Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

I think there is an absolute 0% chance any of the coaches or Loomis will sniff the facility until their suspensions are served. Goodell has stuck his neck out too far to reverse it and cause a major PR suicide.

The former employee started it and that got a warning from Goodell. But there seems to be a missing link somewhere in 2010-2011. Could they be protecting the whistleblower and the Saints? I just don't see Payton/Loomis going down quietly on what we've seen so far. There's something missing or being kept from the public.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

Given Benson's trip to NY and the silence, what I think could happen:

the NFL could "hint" to Burbank (the NFL arbitrator) that this whole bounty thing indeed needs to be ruled a salary cap violation, and in the course of the ruling, "something" is discovered which in the eyes of the Commisioner, under new light, discredits the accusations that Vilma offered the cash; Goddell apologizes for his over-zealousness over player safety, Vilma gets his rep back; suspensions are lifted, the matter is no longer under Goddell's jurisdiction, Goddell gets to save face - ironically still hiding behind the CBA ; the arbitrators who have jurisdiction over salary cap arbitration do what they do: figure out how much money was made, players pay back, maybe a game suspension for all. Players happy, evidence remains a corporate secret.

The whole thing with the "evidence", I have a feeling that there is either absolutely nothing, or there is something that proves similar money pools league-wide. In either case, the NFL is screwed if the "evidence" (or lack thereof): lying about having evidence, bad. Evidence showing league-wide practice, bad.

I definitely don't think the NFL is trying to protect the Saints in any way, shape, or form. We KNOW there's nothing to the NFL claims. We watch the games. We see who the Saints hit and how they hit them. We saw all those players who they said the Saints targeted have great games against them and leave the field rather healthy.

Another thing that's been in the back of my head is your organization just got torpedoed by the NFL and you suspend your granddaughter for partying & not taking her job serious enough. Kinda funny timing ?

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

All I know for sure is there is a REASON Roger won't show what he says he has. Either it's damning on a much grander scale OR he simply doesn't have anything. I don't think he's got jack.

I think we certainly did have a pot from which players were rewarded and fined for their play on the field, and while everybody and their pet hamster knows this is a league-wide practice, we got busted. So Sean and Loomie should do some time. It's their ship. But they shouldn't have to do a YEAR, and they wouldn't be doing a year if Roger hadn't seized on this opportunity to show the world how thoughtful the NFL is toward it's players. Our coach and GM were/are at Roger's mercy and that's just the way it is.

The players on the other hand not so much. So what's my expectation?

Jon is going to have his day in court, and I fully suspect, as someone else has already said, the league will back off, Vilma will get his apology, the Roger will do his level best to tuck this away when the season starts.

I just hope the fans don't allow him to do that. Roger needs to burn for this. I don't 'expect' he will, but I do hope and pray for his demise. The man is wrecking our game.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

All I know for sure is there is a REASON Roger won't show what he says he has. Either it's damning on a much grander scale OR he simply doesn't have anything. I don't think he's got jack.

I think we certainly did have a pot from which players were rewarded and fined for their play on the field, and while everybody and their pet hamster knows this is a league-wide practice, we got busted. So Sean and Loomie should do some time. It's their ship. But they shouldn't have to do a YEAR, and they wouldn't be doing a year if Roger hadn't seized on this opportunity to show the world how thoughtful the NFL is toward it's players. Our coach and GM were/are at Roger's mercy and that's just the way it is.

The players on the other hand not so much. So what's my expectation?

Jon is going to have his day in court, and I fully suspect, as someone else has already said, the league will back off, Vilma will get his apology, the Roger will do his level best to tuck this away when the season starts.

I just hope the fans don't allow him to do that. Roger needs to burn for this. I don't 'expect' he will, but I do hope and pray for his demise. The man is wrecking our game.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

I don't see any changes happening in regards to suspensions.
Even if the judge backs Vilma the league appeals and ties up the case for a few months.
Vilma won't be in shape to play anyway.

My hope is that the league knows it had nothing and changes the ruling to a pay for performance ruling and it becomes a salary cap violation.
If this happens then the suspensions could be halved.
Including the coaches suspensions.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

I'm guessing that the Aug 30 date is part of the TRO issue on the suspension, not the defamation case itself. If that's so, I think the chances are slim that this comes back in Vilma's favor due to a lack of jurisdiction with the court. It is clear the Judge thinks the League overstepped its boundaries or the League is enforcing penalties that are too stiff, but it is also clear she is reaching to find a way to rule that her court should be hearing the case at all.

I'm rooting for her to find a way to rule in favor of jurisdiction, but it is a long-shot at best. Thus, no change to any of the suspensions unless Vilma gets an assist from Lady Luck.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

All business as usual... When deadlines are evident, people tend to take a wait and see approach until zooloo hour. Then its scramble to get closure.

Same as with Brees's contract.

Re: Vilma vs the NFL - Your Expectations
 

I expect the judge to rule in the favor of the NFL. She will state that she wishes there were something she could do and that the investigative, punishment and appeals process the NFL uses is just a facade for a corporate dictator, but in the end, her hands will be tied by the CBA.

I expect the NFL and Mr. Goodell to announce to the world that this is a major victory in the fight to improve player safety. And I expect ESPN to do several stories about the Bounty Hunter and his gang, Jonathan Vilma and the New Orleans Saints defense. (without witnesses or corroborating evidence of course)

But I do respect Vilma for thumbing his nose at the commissioner.