Canal Street Chronicles - Tagliabue Vacates Player Suspensions in Bounty ScandalHome of the Who Dat Nation...where pigs fly and hell has frozen over.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48295/canal-street-fave.png2012-12-11T20:36:47-06:00http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/rss/stream/35195352012-12-11T20:36:47-06:002012-12-11T20:36:47-06:00Paul Tagliabue Gets It!
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<figcaption>Doug Benc</figcaption>
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<p>He gets it! He really, really gets it. </p> <p>I'm reading the entire 22-page ruling from Paul Tagliabue as we speak. I just happened to catch this paragraph and had to share with all of you.</p>
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<p>In the testimony before me, current NFL executive <span>Troy Vincent</span>, a former outstanding player with the <a href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Philadelphia Eagles</a>, confirmed that during his time with the Eagles the defensive backs had created a performance pool that simply covered three types of plays - - interceptions, fumble recoveries and touchdowns - - none of which rewarded the purposeful injury of an opponent. Indeed, Vincent testified that the pool conducted within the Eagles in his career covered both regular season games as well as team practices. <b>Obviously, such a program cannot reasonably be viewed as having been created or managed to injure players.</b></p>
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<p>Thank you, Paul!!! Now can you please explain that to the idiot fans of all the other NFL teams!</p>
https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3757120/tagliabue-makes-distinction-between-pay-to-injure-and-pay-forDave Cariello2012-12-11T13:32:37-06:002012-12-11T13:32:37-06:00Tagliabue Rules on Each Player
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<figcaption>Derick E. Hingle-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's findings for each player involved in the bounty scandal. </p> <p>Our man Albert Breer is all over former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue's appeal rulings today and he's got each of Tagliabue's rulings for each player involved up on <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer">his Twitter account</a>. </p>
<p>On Jonathan Vilma:</p>
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<p>"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."</p>
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<p> </p>
<p>On Anthony Hargrove:</p>
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<p>There is "not sufficient evidence to demonstrate in these unique circumstances" that a suspension is warranted. </p>
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<p>On Scott Fujita:</p>
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<p>Participation in "non-injury" pay pool is "typically subject only to club discipline", so no conduct detrimental. </p>
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<p> </p>
<p>On Will Smith:</p>
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<p>"Selective prosecution of allegations of misconduct and enforcement of discipline relative to Smith cannot be sustained." Enforcement "does not satisfy basic requirements for consistent treatment of player employees." Suspension vacated. </p>
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https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3755602/tagliabues-specific-ruling-for-each-player-involved-in-bounty-scandalDave Cariello2012-12-11T13:18:38-06:002012-12-11T13:18:38-06:00Vilma to Continue Defamation Lawsuit
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<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Saints linebacker still looking to clear his good name. </p> <p>Albert Breer spoke with <span>Jonathan Vilma's</span> attorney, Peter Ginsberg, and was told the linebacker would continue to pursue his defamation lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell in an attempt to restore his damaged reputation.</p>
<p>Here are Ginsberg's words, <a href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer">per Breer:</a></p>
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<p>Jonathan intends to continue to pursue the defamation lawsuit in order to reclaim his reputation. We're pleased that the unjust penalties have been overturned, but this is only one piece in remedying the situation for Jonathan.</p>
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https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3755572/vilma-to-continue-defamation-lawsuitDave Cariello2012-12-11T13:00:00-06:002012-12-11T13:00:00-06:00Reaction from Tagliabue Bounty Appeals Ruling
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<figcaption>US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>What others are saying around the web about the vacated suspensions of the players involved in the bounty scandal. </p> <p> </p>
<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="28870086" href="https://twitter.com/mortreport" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Chris Mortensen</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">mortreport</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Paul Tagliabue vacates all suspensions on Saints bounty case, even though he concurs with facts found by league re: Vilma, Smith, Hargrove</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="64797154" href="https://twitter.com/LarryHolder" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Larry Holder</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">LarryHolder</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Wow! NFL vacates all player discipline in <a style="color: #038543;" dir="ltr" data-query-source="hashtag_click" class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Saints&src=hash"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #67b58e;">#</s><b style="font-weight: normal; color: #038543;">Saints</b></a> bounty case via<a style="color: #038543;" dir="ltr" class="twitter-atreply pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/gregaiello"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #67b58e;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal; color: #038543;">gregaiello</b></a>.