All suspensions vacated.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/11/nfl-declares-victory-retreats/NFL declares victory, retreats
Posted by Mike Florio on December 11, 2012, 2:12 PM EST
Goodell AP
In an earlier item analyzing the ultimate outcome of the bounty suspensions imposed on quartet of players, we pointed out that all parties will declare victory.
The NFL already has.
Appended to NFL spokesman Greg Aiello’s stream of tweetiousness summarizing the ruling from former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue is the league’s statement in response to the ruling.
“We respect Mr. Tagliabue’s decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters,†Aiello said. “This matter has now been reviewed by Commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Panel, and Mr. Tagliabue as Commissioner Goodell’s designated appeals officer. The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league. Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football.â€
That’s factually correct, but the players had to fight and scratch and claw for due process, overcoming a flawed internal investigation effort that at times seems to be more concerned with P.R. than fairness and eventually forcing fairness only via an aggressive assault mounted by the players and the NFLPA in federal court.
So, yes, the system works. As long as the players have access to good lawyers who have the intelligence, the creativity, and the will to push back hard against the efforts of the league to do what the league wants to do.
The points contained in the league’s statement were all made at the moment Goodell levied and upheld a variety of suspensions against non-players. The last six months have been about trying to impose punishment on players who were merely doing what they were told to do and/or what they were never told by anyone they couldn’t do.
Regardless of the specific facts, this case proves that there are real limits to the otherwise seemingly unlimited power of the office of Commissioner. As a result, the victors aren’t simply the four players who won’t be suspended but all current and future players who now have further protection against unwarranted or unfair discipline from the league office.
If that’s a win for the league, we’d hate to see what a loss looks like.
http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3755602/tagliabues-specific-ruling-for-each-player-involved-in-bounty-scandalTagliabue's Specific Ruling for Each Player Involved in Bounty Scandal
By Dave Cariello on Dec 11, 1:32p +
Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE
Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's findings for each player involved in the bounty scandal.
Our man Albert Breer is all over former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's appeal rulings today and he's got each of Tagliabue's rulings for each player involved up on his Twitter account.
On Jonathan Vilma:
"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."
On Anthony Hargrove:
There is "not sufficient evidence to demonstrate in these unique circumstances" that a suspension is warranted.
On Scott Fujita:
Participation in "non-injury" pay pool is "typically subject only to club discipline", so no conduct detrimental.
On Will Smith:
"Selective prosecution of allegations of misconduct and enforcement of discipline relative to Smith cannot be sustained." Enforcement "does not satisfy basic requirements for consistent treatment of player employees." Suspension vacated.
Translation: No evidence of any wrongdoing.
So Goodell
hand picked Tagliabue to handle an "appeals" process. The players opposed this selection, but of course, that didn't matter. Even
still, Tagliabue had no choice but to rule that Goodell was a piece of fucking shit and that the suspensions were unwarranted.
Yes, he threw the bone of "they did what Goodell accused them of, but..." solely for damage control from inevitable defamation lawsuits to come. If he truly agreed with the accusations, he wouldn't have overturned the ruling.
Notice that the news broke from the NFL's PR man in selected snippets in order to emphasize the parts that they wanted to to save face.
Lots of complaints of "contamination" of the process by the players and coaches. Like not bending over and spreading their cheeks for them? By actually standing up and saying "Wait just a fucking minute, we are being railroaded here" and lawyering up? Sorry that wasn't part of your plan, Roger.
And here is where I may lose some rational people, but I know I've lost 99% of you before the first character was typed anyway, so fuck it. This news was broken on THE FUCKING DAY after the NFL week in which the Saints were officially mathematically eliminated from the Super Bowl. All the Saints player punishments had been served. The Saints are no longer a risk of making history by being the first team to host a Super Bowl which it was hosting,
despite not bowing before the almighty GOD-ell. Now that the damage was irreversibly done, let's just put this whole unwinnable PR battle thing behind us.
In that sense, the NFL got what they wanted. In that sense they "won". He got his shill to say he was right all along as he overturned his decision. Mission accomplished.
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