Saints Vilma may get suspension reduced
Jonathan Vilma has sued NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for defamation.
ESPN is reporting that the league has offered to reduce Vilma’s year-long suspension to eight games as part of negotiations with the NFL Players Association and the four players who were suspended in the Saints’ bounty program.
The NFL alleges the Saints operated a bounty system rewarding players for hard hits and injuring opposing players.
ESPN, citing anonymous sources, said the offer is contingent on Vilma dropping a civil suit charging commissioner Roger Goodell with defamation of character.
Goodell has said Vilma was a leader of the bounty program, which allegedly offered $10,000 rewards for taking out Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre during the 2010 playoffs.
The other three players — defensive end Will Smith (four games) and former Saints Anthony Hargrove (eight games), and Scott Fujita (three games) — could also see their suspensions reduced, ESPN said.
Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire season, and General Manager Mickey Loomis was suspended eight games. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely.
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50 comments Add your comment
Say It Aint So
August 6th, 2012
10:15 am
The NFL is showing weakness. I the future if you sue the Commish, you will get favorable leverage in your situation. Not a good move by Goodell.
robertussen
August 6th, 2012
10:20 am
nfl.com refutes this report
Sid
August 6th, 2012
10:27 am
It didn’t make sense cause that’s not Goodell’s modus operandi.
dougmo2
August 6th, 2012
10:53 am
I think that Vilma should stand his ground. If the NFL is trying to settle it shows that they are afraid to argue their point in open court. If that happens and it is found out that the NFL has really no evidence of a bounty program, they are so screwed. Goodell will have zero credability with the players or fans and he will be forced to quit.
Pippa's hiney
August 6th, 2012
10:55 am
I think the NFL should double his punishment.
Real American
August 6th, 2012
10:55 am
from nfl.com:
The source told Wyche that the lack of an offer does not mean a proposal might not be made in the future.
Translation: we didn’t want this to get out until we could figure out how to spin it right.
Falcon60
August 6th, 2012
10:57 am
The 32 owners have nothing to do with this. It’s all on the league office, i.e. Roger Goddell. I don’t think the suspensions should be reduced at all and agree with Say It Ain’t So. Not sending a good message. The Saints played dirty, rewarded players for dirty and vicious hits, got caught and were told to stop, and didn’t. I say they got what they deserved.
Rick
August 6th, 2012
11:00 am
I cant believe he is going to back down now! Poor message Goddell!
kimmer
August 6th, 2012
11:10 am
@rick Could it be that he is backing down because he has a flimsy case? Its easy to win when you are the judge, jury, and executioner. It is another when you have to actually prove your case in a real court of law.
Falcons Girl
August 6th, 2012
11:21 am
Boo this man!!!!
too tough 44
August 6th, 2012
11:26 am
WOW….I thought the commish was thicker skinned! Go Figure…setting a crappy precedent…just saying! NOt Smart!
Michael M.
August 6th, 2012
11:27 am
Defamation of character ? What a Joke. Vilma is a dirty player to begin with and he knows he is guilty so accept the suspension like a man and move on with it.
robertussen
August 6th, 2012
11:28 am
the court ordered them to have discussions. the court date is friday and the nfl said it will not offer vilma anything…………..except the year long ban that he’s still going to get
gkingii
August 6th, 2012
11:32 am
Goodell would send the message that the league fears lawsuits, if the suspension is reduced. And it does… that’s the whole fear behind the new rules about head butting. That said, the furore over the Saints’ play brought punishments that were far too severe. The team’s play did not result in game-time penalties, so they did not egregiously break the rules. It’s calling a crime after the fact in a system that had never punished that particular violation and which has no fair way to appeal to an impartial authority.
no to unions
August 6th, 2012
11:36 am
Has nothing to do with Roger backing down…its the NFL vs the damn UNION!
UNIONS that suck the life out of American business in the name of helping people.
Walt
August 6th, 2012
11:58 am
He is still a thug, a chump, & a LOSER.
Walt
August 6th, 2012
11:58 am
Vilma that is….
Pamela
August 6th, 2012
12:00 pm
Thank God! I’m so happy. He need to be back with the Saints.
This is great news! 
Sources: Jonathan Vilma offered deal – ESPN | Headline News Network
August 6th, 2012
12:06 pm
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Sid
August 6th, 2012
12:09 pm
“Can you read? “COMPLETELY INACCURATE”…………!!
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello issued the following statement Monday:
“Today’s report about a settlement offer by the league to Jonathan Vilma is completely inaccurate. No such settlement offer has been made. We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time.”
Midtown123
August 6th, 2012
12:19 pm
The commish needs to stop being a p*ssy.
