly punished because the Dictator is an ego maniac.

I can just imagine Goodell being one of those Sheriffs in old western movies where the deputy is also the judge. Rick Reilly's article put it perfectly;
And here was the most hilarious part. The NFL hired a former U.S. attorney named Mary Jo White to "review" the evidence, and you'll never believe what she concluded. She said the NFL was right. "[The players] always had the option to say no," she wrote. "They didn't say no." And who knows the intense peer and coach pressure of an NFL locker room better than Mary Jo White?


On May 7, Vilma and his former teammates announced they would appeal their suspensions.


So who does somebody like Vilma go to when he thinks the sentence handed down by Goodell is unfair? Who does he see to get his hands on the evidence that Goodell will show Mary Jo White but not him?
Goodell, of course.


Goodell: Jonathan, we have evidence.
Vilma: What? What evidence?
Goodell: You don't get to see it. You're suspended one year.
Vilma: What? I appeal!
Goodell: No problem.
(Goodell flips "Commissioner" sign around on his desk to the other side. It reads, "Appeals Court.")
Goodell: Court's in session. What's your beef?

It is almost laughable that he will be able to be a fairly judge not just these suspensions, but ANY suspensions or penalties going forward. I mean remember there's no video of any Saints player making illegal hits on Brett Favre or Kurt Warner in the two bounty games in question. To be ordered to carry out a hit and then doing it are two different things.

What Goodell has set up is absolute power and almost like a Castro like dictatorship. And the scary thing about this, is that it's 9 more years of this nonsense because that is when the CBA runs out. Also the only reason why teams had to vote on Goodell getting absolute power, is because he forced teams to either vote on an 18 game season OR him to be a 1 man judicial system. That's just fucked to me and Goodell must be stopped.

Breaking News: NFL Suspends Vilma For 2012 Season (2 UPDATES)

Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints' bounty program. Three other players are also suspended.

We are waiting to hear the rest, but this is obviously a big deal. Vilma was set to make $5.5 million this year, so he is losing all of that.

***UPDATE***

The other 3 players suspended are Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, and Will Smith. Fujita (now with the Browns) got a 3 game suspension without pay, Hargrove (now with the Packers) is suspended without pay for the first eight games, Will Smith of the Saints is suspended without pay for the first four games.

***UPDATE 2***

"In assessing player discipline, I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation," Goodell said in a statement.

Added Goodell: "No bounty program can exist without active player participation. The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules (WEEI)."

Delmon Young Suspended 7 Games

Tigers outfielder Delmon Young has been suspended by Major League Baseball for seven days without pay, retroactive to April 27. Young can be reinstated from the restricted list before the Tigers' game on May 4.

Young was arrested Friday morning on charges of misdemeanor aggravated harassment in New York. He has also been accused of yelling anti-Semitic epithets. There are also reports that Young was "highly intoxicated."

"Those associated with our game should meet the responsibilities and standards that stem from our game's stature as a social institution," commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. "An incident like this cannot and will not be tolerated. I understand that Mr. Young is regretful, and it is my expectation that he will learn from this unfortunate episode (Sportsline).”

I have to admit I thought he would get more then this. You can't go around just yelling anti-Semitic rants. It will be interesting to see how he and the Tigers handle this after his return. My guess is that the media will be all over him about his views on any Jewish issues that arise. Hopefully he is smart enough to just say no comment and hope this whole thing blows over.

Delmon Young has all the talent in the world, but still really hasn't done that much with it. He is still just 26, but now that I know he is not just an underachiever, but an anti-Semitic douchebag, I just can't standup for him anymore.

Saying that....

There has been one rumor that is very interesting...

"Ken Davidoff of the New York Post suggests the Tigers could release Delmon Young to make a statement about the conduct they expect from their players without hurting their team in the standings."

I really don't believe it, but IF it was to be true would the Red Sox not make a lot of sense. Sure maybe not the greatest PR move, but with Crawford out for at least 3 months and Ellsubury down till June or so, wouldn't Young make a lot of sense? His bat could be very dangerous at Fenway. Once again, I really don't see the Tigers cutting up, but I guess it's something to keep an eye on.

