And if you don’t know the truth about the Ornstein letter, than you have not been following this case. That letter was without a doubt a joke because they were being investigated. Look it up before you come here and spew your own non-facts.

“@ gtodriver

What?

For one, how exactly did Goodell come down hard on Vick? Vick was out of jail May 2009 and playing football in August 2009. WOW! That’s harsh… not.

And how exactly do you know that Sean Payton lied to Goodell? You know what’s funny? At not time has Goodell or the NFL stated anything other than “he’s the head coach and therefore responsible”.”

This is the problem with the Saints* fans – they disregard the truth and post lies.

Goodell suspended Vick indefinitely back in 2007 – before Vick was even sentenced for his crimes.

After serving his time in prison, Vick applied for reinstatement and Goodell issued a 6 game suspension for the 2009 season.

Based on Vick’s actions and remorse, that suspension was ultimately lowered to 3 games – so Vick did not play or get paid until late September of the 2009 season.

As to Payton – how do I know he lied?

Because he was caught red handed lying to the NFL investigators:

“Payton went to Williams and Vitt before their interviews with the league’s security and told them to ” … make sure our ducks are in a row.”

It doesn’t appear that Payton was interviewed as part of the investigation at that time, but when he denied all knowledge of the program in a 2012 interview with the league, they showed him an e-mail from 2011 in which Payton added a very expensive postscript:

“PS Greg [sic] Williams put me down for $5000 on Rogers [sic].”"

Doesn’t it suck when the facts bite you right in the assets?

“Prepared to move ahead”? Does that mean grovel for mercy and finally fess up to the truth?

What?

For one, how exactly did Goodell come down hard on Vick? Vick was out of jail May 2009 and playing football in August 2009. WOW! That’s harsh… not.

And how exactly do you know that Sean Payton lied to Goodell? You know what’s funny? At not time has Goodell or the NFL stated anything other than “he’s the head coach and therefore responsible”.

And how can you show any respect for a man who smears your name in public for months without giving you a chance to rebut? Without showing you his proof other than “oh, we have it”?

The players already admitted to their wrong-doing: a money pool that violates the salary cap rules. It is Goodell who has made this pool into some nefarious hitman-for-hire scheme.

It couldn’t have been any worst than the Saints o-line against the Skins. Reminded me of the line of turnstiles at the DC Metro.

But the defense made up for it by allowing the Skins to score on every drive.

The middle ground is the players owning up to being part of a system that was pay for play, detrimental conduct and lying about it.

Then Goodell waxing poetic about “moving on,” saying that these 4 were part of the problem, not entirely all of it and cut into down 1/2 suspension time.

If these morons claim “innocence” put the screws to them.

NOBODY in New Orleans is squeaky clean.

There endeth the lesson.

PS. Rog, tell me more about how you’re going to keep your private sources away from scrutinizing eyes, and still come up with enough evidence to win the defamation case.

If they fail to do so, the commisioner will be forced to just reinstate the original suspensions with it clearly spelled out that it is for conduct detrimental to the game and all suspensions will be for the original term.

Goodell is a reasonable man. Those that he has come down the hardest on are those that have lied to him (Michael Vick, Sean Payton, Greg Williams, etc).

If the players can manage to admit to their wrong doings respectfully – I think there is a solid chance that the suspensions are reduced (Goodell has done this many times before).

Are these players smart enough to do this properly?

Just being a part of the system, irrelevant about whether or not they took money – the arbiter can decide fines on that. Irrelevant – whether they tried to injure. They lied about being part of the system, and they later admitted it to it.

He has set precedent that if you try to hide something, he will nail you. He has done this multiple times.

And if anyone needs to ask about evidence, here you go

1. They admitted to being part of a pay for play program.

2. Play for pay is against the rules, and to use some of the verbage from the former players verbage – they didn’t consider what level of damage could be done to other players because of their actions.

3. Conduct is detrimental – over 3000 former players are suing because of game changing hits, and constant beating. You know the kind of plays they were in a system to earn from.

However if he wants to still try the bounties angle, lets see what they come with.