</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">So Will Smith, <span>Jonathan Vilma</span>, <span>Scott Fujita</span> and <span>Anthony Hargrove</span> are on the hook for what they did, but off the hook on penalties.</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="35728561" href="https://twitter.com/wwltvsports" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">WWL-TV Sports</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">wwltvsports</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">So, I'm not good with legalese, but it appears Tagliabue said yes there was some issues w/ the system. But not not enough for Goodell's ...</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="35728561" href="https://twitter.com/wwltvsports" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">WWL-TV Sports</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">wwltvsports</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">...issuance of penalties. Tagliabue therefor decided to vacate the penalties.</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" class="js-tweet-text">I've got the decision from Tagliabue ... It basically clears Scott Fujita.</p>
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<div class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="158820061" href="https://twitter.com/angrywhodat" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">The Angry Who Dat</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">angrywhodat</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" class="js-tweet-text">"The players are guilty, but we can't prove it, and for that they have only themselves to blame" - NFL</p>
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<div style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="341519708" href="https://twitter.com/hakimdropsball" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Held Over</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">hakimdropsball</b></span> <i style="display: inline-block; zoom: 1; vertical-align: text-top; background-image: url(https://si0.twimg.com/a/1354824529/t1/img/twitter_web_sprite_icons.png); height: 13px; background-color: #999999; width: 8px; margin-top: 1px; margin-left: 2px; background-position: -140px -220px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat;" class="sm-lock"></i></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Tags vacates player suspensions but throws Goodell a bone by saying the <a style="color: #038543;" dir="ltr" data-query-source="hashtag_click" class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link js-nav" href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Saints&src=hash"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #67b58e;">#</s><b style="font-weight: normal; color: #038543;">Saints</b></a> tainted the investigation and coaches stay suspended, right?</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="28870086" href="https://twitter.com/mortreport" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Chris Mortensen</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">mortreport</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Tagliabue's finding that the bounty case was contaminated by Saints organization and coaches appears to be major point of culpability.</p>
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<div class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="144040546" href="https://twitter.com/Clifton611" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Clifton Harris</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">Clifton611</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" class="js-tweet-text">So Vilma put a bounty on Favre but he can play? Sean Payton wasn't in that meeting so he can't coach?</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Just spoke w/Vilma's lawyer, Peter Ginsberg. Told me, "Jonathan intends to continue to pursue the defamation lawsuit in order to reclaim ...</p>
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<div class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word;" class="js-tweet-text">(Ginsberg cont): "... his reputation. We’re pleased that the unjust penalties have been overturned, but this is only one piece in ..."</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="158820061" href="https://twitter.com/angrywhodat" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">The Angry Who Dat</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">angrywhodat</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Clearly the NFL was terrified of going to court and allowing the REAL Ginger Hammer to set precedent for coaches to bring the fight next</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #038543; text-decoration: underline;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Tagliabue found on Hargrove there is "not sufficient evidence to demonstrate in these unique circumstances" that a suspension is warranted.</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="96342736" href="https://twitter.com/moosedenied" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #333333;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Grandmaster Wang</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">moosedenied</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Tags: "Everything would have been fine if they'd just admitted it! But nooooo!"</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="61830970" href="https://twitter.com/AlbertBreer" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #038543; text-decoration: underline;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Albert Breer</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">AlbertBreer</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Tagliabue found on Fujita, participation in "non-injury" pay pool is "typically subject only to club discipline", so no conduct detrimental.</p>
