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The attorney for Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s “manufactured allegations” have tarnished Vilma’s reputation.

And attorney Peter Ginsberg says that while former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue did the right thing by lifting Vilma’s suspension, Tagliabue now needs to publicly release all of the testimony he relied on in making his decision in the bounty case.

“Two competing forces have been at play since at least March of this year – Roger Goodell has been trying every conceivable maneuver to avoid real and honest
scrutiny of his manufactured allegations that Jonathan Vilma engaged in a bounty program aimed at opposing players and Jonathan has been fighting to have an open and fair review of those accusations,” Ginsberg said in a statement. “We are obviously relieved and gratified that Jonathan no longer needs to worry about facing an unjustified suspension. On the other hand, Commissioner Tagliabue’s rationalization of Commissioner Goodell’s actions does nothing to rectify the harm done by the baseless allegations lodged against Jonathan. Jonathan has a right and every intention to pursue proving what really occurred and we look forward to returning to a public forum where the true facts can see the light of day. We call upon Commissioner Tagliabue to release the transcripts of the proceedings held before him so that they are available as we go forward. Finally, it is regrettable that the NFL continues unjustifiably to attack the New Orleans Saints, an organization comprised of decent and honest people who continue to stand strong in the face of these baseless attacks.”

The big question as Vilma goes forward with his defamation case is what impact those transcripts will have. Tagliabue has rescinded Vilma’s suspension, but he hasn’t said Vilma did nothing wrong. If Vilma’s defamation case goes to trial, a jury will get to see the same evidence Tagliabue has seen, and a jury will determine whether Goodell defamed Vilma by overstating just what the case was against him.

Vilma’s lawyer bashes Goodell for “manufactured allegations” | ProFootballTalk

|Mitch|

The vacated suspensions almost makes a win in Vilmas defamation case guaranteed...

NuNu318

Page 22 of the ruling pretty much solidifies his defamation case regardless of how the media and NFL sees it.

"Adding to the complexity, there is little evidence of the tone of any talk about a bounty before the Vikings game. Was any bounty pledged serious? Was it inspirational only? Was it typical “trash talk” that occurs regularly before and during games? The parties presented no clear answers. No witness could confirm whether Vilma had any money in his hands as he spoke; no evidence was presented that $10,000 was available to him for purposes of paying a bounty or otherwise. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE THAT VILMA OR ANYONE ELSE PAID ANY MONEY TO ANY PLAYER FOR ANY BOUNTY-RELATED HIT ON AN OPPOSING PLAYER IN THE VIKINGS GAME."

I neither excuse nor condone the alleged offer of a bounty on Favre, whether offered by any player, coach, other Saints’ employee or third party. Such conduct has no place in the game of professional football. I cannot, however, uphold a multi-game suspension where there is no evidence that a player’s speech prior to a game was actually a factor causing misconduct on the playing field and that such misconduct was severe enough in itself to warrant a player suspension or a very substantial fine."


There is no actual evidence that money exchanged hands...but according to Goodell's original ruling it did. Not to mention Vilma already has multiple players and coaches that were in that particular meeting who have testified under oath and submitted signed affidavits (sp) that he did NOT offer that money in the meeting. So basically the NFL is still going off of the testimony of two people (Cerullo and Williams) who have something to gain from the NFL by not only signing a declaration (which contridicts anyway) but testifying in and NFL HEARING not a court of law.

So Vilma most definitly still has a case. But the one who has the strongest case of all if they choose to pursue one.....Anthony Hargrove...

Link to the Full ruling
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sport...nty-appeal.pdf

Rugby Saint II

When does Sean Payton come back?

saintsfan1976

My guess is he'll be waiting in the Saints locker room on December 30th around 4pm CST.

Speedy Ron

This has drug on so long that people forgot what Goodell originally said. I know i did. So much information and it always getting tweaked by one word

Jamessr

Ok maybe I'm not getting it because I'm trying to filter all this just having got off work but why December 30?

44Champs

Me too. I think maybe not til after the Superbowl.

Jamessr

exactly... because that has been said before. I was just wondering....
However the damage is already done

saintsfan1976

Oh, i thought it was after the SAINTS season was over....

Because in that case he probably could have been in the locker room since week 6