NFL: Bounty suspensions overturned

[Mr Janny]

Sources -- Suspensions for Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove overturned by arbitration panel - ESPN

 

[longtimeclone]

Goodell may have overstepped his bounds but I don't know if no suspension is right either.

 

[CycoCyclone]

Goodell must not have had hard evidence

 

[Mr Janny]

Goodell must not have had hard evidence

If he didn't, then he was really getting some bad info from the NFL legal team. He couldn't have thought the players were just going to roll over on something like that.

 

[isufbcurt]

If true this is awesome

 

[Mr Janny]

If true this is awesome

It's definitely a blow to Goodell's image

 

[CycoCyclone]

If he didn't, then he was really getting some bad info from the NFL legal team. He couldn't have thought the players were just going to roll over on something like that.

He could have acted in good faith on hearsay, but with the player challenges, Goodell would have had to lay out his evidence.

Unless they got off on a technicality.

 

[jbhtexas]

Wouldn't paying/accepting money to purposely inflict bodily injury be some kind of crime? It would be interesting to see what kind of evidence the NFL has. If there is sufficient evidence, and if this happened at Saints away games, I'd laugh if some prosecutor in one of those jurisdictions looking to make a name for himself pressed charges.

 

[Rabbuk]

wonder if the players have any standing for a slander suit.

 

[jbhtexas]

Unless they got off on a technicality.

The article has been updated a little bit. It sounds like the suspensions were overturned because Goodell did not follow proper procedure.

"Consistent with the panel's decision, commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league's pay-for-performance/bounty rule. Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend," the NFL said in a statement.

 

[theantiAIRBHG]

I agree with Rabbuk. I think this is just the beginning of this story, IMO. The players won't take reinstatement as resolution if they were willing to fight in the first place.

And what's with Goodell and the original suspension? Vendetta? Seems odd that he would impose such huge penalties with no hard evidence, apparently.

 

[Mr Janny]

The article has been updated a little bit. It sounds like the suspensions were overturned because Goodell did not follow proper procedure.

So, it's possible that they'll still be suspended at some point.

 

[jbhtexas]

I agree with Rabbuk. I think this is just the beginning of this story, IMO. The players won't take reinstatement as resolution if they were willing to fight in the first place.

If they weren't getting paid while under suspension, maybe the only thing they wanted was to get reinstated for a few games so that they can get a paycheck.

All the ruling says is that Goodell violated procedure. It doesn't say that no violations of NFL policy were committed by the players.

 

[Mr Janny]

If they weren't getting paid while under suspension, maybe the only thing they wanted was to get reinstated for a few games so that they can get a paycheck.

All the ruling says is that Goodell violated procedure. It doesn't say that no violations of NFL policy were committed by the players.

agreed. It might be a little early for the players to declare victory. They've succeeded in stalling the NFL, but whether or not they've stopped them remains to be seen.

 

[CycoCyclone]

this whole thing has gotten way too complicated

 

[longtimeclone]

If they weren't getting paid while under suspension, maybe the only thing they wanted was to get reinstated for a few games so that they can get a paycheck.

All the ruling says is that Goodell violated procedure. It doesn't say that no violations of NFL policy were committed by the players.

Yeah I would laugh pretty hard if they are punished worse than what Goodell gave them.

 

[Mr Janny]

jbhtexas is on the right track here. After doing some reading, it seems the three member panel that came out with this ruling did not hear or consider what evidence the NFL has on the players or the validity of that evidence. The issue they were considering was whether or not Goodell even had the power to punish these players at all. Their determination was that maybe he does but, he didn't follow correct procedure in this case. It doesn't mean the players get off. It just means their suspensions are lifted until Goodell can provide a path to punishment that he does have the power to enforce. The example I read was that he could go back and give them the exact same punishments, but do it under the "Conduct detrimental to the NFL" umbrella, an avenue where he has more power, and the panel may uphold it.