Hearings for suspended New Orleans Saints players will be Wednesday, May 30, according to lawyer

SmashMouth · 05-12-2012, 12:03 PM

Attorney Peter Ginsberg, who represents New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, made an appearance on ProFootballTalk's live segment Friday and told the website that the appeals for the players suspended in the bounty scandal will be held Wednesday and May 30.

Vilma is facing the longest suspension - a full season - while Saints defensive end Will Smith was suspended for four games, former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Browns) was suspended for three games and former Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (Packers) was hit with an eight-game suspension.

According to Ginsberg, the first hearing will be about whether the appeals should be heard by by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline, instead of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the man who issued the suspensions and whether the new CBA prevented the league from taking action on behavior that happened prior to Aug. 4, 2011.

Pro Football Talk reported that the second hearing will be about whether the issue should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank because it involves a salary-cap violation.

link back

SaintsBro · 05-12-2012, 01:24 PM

It seems pretty obvious to me that if one of their key pieces of evidence is Hargrove supposedly saying "pay me my money" while on the field, in the game, then Goodell has to be wrong on this one, and the penalties and appeal hearings should correctly be handled by the people who deal with ON THE FIELD discipline. Since it, uh, is pretty pointless to have a bounty on someone regarding stuff that happens off the field, that's not what anyone is talking about, it's ON THE FIELD. If the Saints defense got in a fight with Favre in a bar, the night before, then yeah, that'd be Goodell's call.

mighty12 · 05-12-2012, 01:40 PM

I too think it is an off-field issue, what the NFL is considering as 'off-field' is the actual money transfer. If they have no evidence that Vilma or any other saint actually paid money, then they have no case that this is an off the field issue and the case will be heard by Shell and Cotrell.

Rugby Saint II · 05-12-2012, 02:26 PM

Anybody but Art Shell......I'd rather Pee Wee Herman heard our case.

ScottF · 05-12-2012, 03:24 PM

Any significance for the date? God made it clear he would hear the coaches' appeal as soon as he could. Why the delay here? Still gathering evidence?
Does RG need Scooby and Shaggy to find more clues?

saintfan · 05-12-2012, 03:40 PM

It's semantics is what it is. Roger is well aware...dirty bastard that he is. I am just hopeful that the players/lawyers/union can leverage enough pressure on the man to force him to do what he doesn't want to do, which is take his foot of the gas.

RockyMountainSaint · 05-12-2012, 04:24 PM

Saints grievance hearings coming on May 16, 30 | ProFootballTalk
Ginsberg, who represents Vilma, said that the two grievances filed earlier this month will be heard on May 16 and May 30.

The first hearing will focus on the argument that the new CBA prevents the NFL from taking action of any kind against players for conduct occurring before August 4, 2011, along with the question of whether the appeals should be heard not by Commissioner Roger Goodell but by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline.

The May 30 hearing centers on the contention that, to the extent the discipline arises from extra money paid to players in violation of the salary cap, the matter should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank.

Ginsberg also said that the league still has not given him or the NFLPA evidence proving that the players funded or received payments from a bounty program, and he confirmed that other legal proceedings could be utilized. The ultimate goal is to find a forum that will compel the NFL to share the evidence it has gathered regarding the question of whether the players are guilty, or innocent.

One way or the other, it’s only fair for the NFL to eventually disclose the evidence, and to provide a fair opportunity for Ginsberg and the NFLPA to scrutinize it.

ScottF · 05-12-2012, 11:59 PM

Originally Posted by RockyMountainSaint

Saints grievance hearings coming on May 16, 30 | ProFootballTalk
Ginsberg, who represents Vilma, said that the two grievances filed earlier this month will be heard on May 16 and May 30.

The first hearing will focus on the argument that the new CBA prevents the NFL from taking action of any kind against players for conduct occurring before August 4, 2011, along with the question of whether the appeals should be heard not by Commissioner Roger Goodell but by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline.