David Stern: "Rondo Obviously Bumped Him" (UPDATED)

NBA commissioner David Stern, appearing on an ESPN Radio show Monday morning, implied the league won't buy Rajon Rondo's explanation that he did not intentionally make contact with referee Marc Davis during Sunday's game in Atlanta. Rondo appears headed for a suspension of at least one game.

"I don't want to pre-judge on what the recommendation is going to be," Stern told Colin Cowherd. "But as a fan, he obviously bumped him. And you know what happens with respect to that (WEEI)."

We all know Rondo bumped him, and we all know what happens when you bump a ref. You can say it was a bad call, you can say the refs were terrible that whole game (they were), but you can't touch a ref in any sport. Rondo will not be playing in Game 2, and now you have to question if he will be playing in Game 3.

I think it's stupid that Stern is ever talking about this before a decision has come out. I think that is irresponsible. The bottom line is Rondo did a stupid thing, and it's going to really hurt the Celtics. Hopefully it's just one game, because I don't see the Celtics winning without him.

My honest opinion is that Rondo gets two games. I really hope I am wrong, but it isn't Rondo's first time, and with Stern already shooting off his mouth I just don't see this going well. We should hear later today, and I'll update this post when it is announced.

***UPDATE***

Rondo has been suspended 1 game, which I think is probably the best outcome we could've hoped for.

Backstrom Has Hearing Scheduled

"According to a tweet from TSN's Bob McKenzie, the Capitals have been informed that center Nicklas Backstrom will have a hearing with the NHL, likely on Wednesday, over his cross-check to the face of Rich Peverley Monday.

After the final seconds ticked off the clock in Boston's 4-3 victory over the Capitals in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals, Backstrom cross-checked Peverley in the face and was given a match penalty, which carries with it an automatic suspension pending review of the league (WEEI)."

This is actually going to be a real good test for the NHL. We are going to find out if "superstars" get special treatment. This is blatantly something that should carry a 1 game suspension, I don't think he should get any more than that, but he should get that 1 game. The league needs to get rid of these head blows, especially when the guy isn't expecting it. We should find out sometime tomorrow if he is suspended, so we'll keep you posted.

Audio Tape Exposes Gregg Williams

"Documentary filmmaker Sean Pamphilon was following around the former Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffered from ALS. And during the final game of the season, he captured audio of Gregg Williams telling his players to injure members of the 49ers, uploaded it to YouTube and passed it along to Yahoo Sports Michael Silver. In the audio, Williams allegedly makes reference to a cash payment and repeatedly uses the word "kill" in addition to violent and intense language.

“At one point Williams says, ‘We hit [expletive] Smith right there' – then he points under his chin [and continues] – ‘remember me.' Then he rubs his thumb against his index and middle fingers – the cash sign – and says, ‘I got the first one. I got the first one. Go get it. Go lay that [expletive] out,'" Pamphilon told Silver.

Williams also made specific reference to 49ers running back Frank Gore and what we can only hope is a metaphorical decapitation.

"We've got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore's head," Williams said. "We want him running sideways. We ... want ... his ... head ... sideways."

Williams catchphrase on defense is "kill the head and the body will die" -- until he was busted for the bounty programs he (allegedly?) ran for multiple teams, it was viewed as a slightly crazy but effective motivational tactic (Sportsline)."

"Williams brought up the name of wide receiver Michael Crabtree, hinting about a severe knee injury, and told his players to "put a lick on" receiver Kyle Williams in an effort to “find out” if he was still suffering from the effects of a late-December concussion (WEEI)."

Sorry for the long paste job here, but kind of needed you to read the whole thing. I think this will be the last nail in the coffin for Williams, who is suspended indefinitely already. I would actually kind of be shocked if he is ever back, but I don't think he will be back for at least 2 years. There is no mention yet of Payton in this tape, but you would assume he has heard these kind of rants before. I don't see Payton getting a longer suspension or anything, but I this will all but kill his appeal of this.

Do I think the Saints were the only team doing this? No, but I think they were warned, I think that the most important thing to the NFL now is player safety, and I think the Saints did this the most blatantly. That's why they are getting hit this hard.