Rating: (2 votes - 5.00 average)

I know eh? And did you hear the lamest piece from ESPN supposed esteemed reporter John Clayton?

Halo

Florio made it sound like Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Gregg Williams and Joe Vitt took a "hit" for the BIG TEAM.

Florio said there's Pay for Performance, example paying a player a meal or $100 for a great catch or INT, then there is a Bounty scheme where players are paid to hurt other players.

Did they admit to a Pay for Performance scheme, or did they expressly saying it was Bounty Scheme?

NFL has some 'splaining to do..

Beastmode

What if Goodell submits player testimonies as evidence of Vilma's involment and then Vilma submits testimonies of players saying he didn't?

This has the potential to turn into a real circus act which would make Goodelllook like ...

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saintfan

Well let's not give Florio too much credit. Hell. I, for one, as well as thousands of others, Saints fans and otherwise, have been saying for months what he is finally saying weeks and weeks after the fact.

I mean, I'm glad he is coming around and I hope more do...but "show the evidence" is something any right-thinking person would have been hollering from day one, especially a 'reporter'.

Beastmode

He can't show the evidence. He promised to protect them. Now they are going to have to make sworn statements. Even if in private, I doubt any of them are willing to go any further.

sharke

I wouldn't say a power trip. Just a man trying to build and protect a brand who has no idea how to build or protect a brand.

Tobias-Reiper

Do you know for a fact anyone within the Saints organization lied to Goddell?

SaintsRule11

What city was this broadcast in? Was this New York?

Halo

If it goes to trial, it's a jury trial.

Remember, this isn't how much or how little Vilma is guilty, this is about Goodell making false statements about Vilma, repeatedly, without correct evidence to back it up.

Vilma would have to be caught red handed, but even then Goodell did NOT use discretion or correct protocals when making blanket statements about Vilma and YES it does hurt his career.

Ever know someone fired from a job?
Ever ask the boss why they were fired?

Their answer should be "I can't discuss that" or "they moved on."

Do you know why companies direct management to say that?
Because if someone says "he was fired for incompetence (etc.)" the former, fired employee may have grounds for lawsuit against their former employer for potentially making false statements and divulging private information.

These are contracted players which are a little different, but not much. You cannot use your authority to make false statements about people, even if they're somewhat true.

Roger Goodell used NO DECORUM or forethought before making ANY statements about Vilma. He setup Vilma as an instigator of Williams' Bounty Scheme.

Goodell DID NOT repeat Fujita's name over and over again...
Goodell DID NOT repeat Will Smith's name over and over again...
Goodell DID NOT repeat Anthony Hargrove's name over and over again...

But he did talk A LOT about Vilma. Goodell better have hard, cold evidence showing Vilma was Williams' general in the Bounty Scheme.

Goodell also need to prove it was a "Bounty Scheme" and NOT a "Pay for Performance" scheme. The two are totally different.

mutineer10

It should be noted that Vilma has a legitimately good case. That this "defamation" has damaged his career & cost him serious money is undeniable, so it's showtime for the proof. Goodell doesn't wanna reveal whatever "evidence" he claims to have, but he's gonna have to when this goes to court.

Bravo, Mr. Vilma ...