The May 30 hearing centers on the contention that, to the extent the discipline arises from extra money paid to players in violation of the salary cap, the matter should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank.

Ginsberg also said that the league still has not given him or the NFLPA evidence proving that the players funded or received payments from a bounty program, and he confirmed that other legal proceedings could be utilized. The ultimate goal is to find a forum that will compel the NFL to share the evidence it has gathered regarding the question of whether the players are guilty, or innocent.

One way or the other, it’s only fair for the NFL to eventually disclose the evidence, and to provide a fair opportunity for Ginsberg and the NFLPA to scrutinize it.

So again, no evidence. Please be on time for your hearing. Appeal denied.

SmashMouth · 05-13-2012, 04:35 PM

Originally Posted by ScottF

So again, no evidence. Please be on time for your hearing. Appeal denied.

Can't wait for the process to proceed in front of public courts, judicial and otherwise. Relinquish the evidence, if there is any RG!

Beastmode · 05-13-2012, 05:18 PM

Originally Posted by SmashMouth

Can't wait for the process to proceed in front of public courts, judicial and otherwise. Relinquish the evidence, if there is any RG!

That wait will be a long one. There are so many issues that have to be dealt with... the CBA contract with mulltiple discrepanies, other issues the NFLPA has not stated, then the actual suspensions and evidence. Top that off with more appeals. It's going to take years to resolve the whole thing. The main thing the NFLPA needs to work on is re-instating players until it is resolved. Very similar to Star Caps in that the NFL may have violated State and or Federal laws in regards to contracts.

05-12-2012, 12:03 PM	#1
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,044 Blog Entries: 29	Hearings for suspended New Orleans Saints players will be Wednesday, May 30, according to lawyer Attorney Peter Ginsberg, who represents New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, made an appearance on ProFootballTalk's live segment Friday and told the website that the appeals for the players suspended in the bounty scandal will be held Wednesday and May 30. Vilma is facing the longest suspension - a full season - while Saints defensive end Will Smith was suspended for four games, former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Browns) was suspended for three games and former Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (Packers) was hit with an eight-game suspension. According to Ginsberg, the first hearing will be about whether the appeals should be heard by by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline, instead of NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, the man who issued the suspensions and whether the new CBA prevented the league from taking action on behavior that happened prior to Aug. 4, 2011. Pro Football Talk reported that the second hearing will be about whether the issue should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank because it involves a salary-cap violation. link back

05-12-2012, 04:24 PM	#7
RockyMountainSaint Mmm That Smell! Join Date: Oct 1998 Location: Metairie Terrace Posts: 3,073	Saints grievance hearings coming on May 16, 30 \| ProFootballTalk Ginsberg, who represents Vilma, said that the two grievances filed earlier this month will be heard on May 16 and May 30. The first hearing will focus on the argument that the new CBA prevents the NFL from taking action of any kind against players for conduct occurring before August 4, 2011, along with the question of whether the appeals should be heard not by Commissioner Roger Goodell but by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline. The May 30 hearing centers on the contention that, to the extent the discipline arises from extra money paid to players in violation of the salary cap, the matter should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank. Ginsberg also said that the league still has not given him or the NFLPA evidence proving that the players funded or received payments from a bounty program, and he confirmed that other legal proceedings could be utilized. The ultimate goal is to find a forum that will compel the NFL to share the evidence it has gathered regarding the question of whether the players are guilty, or innocent. One way or the other, it’s only fair for the NFL to eventually disclose the evidence, and to provide a fair opportunity for Ginsberg and the NFLPA to scrutinize it. SmashMouth likes this.
	I'm no one. Who are you?

