Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jimmy Kennedy submitted a signed declaration to the case filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans.

It stated the following: He said in the locker room during the 2010 NFC championship game, "They are hitting us like there's money on the table." He wasn't referring to any bounty program and was encouraging his teammates to block better for quarterback Brett Favre.

-- Four days later, then Vikings Coach Brad Childress approached Kennedy about a bounty being on Favre and Kennedy said he knew nothing about it. Kennedy also said he didn't approach Childress about a bounty on Favre because he knew nothing of a bounty.

-- Kennedy received a phone call from Joe Hummel, the lead investigator for the NFL in the Saints' bounty scandal. Kennedy told Hummel that he knew nothing about an allegation of a bounty placed on Favre. Kennedy said it wasn't an "interview." He referred to it as a brief call. Kennedy said he had another brief conversation with Hummel a few months later and said the same thing. He never spoke to Hummel again.


-- Kennedy never met with or spoke to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the bounty allegations. Kennedy also never spoke to former Saints defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove about a bounty on Favre.


Former Vikings lineman Jimmy Kennedy submits declaration letter downplaying whistleblower role in New Orleans Saints bounty scandal - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Some of Vilma's arguments include Goodell's public statements demonstrate his bias in being an arbitrator, Goodell's bias has tainted the process so that Vilma can't receive a fair hearing and how the league admits it can't provide a fair hearing without having former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former assistant Mike Cerullo at the hearing. Ginsberg also provided the 31 pages of evidence his side claims the NFL never revealed until the league re-issued suspensions to the four players last week.

Additionally, the NFLPA is pointing back to an ESPN segment in 1996 called "Smash for Cash" where the NFL said it was legal to allow cash payment between players for big hits.

"The NFLPA has just become aware of an ESPN segment that aired around January 1996, entitled 'Smash for Cash,' detailing former NFL player-funded 'incentive' pools for legitimate plays," the filing read. "The segment shows players discussing player-to-player incentives for 'big plays' (e.g., interceptions), and one player, Reggie White, describes paying $500 for 'big hits' (Mr. Fujita, by contrast, is not alleged to have offered incentives for any hits).

"The NFL did not punish any of those players for violating the Constitution & Bylaws provisions invoked against Mr. Fujita, or for anything else. To the contrary, towards the conclusion of the segment, an NFL spokesperson is quoted as saying 'the 'Smash for Cash' program is within the rules as long as players use their own monies, the amounts are not exorbitant, and the payments are not for illegal hits.'

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

No ****

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

One brick at a time. Tearing down the wall - one brick at a time.

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Thanks, great post

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

That one ESPN piece submitted in court could be used to show other players/teams participated in performance pools with the leagues knowledge and contributed to a league wide culture of performance pools.

If I were Vilma's lawyer, I would start adding every player that has ever made ANY statement published by the media regarding player pools... I would hire additional interns to scour every print/video released and add any player/coach/etc I could to the witness list.

I would parade them one-by-one and ask them if they ever participated in a money transfer for plays made in ANY NFL game after providing them with the statement they made to the press. Second question would be if they ever injured a player and ask if they were paid for that play - legal or not. Any testimony would be available to the players with the current lawsuits against the league.

It would get so messy the league would finally have no choice to FOLD, unless the owners want the league to basically implode.

Would hate for it to come to that, but if the league wants to play hardball it goes both ways...

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Uh oh....someoooones gonna get in troooouble. Ha!

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Has the NFL or Goodell made any comment regarding Kennedy's denial? He's been publicly stating the NFL just made it up. Why wouldn't they at least say something to refute his implication that they're lying? You would think they would want to get out in front of this. It should be pretty easy to do, at least in the court of public opionion. Date and location of the interview, the people there, transcripts of what was said...something.

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

A bit more information....

NFL: Bountygate NFLPA claims NFL allowed bounty program in 1996: Reggie White's smash for cash - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

The reports, now nearly 16 years old, include players from other teams discussing similar pools climbing into the thousands of dollars. In one report by ESPN, Troy Vincent, then a defensive back with Philadelphia, discusses a similar player-funded incentive program run by Eagles players.

Vincent now works for the NFL as a vice president overseeing player engagement.

In the reports, an NFL spokesman is quoted as saying the incentive programs are permitted as long as players use their own money and the amounts players pledge are not exorbitant.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Thursday night that the league would defer comment to its own forthcoming arguments in court.

------------------------------

So, a VP for the league admitted on video he participated in performance pools over a decade ago. What the league is going to argue they "thought they stopped" for some reason.

I believe Aiello got blind sided by the inclusion of the ESPiN piece. The only way they can really counter that may be we know more about player safety now...

Countered in court by Ginsberg with questions about the league's testimony to Congress that there is no evidence of health issues playing football - not once but twice.

If this gets into an open courtroom, I have got to try to get off from work...

If they charged admissions, the ticket price would be outrageous...

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Does anybody besides me think it is kind of hilarious that an ORDAINED MINISTER was operating a pay for performance system, and the NFL even went out of their way in the ESPN documentary to say it was okay? And ironically, it was the SAME NFL SPOKESMAN in both cases, then and now? Can't make this ___ up.


If anyone is interested, here is a great article about Reggie White's Smash For Cash program from 1996. Amazingly, it is from the time as it was actually going on, this was openly talked about, in the media, right after the games. And the NFL did nothing, even said it was okay. This looks.... really bad.

Packers' Big Hits Earned Cash, Courtesy Of All-pro Reggie White - Philly.com

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Keep searching and keep coming up with NOTHING !!!!
Goodell's last year.

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

I love that Jimmy Kennedy called out Roger :lightsabres:

"This is a lie!"

Did Rog really think that players were just going to take this crap?
I hope Jimmy hits Goodhell with a defamation law suit as well.

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

Good find SaintsBro. Wonder if Vilma's defense team knows about this article.

Yeah, it's ironic that an ordained minister can have a bounty but a Saint cannot :)

Re: Vikes Kennedy submits own declaration downplaying any role
 

I'm listening to three dog night singing LIAR!