Saintswrath

IRVING, Texas -- Roger Goodell won't say he's sorry.

Not to Jonathan Vilma or Will Smith, not to Anthony Hargrove or Scott Fujita.

In his first public comments since the suspensions for the four players linked to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal were vacated by former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, the current commissioner insisted that he doesn't owe anybody an apology.

"None of them should be feeling very good about themselves," Goodell said Wednesday, following a half-day NFL meeting at a resort hotel near Dallas. "It's clear that a (bounty program) occurred for three years, despite all of their denials."

NFL Players Association chief DeMaurice Smith suggested earlier Wednesday in an interview with CBS This Morning

that Goodell should apologize because the league's focus and punishment "maligned the character of the players."

Tagliabue, appointed by Goodell to rule on the players appeal of their suspensions, concurred that a bounty program existed. Yet Tagliabue differed sharply with Goodell on the punishment, concluding that the coaches and management figures that were disciplined -- including former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, suspended indefinitely -- had the primary responsibility.
"My point of view is that I hold everyone responsible," Goodell said. "We have to have personal responsibility. … I fundamentally disagree that this is something that lies with coaches and management."

Despite Tuesday's ruling, Goodell still faces a defamation suit from Vilma, who drew a now-overturned one-season suspension that was the harshest of any player. Undoubtedly, Vilma's case will argue that the league engaged in selective discipline.

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USA TODAY

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