05-12-2012, 11:59 PM	#8
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Originally Posted by RockyMountainSaint Saints grievance hearings coming on May 16, 30 \| ProFootballTalk Ginsberg, who represents Vilma, said that the two grievances filed earlier this month will be heard on May 16 and May 30. The first hearing will focus on the argument that the new CBA prevents the NFL from taking action of any kind against players for conduct occurring before August 4, 2011, along with the question of whether the appeals should be heard not by Commissioner Roger Goodell but by Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, jointly hired and paid by the league and the NFLPA to resolve appeals for on-field discipline. The May 30 hearing centers on the contention that, to the extent the discipline arises from extra money paid to players in violation of the salary cap, the matter should be resolved via Special Master Stephen Burbank. Ginsberg also said that the league still has not given him or the NFLPA evidence proving that the players funded or received payments from a bounty program, and he confirmed that other legal proceedings could be utilized. The ultimate goal is to find a forum that will compel the NFL to share the evidence it has gathered regarding the question of whether the players are guilty, or innocent. One way or the other, it’s only fair for the NFL to eventually disclose the evidence, and to provide a fair opportunity for Ginsberg and the NFLPA to scrutinize it. So again, no evidence. Please be on time for your hearing. Appeal denied.

05-13-2012, 04:35 PM	#9
SmashMouth I donated, did you? Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mandeville, LA Posts: 38,044 Blog Entries: 29	Originally Posted by ScottF So again, no evidence. Please be on time for your hearing. Appeal denied. Can't wait for the process to proceed in front of public courts, judicial and otherwise. Relinquish the evidence, if there is any RG!

05-13-2012, 05:18 PM	#10
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126	Originally Posted by SmashMouth Can't wait for the process to proceed in front of public courts, judicial and otherwise. Relinquish the evidence, if there is any RG! That wait will be a long one. There are so many issues that have to be dealt with... the CBA contract with mulltiple discrepanies, other issues the NFLPA has not stated, then the actual suspensions and evidence. Top that off with more appeals. It's going to take years to resolve the whole thing. The main thing the NFLPA needs to work on is re-instating players until it is resolved. Very similar to Star Caps in that the NFL may have violated State and or Federal laws in regards to contracts.
Beastmode 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 9,126

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05-12-2012, 01:24 PM	#2
SaintsBro Site Donor Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: in line with my ridiculous CLEAR PLASTIC BAG Posts: 3,650 Blog Entries: 3	It seems pretty obvious to me that if one of their key pieces of evidence is Hargrove supposedly saying "pay me my money" while on the field, in the game, then Goodell has to be wrong on this one, and the penalties and appeal hearings should correctly be handled by the people who deal with ON THE FIELD discipline. Since it, uh, is pretty pointless to have a bounty on someone regarding stuff that happens off the field, that's not what anyone is talking about, it's ON THE FIELD. If the Saints defense got in a fight with Favre in a bar, the night before, then yeah, that'd be Goodell's call.

05-12-2012, 01:40 PM	#3
mighty12 500th Post Join Date: Feb 2005 Posts: 980 Blog Entries: 1	I too think it is an off-field issue, what the NFL is considering as 'off-field' is the actual money transfer. If they have no evidence that Vilma or any other saint actually paid money, then they have no case that this is an off the field issue and the case will be heard by Shell and Cotrell.

05-12-2012, 02:26 PM	#4
Rugby Saint II Bounty Money $$$ Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 5800 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA. Posts: 24,043	Anybody but Art Shell......I'd rather Pee Wee Herman heard our case.

05-12-2012, 03:24 PM	#5
ScottF 5000 POSTS! + Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Atlanta Posts: 6,324	Any significance for the date? God made it clear he would hear the coaches' appeal as soon as he could. Why the delay here? Still gathering evidence? Does RG need Scooby and Shaggy to find more clues?

05-12-2012, 03:40 PM	#6
saintfan Donated Plasma Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA Posts: 18,556 Blog Entries: 5	It's semantics is what it is. Roger is well aware...dirty bastard that he is. I am just hopeful that the players/lawyers/union can leverage enough pressure on the man to force him to do what he doesn't want to do, which is take his foot of the gas.

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