Getty ImagesYes, says the Saints, owner Tom Benson and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had a get-together on Tuesday.
No, says the team, it wasn’t a big deal.
“Today, Mr. Benson visited with Commissioner Goodell in New York,” team spokesman Greg Bensel said in a statement. “It was a very productive meeting and he looks forward to having many more discussions with the Commissioner on specific Saints-related issues as well as league-wide issues.”
The vanilla explanation says nothing about whether and to what extent Benson is seeking an explanation or an apology or simply venting. And that’s the right thing to do.
Regardless of how Benson feels about the situation, no one benefits from Benson publicly bashing Goodell or the league office, especially since pretty much everyone from the league office will be descending on New Orleans in less than six months for the Super Bowl. It’s also wise for Benson and the Saint to take the high road because, in the end, Goodell can give the Saints their 2013 second-round pick and take one or more other picks instead.
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Maybe Mr. Benson is letting GODdell know the the private investigation on the bounty case by Freeh is also over. Maybe giving him a chance to make things right before its too late.
I never thought I’d say this, but perhaps Brees and his teammates could follow Benson’s example on how to speak and behave properly in response to the the NFL’s heavy-handed approach.
I really don’t think he would be able to justify taking anymore picks, he can’t even justify why he took this years and next years picks much less any of the suspensions. I think that in the next few days we will see something big happen. Benson had something to lay on the table.
Now if we can just get Goodell to acknowledge he railroaded the players…
In all candor, I would be disappointed if this litigation results in a settlement. There are significant legal questions presented by this unprecedented case that may end up being reviewed “de novo” by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Importantly, I think there’s an opportunity for the Commissioner and the league to add another legal arrow of appellate case law to their quiver, just as they did when the Eighth Circuit vacated the lower district court’s order lifting the player lockout in 2011.
rhodeislandpatriotsfan says: Aug 14, 2012 6:17 PM
In all candor, I would be disappointed if this litigation results in a settlement. There are significant legal questions presented by this unprecedented case that may end up being reviewed “” by the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Importantly, I think there’s an opportunity for the Commissioner and the league to add another legal arrow of appellate case law to their quiver, just as they did when the Eighth Circuit vacated the lower district court’s order lifting the player lockout in 2011.
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If there is a settlement, it will not be because the NFL has wasted a chance to “add another legal arrow of appellate case law to their quiver,” it will be because the Commissioner does not have a boney leg to stand on.