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<div style="background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="stream-item-header"><a style="color: #999999;" data-user-id="21454322" href="https://twitter.com/drewbrees" class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link js-nav"><strong style="color: #038543; text-decoration: underline;" class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Drew Brees</strong> <span style="font-size: 12px; color: #999999; direction: ltr; unicode-bidi: embed;" class="username js-action-profile-name"><s style="text-decoration: initial; color: #bbbbbb;">@</s><b style="font-weight: normal;">drewbrees</b></span></a></div>
<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; background-color: #f5f5f5;" class="js-tweet-text">Congratulations to our players for having the suspensions vacated. Unfortunately, there are some things that can never be taken back</p>
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<p style="margin-bottom: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; color: #333333; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;" class="js-tweet-text">Here's a brief synopsis from <a target="_blank" href="http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/11/tagliabue-vacates-all-player-discipline/">Pro Football Talk</a>:</p>
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<p style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0em 0em 1.2em; padding: 0em; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; color: #000000;">“Tagliabue affirms factual findings of Commissioner Goodell concludes Hargrove, Smith, Vilma “engaged in conduct detrimental” and vacates all player discipline,” Aiello says, using “and” where perhaps “but” would have been the better choice.</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0em 0em 1.2em; padding: 0em; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; color: #000000;">Regardless, the suspensions imposed on Saints linebacker <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/2775/jonathan-vilma" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;">Jonathan Vilma</a>, Saints defensive end <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/2777/will-smith" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;">Will Smith</a>, Browns linebacker <a class="nameLink" href="http://www.rotoworld.com/player/nfl/1381/scott-fujita" style="color: #000000; font-weight: bold;">Scott Fujita</a>, and free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove have been overturned.</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0em 0em 1.2em; padding: 0em; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; color: #000000;">He also offers this quote from former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who issued the ruling: “Unlike Saints’ broad organizational misconduct, player appeals involve sharply focused issues of alleged individual player misconduct in several different aspects. My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell’s findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines. However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints’ organization.”</p>
<p style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; margin: 0em 0em 1.2em; padding: 0em; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.4em; color: #000000;">In other words, Tagliabue had decided that the players should not be punished, even though he thinks they did something wrong.</p>
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https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3755332/paul-tagliabue-vacates-all-player-discipline-in-saints-bounty-caseDavid "Satch" Kelly2012-12-11T12:52:25-06:002012-12-11T12:52:25-06:00Tagliabue Vacates Player Suspensions in Bountygate
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<figcaption>Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE</figcaption>
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<p>Suspended players are free as Tagliabue puts most of the blame squarely on the shoulders of the Saints coaches and the organization. Now let's see all that evidence.</p> <p>Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has finally handed down his ruling on the appeals of the four suspended players involved in the bounty scandal and has decided to vacate all penalties and suspensions.</p>
<p>In his ruling, Tagliabue puts most of the blame squarely on the shoulders of the <a href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Saints</a> coaches and the organization.</p>
<p>Here is Tagliabue's ruling, in his own words:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Unlike Saints' broad organizational misconduct, player appeals involve sharply focused issues of alleged individual player misconduct in several different aspects. My affirmation of Commissioner Goodell's findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines. However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints' organization."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>And here is the official statement from the NFL, per spokesperson Greg Aiello's twitter account:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"We respect Mr. Tagliabue's decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters. This matter has now been reviewed by Commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Panel, and Mr. Tagliabue as Commissioner Goodell's designated appeals officer. The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league. Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football."</p>
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<p>To be sure, this is good news. For the players at least.</p>
<p>But I can't help but remain pissed off at the Saints organization because what the league is <i>really</i> saying is that this entire mess probably could have been avoided had Saints coaches admitted to the bounty pool and cooperated with league investigators.</p>
<p>Whatever. I'm just glad this whole thing is finally over and I'm glad the players have been vindicated.</p>
<p>Now let's see all that evidence!</p>
https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/12/11/3755386/tagliabue-vacates-player-suspensions-in-bounty-scandalDave Cariello