Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

Oh, I agree. I explained myself poorly. I meant to say is that I don't believe there are any allegations or any accusations of bounties against the Saints in 2009-10 prior to the NFCCG.

I'm pretty sure they were bounties (and real ones) on guys like Thorpe or Grange.

Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

Great question, the first answer that comes to mind is that its not Benson's fight. He's got goodell and Vilma's lawyers to do that for him on each side of this thing, and he doesn't need to be there to "defend" his players when he really would be doing nothing of the sort.

Tom Benson likely gives two sh*ts about this whole thing. I'm sure Him hiring Louis Freeh to come in was a publicity stunt, nothing more. And it looks as though Freeh found out that there was something rotten in Denmark because there has been NOTHING said about that investigation. If Freeh found out there was nothing going on, Benson definitely would have said something, because down the line when the huge court case inevitably happens, some judge finding out that the league persecuted the Saints with literally nothing to stand on would be devastating for the NFL in court.

In other words, Benson is trying to placate the fans/incite the media by hiring this high profile investigator to come in and tell him something he already knows, then Benson goes to NY, which on the surface appears to look like he is going to contest this ruling, but in reality he is just telling roger to hold the line, keep doing what you're doing, and build us a case against all these ex-players that are going to bleed the league dry if they win their court case.


tl:dr - Benson is in on this thing too. Its his ass in a sling if the ex-players win that case, and a future judgement that rules for the ex-players will hurt him (read: his checkbook) a lot more than this one season without a coach and some players. I mean really, if you're Tom Benson, how does this whole thing bounty-debacle hurt your bottom line?

Answer? It doesn't. In fact, it saves him money. No Loomis, Payton, or Vitt salary to pay out, and that'll add up quick. And let's be honest- Tom Benson didn't buy a football team to win Superbowls, he bought it to make money, the SBs are just a means to an end


THAT'S a conspiracy theory lol

Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

A lot of people forget that Benson was and still is a scoundrel. Amazing how one SB can put a nice coat of paint on the surface. It's not beyond him to hire Freech as a front anymore than when he benched players on purpose so they would not hit financial earmarks in their contracts or him trying to move the team immediately after Katrina. The only thing he is concerned about is his cut of the loot.

Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

You don't hire Louis Freeh as a "publicity stunt" or a "front." You just don't. You hire Louis Freeh when you are an institution and your **** is ****ed up, you're embarrassed by it, and you need an outside investigator to find out what went wrong and get it sorted out. He investigated Waco and exposed how badly Janet Reno effed up. He caught the Unabomber. He roasted sacred cow Joe Paterno and clobbered Penn State after they hired and paid him to look into it. So this guy doesn't mess around or play patty cake or do "PR." He also runs about a million dollars' fee to conduct an investigation and institutional review like this; if Benson was such a cheapskate like you say he is, and wanted a distraction report "for show" he would SURELY hire somebody A LOT cheaper and less thorough than Freeh.

Also, one more time, please read this -- THERE IS NO MYSTERY OR CONSPIRACY WHY THE FREEH RERORT HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED -- it has most likely not been finished yet. It could take a while. The Penn State one he did, took like six months and included formal interviews with hundreds of people. Freeh finished up Penn State around JULY and started in on the Saints next, and he has to investigate the wiretapping, Bountygate and more. It's not even been 4 months, really, so give the man some time.

Something from it will come to light. We may not get to see all of it, it may be for Benson's eyes only, but it will exist. There may be a bombshell or two from it yet to come. Ya'll will see.

Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

Benson is a car salesman. I honestly do not know one car sales man that actually cares about whats going on with the car beyond the coating or Armor All, and Engine wash.

Freeh = Armor All and detail job. Its a show.

The date the investigations started... if this stemmed from a congressional hearing... all MOOT. The League/Shield/et al needed something to fight in court with when the concussions cases his the stand and the Saints were served up on a silver platter.

You can jump before the tunnel... It doesnt change a thing.
"At the Saints-Falcons game on October 16, the second of two warm receptions of the Saints by the San Antonio community, mayor Phil Hardberger stated that Benson had agreed to schedule negotiations for permanent relocation once the 2005 season is over. In reference to Benson, Hardberger said, "I'm pretty comfortable in saying he wants to be here."[2] On Monday, October 17, Benson dismissed executive vice president Arnie Fielkow, who had been a public advocate of the Saints' importance to the state of Louisiana, and who had advocated the playing of home games in Baton Rouge. According to Fielkow, Benson told him that if he'd tender his resignation and sign a confidentiality agreement, he'd be paid the remainder of his contract; when he refused, he was fired outright.[3]"

You are giving him credit for a hell of a lot more integrity than he has.
Tom Benson - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Benson showed for the coaches... Bailed on the players when the players HAD NO COACH THAT COULD SHOW FOR THEM.

Re: Conspiracy Theory
 

This:
New Orleans Saints fan files class action lawsuit against NFL, Roger Goodell - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

No Board of Directors would EVER let a CEO damage the product to punish an employee..

Unless!