Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Why can't the judge grow some nuts, make the ruling she wants and deal with the NFL when they come crying

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Looks like Berrigan won't rule. Will "go back to the drawing board"

Lawyers are done.Judge has come to some preliminary conclusions but has serious questions about whether she can rule before appeal of Burban

Said she has to go back to drawing board

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

It's ova. No ruling (sad face)

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

not cool

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

She is not confident that she has the authority to rule... knowing that if she does it will be overturned quickly on appeals.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy

No ruling from judge. Urges parties to talk because she will need time to decide. Settlement may be faster than her decision.

Yeah because that has worked great so far ....

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Can't say I'm all that surprised, if anything I hope today made the NFL look even more pathetic then it already did and showed the sheepole fans that the NFL is full of ****

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

what's this mean for Vilma? Was there a settlement offer or not?

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

I wish I could like my own post... I have to admit This one rocked.. LOL

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

That was a good one, I liked a couple of my own, I just can't take this "trial of Vilma" seriously at all

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

No new tweets.. i am going to step out for a few minutes.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

i wonder if this will go all day

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

They'll break for lunch soon. I would think.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

It is awesome LIKE !

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Judge said she WILL NOT rule today.
She won't rule on this until Aug. 30th

Encouraging parties to make a settlement.
She's hoping they can come together and make this end.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Hasn't the judge already done her homework prior to this hearing? One would think it might be sufficient for today. More likely, she does not want the additional notoriety.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Appears judge is swayed, but wants to make sure of authority...

Judge stated in open court the process was unfair and "conduct detrimental" really questioned if it was nothing more that a way to circumvent other provisions in the CBA.

If this is pushed into a Salary-Cap violation by the statements and possible later ruling.

Does a Salary Cap violation allow suspensions of Team executives, coaches, or players? If not looks like EVERYONE could wind up back at work...

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Man that horse Hockey !

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

They should get together and come to a settlement. Get it out of the courts.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Don't get your hopes up; Roger will find a way to loophole himself in the right...

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Absolutely. She also DOES NOT want the courts butting in on each agreement like this.

She's very serious when she says she wants both parties to come to a settlement. That's an EXTREMELY subtle hint to both - there will probably be no winners on either side.

She's looking for the law to favor Vilma. It's interpretation, but it's also a reach. The NFL has a point, there is a signed agreement that has heavy legal ground.

When a judge overturns a written agreement and settles in favor of an employee, that judgement is EASY overturn-able in higher courts.... in fact a higher court may INSTANTLY grant a stay of a judgement in the court of appeals so they can hear BOTH sides of the argument.

Judge Berrigan can only offer temporary relief for Vilma and send a message to the NFL... but it's temporary. The FINAL, good solution is for a settlement to happen in this matter and both parties return to this agreement and try to learn from the errors both have made to prevent a mess like this from happening again.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

I feel emotionally drained after 1:45 minutes of following a court room debate.

Reminds me of the Saturday night "where are we going to dinner" discussion at my house.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Ryan Jones@rjonesTPVilma told me that he wasn't surprised when the judge said she wanted to rule in his favor. Said he was fine with no ruling.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Waiting for an epic Vilma tweet!

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

The judge like nearly all of us is emotionally tied to this case. She may not be a football fan but clearly she feels there was some "unfair" practices... Her hard spot is that "unfair" is not a legal precedent to rule on....

She also knows that if she rules to quickly (much like Goodell) she risks an appellate court saying that all of the options in the NFL appeals process have not been exhausted, and over turning her decision...

Judges DO NOT like their rulings overturned... Thats like a lost fumble.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Not getting my hopes up at all. I am actually stunned that it has even gone this far. It's now more than a nuisance to Roger. They have to deal with this situation. It is now out of hand and everyday the scale is tipping in Vilma's favor.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Look, if the NFL thinks they will EVER walk out of this untouched, they're wrong.
If this goes to court, which I think the judge will do it, the discovery process alone will screw them.

Roger and the NFL's motives TODAY were exposed. The NFL admitted players are "prejudged."

Why should a player EVER go up to New York to walk into the commissioners office?

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

I would look for a settlement with in the next week.... Both sides were hoping for a battle flag today and neither have one. They both want it gone.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

It's Friday ... time for a :beer: big boy! :bng: :D

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

It seems that except for the impending season that time favors Vilma's case. At least in the eye of public opinion. There'll be a slow news day and the mainstream media'll latch onto the case. It'll be hard for the kommisar to look good in this kind of light without bringing in Gayle Sayers or someone to speak up in his behalf. Unless rg puts out a gag order to the networks that is...

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

I haven't seen NFLN since this finished but I got the feeling they would spin it so the NFL looks like they won something today

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

There were several tweets from the guys sending the courtroom feed stating that this hearing was different from the last.... ESPN, NBC, etc... were inside the courtroom instead of waiting out side.... Since there was a live feed to exactly what went on from three separate sources at least, plus the entertainment sports representatives in the room it makes a spin a lot more difficult.


If the NFLNW tries to spin it and it looks or feels different from the rest it will look very badly on the NFLNW.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

After reflecting on how many times the Judge and NFLPA lawyers commented on "evidence not released".... Look for the NFL to start releasing what they do not have this week..... My gut says one of two things will happen before next Wed... A settlement, or the NFL will start releasing ugliness to the press.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Let them release all they want! They have nothing but conjecture. If this does catch steam and all falls in Vilma's favor I don't see how RG could possibly keep his job.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Good, I hope all this final puts enough heat on them to release the "evidence" they got. I know they were people in there but come on its how the media works now, they spin whatever they want with disregard for the truth or facts .... we've witnessed that countless times this offseason

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Both sides were left with a hint and bone to chew...

The judge would rather see the sides settle, but think there is a pretty good argument for the suspensions to be reduced/overturned.

Defining "Bounty" and "Incentive" could be interesting between the league and NFLPA. Every player contract with a "Performance Clause" could actually be considered a "Bounty" or "Incentive" approved by the league.

There are roster bonuses, rushing yard incentives - why not add Defensive clauses: Interceptions, Sacks, Forced Fumbles to contracts.

Would use that to show a culture when "incentives" are inherrant to the game, league and have been approved for DECADES by the league.

Bounties/Incentives/etc. have been a part of the game approved by the league and should be no suprize at an organizational level. Once the league recognizes/acknowledges that "Programs" like this will continue.

Now they will be more hidden than ever.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Does this put more pressure on the NFL to settle?

TX- I kinda felt the same thing- she is saying settle this and I think she is putting pressure on the NFL- by basically implying this could all blowup in your face.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

Actually I can see how the NFL can keep it out of the Judges air space, no settlement with Vilma and still come out looking "somewhat" like good guys.


It wouldn't surprise me if the August 30th hearing falls in Vilma's favor. (Goodell will lean on the people hearing it)
Vilma get a small win and the NFL looks like it corrected course with out the aid of a Judge.


Why would the NFL do that you ask?


Because the Judge already stated in a few different ways that she will not rule before the August 30th hearing... while also showing her cards (wants to rule in favor of Vilma)...

The writing is on the wall for the NFL to make this go away before Aug 30th or she WILL rule in Vilmas favor.

I am putting money on this.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

It's like watching a soap opera.

Re: 9 A.M. Vilma Hearing
 

My money is on Vilma not taking any deal. If it was about money he would have never attempted this in the first place. His odds of winning were slim to none. Add to that the cost of hiring a prize fighter lawyer. It never was about the money.