RockyMountainSaint

Today’s ruling means nothing to Payton, Vitt, Loomis, Williams | ProFootballTalk
Perhaps the most common question raised in the wake of today’s ruling from the internal appeals panel scuttling the bounty suspensions and sending the process back to Commissioner Roger Goodell (and square one) is whether it will affect the suspensions imposed on non-players, like Saints coach Sean Payton.

The quick answer? No.

Payton, Saints interim coach Joe Vitt, Saints G.M. Mickey Loomis, and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams were not disciplined within the confines of the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and the players. The player protections come from the fact that they have a union that has negotiated a comprehensive and detailed labor deal. Non-players are protected only by the terms of their employment contracts — which simply don’t include the kind of provisions that helped the players in this specific case.

For non-players, every dispute on every issue goes back to the league office for resolution. So while the CBA has given the players new life (for now), the non-players continue to be suspended, with no hope for any change in their status.

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CharityMike

Thats pooters. Don't see why if it can be proven that nothing was done intentinally to harm anyone. I think this is where a judges ruling would open the door for the coach's to bring up legal action if they felt inclined to. Maybe go back to the Komissar and have a new conversation.

|Mitch|

Albert Breer said the same thing on the NFL Network. They have already went through the appeals process, so they are S.O.L.

CharityMike

Yeah but thats before Godell was made to look like a clown with an agenda.

saintfan

Schefter (sp) on ESPN (yes, I had to go see if they even reported it) said he is almost certain Sean would pursue "some sort of legal action".

I guess we'll see.

|Mitch|

That was about 15 minutes ago; The coaches will have to pursue legal action against the NFL/Roger so that may take awhile...

Mardigras9

It just makes sense that if the coaches are guilty and punished for facilitating something that can't be proven, they should also not be penalized. And the hearing should be rushed given the timing and circumstances.

SmashMouth

Ashley

as bad as we all would hope that it will. It just will not, but I can still scream..... FREE Sean Payton !!!

SmashMouth

Or fly airplanes with banner at every game ...