http://sulia.com/channel/new-york-giants/f/8d847a3a-9d48-428c-a008-2ec58bbe175e/?source=twitterFormer Giants DT Jimmy Kennedy issued a statement in which he called Roger Goodell a liar for naming him as a rat:
The Commissioner of the NFL recently distributed a memo to all 32 NFL teams regarding the alleged Saints bounty program that contained blatant lies about me, thereby adding me to the list of men whose reputations and character have been irreparably damaged by the shoddy, careless, shameful so-called investigation behind this sham proceeding. Roger Goodell identifies me as the “whistleblower” who approached former Viking coach Brad Childress about an alleged bounty on Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game.
That is a lie. I had no knowledge about any alleged bounty to reveal to anyone, and I never informed anyone that I did. Contrary to the false information disseminated by the NFL, Coach Childress approached me and asked me if I knew anything about such an allegation, and I told him the truth: I did not. I had no knowledge of any such alleged bounty.
Roger Goodell also states that I was interviewed by the NFL about the alleged bounty. That is another lie; I was never interviewed by the NFL, unless the NFL considers two 30-second conversations when I told NFL Security that I had no knowledge of any such allegations “interviews.” I certainly do not.
After the second phone call that I received from NFL, in which I once again told the person that I had absolutely no knowledge of any alleged bounty, I called my agent, who then retained an attorney for me. We informed the NFL Security person that further contact with me should occur through my attorney, and interestingly, we never heard from the NFL again.
The third lie that Roger Goodell told about me is perhaps the most upsetting because it involves a man for whom I have great respect and affection, Anthony Hargrove. The NFL states that Anthony Hargrove told me about the alleged bounty on Brett Favre. That is an utter lie; it simply never happened. I never discussed an alleged bounty with Anthony Hargrove before, during or after the NFC Championship game. The only discussion I have had with Anthony about the alleged bounty occurred when we recently spoke about the NFL’s egregiously flawed and unjust investigation and proceeding.
I am not one of the players who has been officially disciplined by the NFL as part of this sham, but I now know that I too have been damaged by the NFL’s complete disregard for truth and integrity.
Vilma says NFL won’t produce Williams or Cerullo at appeal hearing
Posted by Mike Florio on October 19, 2012, 10:28 AM EDT
As the legal briefs continue to fly in to federal court in Louisiana, careful inspection of the documents reveals all sorts of interesting things.
Here’s the latest, and it’s a doozy.
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma contends in an October 18 filing that the NFL has refused to produce former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams or former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo for testimony at the October 23 appeal hearing before Commissioner Roger Goodell.
The league likewise refused to produce either witness during the first appeal hearing in June. That time, however, the NFL wasn’t hinging so much of its case against Vilma on sworn statements from Williams and Cerullo. (Indeed, in June, the NFL staunchly was refusing to even disclose Cerullo as a witness.)
This time, there’s no way Vilma can get a fair hearing without a chance to question the two men on whose word the NFL is heavily relying in suspending Vilma. Their sworn statements give rise to plenty of questions that need to be asked, including topics such as whether and to what extent Williams’ ability to return to the NFL (or to attend games while supposedly “banned” from pro football) hinged on signing the sworn statement, whether Williams or someone else wrote the statement, whether Williams if he didn’t write the statement fully agrees with every word of it, whether the money that Vilma allegedly offered belonged to Vilma or someone else (rumors persist in league circles that it may have been Williams money).
As to Cerullo, there are real questions about his alleged desire to take revenge against the Saints for firing him after the 2009 season. There’s no way to assess his potential bias without asking him questions about the circumstances surrounding his termination — and whether he said things at the time like, for example, “I’ll get Joe Vitt for this,” or words to that effect.
As to both men, their respective statements contain a rather significant discrepancy. Cerullo says the money offered by Vilma was given to Williams. Williams says he never received it. How can the league accept the word of both men as the Gospel truth when there’s such a strong discrepancy on such a key point?
For Vilma to not receive a chance to question Williams and Cerullo makes a mockery of the process. The NFL surely will seek refuge in the “it’s not a court proceeding” mantra. But the league can’t have it both ways. Using sworn statements makes it enough like a court proceeding to compel the witnesses to answer questions under oath. It’s simply unfair to base suspensions on written testimony without giving the person whose livelihood and reputation is affected adversely by the outcome to ask questions of the persons who signed their names to the documents.
Thus, Judge Helen Berrigan should give the NFL a choice: Make the witnesses available, or rescind the suspension of Vilma.
In a case that has been at times maddeningly complicated, this is by far the simplest aspect of it. Without a chance to confront and question Williams and Cerullo, Vilma can’t fairly be punished.
UPDATE 12:50 p.m. ET: The NFL says a final decision regarding the parameters of the appeal hearing has not been made.
NoIf these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
NoIf these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
The owners won't fire him, because he's doing exactly what they want.....If these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
If these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
The state police investigated. Announced that they found zero evidence. ESPN essentially fabricated the entire story.what about the saints bugging the opposing team's locker room?
I don't see how he overstepped his bounds with the suspensions.(I can "see" the NFL is a government within a government which is illegal but, nother day nother topic) Basically he is the temporary judge, like any boss. Some employees reported that other employees were paid to hurt certain employees. An investigation proved this very likely happened if not certainly happened. Every boss in america has to suspend their workers at that point.Then it progresses and we have hearings and further investigation and blah blah blah.There's posts about how he handled things after, what he said, who did what to whom...fine, that's up for debate.I don't really feel like him suspending the players is. Maybe the duration of the suspension? but...any boss would have done the same.********Maybe a sidenote, maybe relevant, I'm not sure. The NFL is being sued left and right by former players saying they weren't informed about concussions and other injuries. The timing of "bountygate" didn't help these players nor the NFL's stance in those lawsuits.If these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
Yeah, not so much.'Bri said:I don't see how he overstepped his bounds with the suspensions.(I can "see" the NFL is a government within a government which is illegal but, nother day nother topic)If these suspensions are overturned and its ruled that Goodell over stepped his bounds issuing the suspensions, he has got to be fired right?
Basically he is the temporary judge, like any boss. Some employees reported that other employees were paid to hurt certain employees. An investigation proved this very likely happened if not certainly happened. Every boss in america has to suspend their workers at that point.
Then it progresses and we have hearings and further investigation and blah blah blah.
There's posts about how he handled things after, what he said, who did what to whom...fine, that's up for debate.
I don't really feel like him suspending the players is. Maybe the duration of the suspension? but...any boss would have done the same.
********
Maybe a sidenote, maybe relevant, I'm not sure. The NFL is being sued left and right by former players saying they weren't informed about concussions and other injuries. The timing of "bountygate" didn't help these players nor the NFL's stance in those lawsuits.
This still has legs?Never happened. Complete fabrication by yet another disgruntled ex-employee. ESPN reporter bought it hook, line, & sinker.Meanwhile, Tom Benson still has Louis Freeh on retainer investigating his own organization. A few too many axe-grinders coming out of Saints' camp over the last few years. Gotta rein that in.what about the saints bugging the opposing team's locker room?