Paddy
August 6th, 2012
12:20 pm
Gee, a lawyer being afraid he is going to be sued! I thought that is what they live for?
mrwin
August 6th, 2012
12:21 pm
Ask yourselves this question, if it was the Dallas Cowboy’s, New England Patriots, or Green Bay would the same punishment have been handed down? That is what I believe is what the NFL has to look at. If you the fan thinks that this type of thing does not go on your not a true fan. If you ever played football, you have heard coaches say we need to take a certain player out! Is it right, NO…, does it happen YES! The Saints are not the only team that has had a bounty on a player, whither it was for pay, or for a game ball, nonetheless bounties are apart of the sport and players know it!
collegedude
August 6th, 2012
12:25 pm
First of all, lawsuits are expensive, even for the NFL & their billions of dollars, when it comes to the bottom line, spending 10 million or more to defend yourself from a frivolous lawsuit is an expense you don’t need. Second, there isn’t a precendent being set here. It’s not like the NFL has never reduced a player’s penalty in the past (remember Mike Vick’s suspension for example?). They just refuse, and rightly so, to reduce the punishment while there is a lawsuit outstanding.
The NFL is denying that this is a settlement and they are not looking at it like it is. They are treating it like most suspension reductions. There is probably a deal in place to reduce the punishments just like in the many previous cases where punishments were reduced, but nothing is going to happen while there is a lawsuit pending.
collegedude
August 6th, 2012
12:29 pm
@mrwin, there is a huge difference in saying we need to eliminate this RB, QB, or WR in meetings and pregame speeches to give us an advantage over paying your players extra money under the table to do it. We all know the talking goes on in every locker room from high school through the pros, its just the taints were caught organizing and handing out cash payments for actually doing it.
who dat nation
August 6th, 2012
12:36 pm
Yes! About time… Who Dat, We Dat!!!! Black and Gold Nation, all day! What??!? Now Free Sean Payton.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello
August 6th, 2012
12:38 pm
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello issued the following statement Monday:
“Today’s report about a settlement offer by the league to Jonathan Vilma is completely inaccurate. No such settlement offer has been made. We will continue to respect the court proceedings on this matter and have no further comment at this time.”
ASHCAN!!!
August 6th, 2012
12:39 pm
For all who’s against vilma keep in mind there’s no proof that the saints did anything. Getting recorded evidence from a coach saying kill the head is just not enough. players all the time in locker rooms and huddles been heard saying knock there heads off and break there backs. whats the problem?? if it was your team (and mine is the steelers thank you) you would be saying fire roger goodell. What a bunch of haters. Not by no means a saints fan but they will win the south, you don’t need a coach to beat the sorry falcons.
MR164
August 6th, 2012
1:00 pm
@walt really? A thug?
thug
noun
1.
a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.
2.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) one of a former group of professional robbers and murderers in India who strangled their victims.
Dude get a life
Mik
August 6th, 2012
1:09 pm
Pamela, you obviously ONLY care about the Saints win/loss record. If you had any integrity at all, and I really do mean even an ounce of integrity, you’s think about the issue and not your “get out of jail free” card. Your comment irritates good people who have integrity.
Trailboss
August 6th, 2012
1:11 pm
The man need to do his time not because of politics they put people future on the line not speaking on their health and good sportsmanship.He had a street style of playing give the street style punishment and let him pay for what he have done so the rest of the league will get the message other this will be a sign of weakness.If the commission is going to change his decision because of being taken to court DAM man that’s part of the job stick by your word or it will come back and bit you on this for sure. What are we going to tell our kid’s about fairness this one will be very hard to explain if the commission’s make a deal.
Dumbo
August 6th, 2012
1:17 pm
Jeez….is Goodell a *ussy or what…..just grow a pair Commissioner or else every SOB that f’s up is gonna threaten you and league with a law suit if you even appear to act like a man….give back NE’s money if you go this route and I thought Bud Selig was a turd, but after this crap and you backing down…you a man like Wayne Newton is Commiss
Sid
August 6th, 2012
1:45 pm
who dat ?
dat is a gnat, a fat rat, teams that go splat, a dat is not a cool cat, dat fall on a mat, face flat, splat,
nobody wants to chat cause you’re a dat gnat, and everyone knows…………..you aints, full of crap, you not even on the map, time to unwrap, aints got no chin strap, no lilly rap, may we gift wrap, for you NFC South splat, if you a dat, you need a bath
Thank You………….words and music by Sean Payton (hey, I’ve got nothing else to do)
Sid
August 6th, 2012
1:48 pm
MR164 August 6th, 2012 1:00 pm
@walt really? A thug?
thug
noun
1.
a cruel or vicious ruffian, robber, or murderer.
2.
( sometimes initial capital letter ) one of a former group of professional robbers and murderers in India who strangled their victims.
Dude get a life
***************************************************
I thought he had it pretty good
WTF
August 6th, 2012
1:50 pm
@who dat nation Sean Peyton is free, free do whatever he wants this season, hahahahahaha.
no to unions
August 6th, 2012
1:55 pm
Well said Sid…..
FalconJim
August 6th, 2012
2:02 pm
Yatta, yatta, yatta…..stick to your guns, Mr. Goodell. Otherwise, you lose all credibility. Saints were told to stop, and they didn’t…..now they must pay the price, plain and simple.
Let it all play out in court (if that’s what they want), and the thugs will be found guilty AGAIN, in a public forum for all to see.
THAT should settle it, once and for all…..right? Probably not…
TuffShhhtuff
August 6th, 2012
2:22 pm
Why were the Saints allowed to play in the HOF game last night? I forgot it was on and when I discovered it in the 2nd quarter, and saw the Saints, I immediately turned it. Bad mistake there. I noticed in the brief time I watched that there were an awful lot of empty seats. Some others in OHIO must have felt the same way.
collegedude
August 6th, 2012
2:53 pm
By the way, did anybody hear how much Sedrick Ellis got for taking out Kevin Kolb last night?
Tech Man
August 6th, 2012
2:59 pm
CHICKEN, CHICKEN, CHICKEN. The commish has blinked…..
Keepin' It Real
August 6th, 2012
3:08 pm
No one on these idiots (on this blog) identifying Vilma as a thug has seen a single thread of evidence from Goddell to support their post. If Goddell is going to attack a Vilma’s character in the media, then he must be willing to put up evidence to back his claims. Else, it is indeed slander/libel. Remember, this is the same league that fined Bryan Cox for giving the fans the middle finger after the fans were making racist threats at him. ONLY, A LAW SUIT by Cox against the NFL forced the NFL to begin to eject fans that exhibit such behavior. In other words, just because the NFL says so does not necessarily make it so.
The lawsuit filed by Vilma will eventually get to the ‘discovery phase’ whereby ALL EVIDENCE MUST BE EXCHANGED. Do you actually think the Goddell is interested in giving ALL DATA to the Vilma’s attorneys, Payton’s attorneys, Williams attorneys, the Player’s Union, and the Media. Didn’t think so. Finally, if the industry you worked in tried to keep you from feeding your family for a year and was not willing to show any evidence that you did something illegal, then you are a certified fool if you sit back and take it. My position is about evidence, pi$$ on the Saints. I commend Vilma for standing up for himself.
Sick & Tired Of Being Sick & Tired
August 6th, 2012
3:13 pm
WOW…..It appears that ESPN seriously jumped the gun on this one with a story that the NFL denies. Surprised???? NOT!!!!!! It’s classic ESPN!!!!!
Anthony
August 6th, 2012
3:34 pm
To all the idiots posting about Vilma being a thug, do your research on the man. He actually graduated from college and does a lot in the community (Miami, New Orleans, and Haiti). Real idiots or thugs wouldn’t fight this suspension. Besides that, Vilma was and alwaysnhas been one of the least penalized defenders in the NFL.
Do your work before judging and making disparaging marks. From the tone of the comments, you are I’ll- informed or a male of the caucasian race that is use to judging others (not a racist, but definitely a realist) and I didn’t say all Caucasian males.
Goodall decided to deal with the wrong one. That is all.
Thank you very much
les
August 6th, 2012
3:48 pm
All players, coaches and mgmt. that were involved in the bounty should receive stiffer penalties than
Pete Rose did for gambling _ which was suspension for life- They (NFL Players/coaches) didn’t have any consideration for the possible fractures, loss of a possible career or how it could effect the overall performance of any of their competitors teams. It shows that the THUGS can get away with anything in the NFL _ they were gambling too but they were betting they could take a player out.
they should all be disbarred for life.
AVERAGE JOE
August 6th, 2012
4:40 pm
Payton and Vitt both had to admit their part in the bounty program and cooperate with the NFL’s investigation to keep from getting stiffer penalties. Multiple players have come forward from other teams that Williams was defensive coordinator on and admitted he ran a program on their team. The evidence is insurmountable. Vilma is a thug and should be banned for life from the NFL.
BigMike
August 6th, 2012
5:29 pm
Vilma is a punk. Take him to the wall, Roger.
realitycheck
August 6th, 2012
6:04 pm
Again the AJC is so obsessed with the Saints that they often get more coverage than the hometown Falcons. If this keeps up, it will be like Steelers coverage in Cincinnati and Cleveland, especially if 10 of 12 becomes 12 of 14.
Saints Dismal History
August 6th, 2012
6:52 pm
I hope they remain as tough as possible on the dismal Taints.
p.s. I see ASHCAN (aka SeenThisB4) made an appearance. I guess SeenB4 needed to use one of his pseudonyms to comment on this type article.
Saints Vilma may get suspension reduced – Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog)
August 7th, 2012
4:07 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) [...]
Hollywood
August 7th, 2012
6:43 am
The saints didn’t play dirty.. They did bounty for hard hits on players.. Not at all to injury anyone.. Show me one game with any team that’s not the goal.. To put fear into the offense.. By bringing the wood.. Every other team admits to running similar bounties.. Yall just can’t stand a team from the south is this good… And if they reducevilma”s suspension.. It justifies everything.. Even the NFL is scared of the saints!!! So who dat bitchs. Saints gonna b 1st team to play next host a super bowl!! Thanks for giving us a huge chip on our shoulder!! Time to shine..