Saints Players Bounty Suspensions Overturned by Appeals Panel: Good for the NFL?

by Chris D Posted 2012/09/07 22:00:00

Related Topics: Sports, Johnathan Vilma, Vilma, bounty gate, NFL, Saints, Football, New Orleans, New Orleans Saints, Murder

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	Yes, the suspensions were too harsh	69 votes	34%
	No, the players desrved to sit	134 votes	66%

So the "New Orleans Bounty Gate" players are clear to play... and I just picked up Johnathan Vilma on my fantasy team (even though he has a bad knee and won't play right away.) The full year suspension penalty to Vilma seemed a bit harsh, but getting no punishment means getting away with the murder of Brett Favre (so to speak.) Is it good for the NFL that the ruling was overturned?

SPORTSILLUSTRATED.CNN.COM reports:
A three-member appeals panel has overturned the player suspensions in the Saints bounty case. The panel overturned a ruling by NFL system arbiter Stephen Burbank that commissioner Roger Goodell was within his powers under the collective bargaining agreement to suspend four players for their alleged roles in a pay to injure system.

powers collective bargaining agreement suspend players alleged roles pay injure

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bags the Indigenous Guru 2012/09/07 22:23:11

No, the players desrved to sit

+8
And so, the culture of destroying another teams top players will continue. $ over humanity. It's not just football, or just the Saints. I've seen hockey players have their knees taken out on purpose, just to end their career. I couldn't disagree with NFL's action more.
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More polls by Chris D

Grizzled Alaskan 2012/09/14 12:34:44 (edited)

No, the players desrved to sit

Some of them should have probably done some time.

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Tim 2012/09/12 12:29:42

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

This is a load of CRAP! I remember doing the bounty thing in high school football. It wasn't something the coaches knew about or sanctioned but it happens and it's part of the nature of the sport. Football ain't for Sissy's (or Liberals hahaha) !!! Plain and simple.

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Sue MacDonald Kyak 2012/09/12 00:21:22

No, the players desrved to sit

Ridiculous with what they got away with.

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Pm 2012/09/11 05:53:41

No, the players desrved to sit

we dont not know the facts, but they must of somehow proved that the hits were meant to injure.

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tom C 2012/09/10 14:17:04 (edited)

No, the players desrved to sit

+1
They were getting paid to put Career ending hits on other players...

putting a bounty on specific heads...
I believe that is criminal...and they need jail time..also....
the only difference with this....they didnt carry a gun

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Bob 2012/09/10 13:14:45 (edited)

No, the players desrved to sit

I've played football before and some of these guys are too violent. Wanting to hurt people instead playing a good game.

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glen 2012/09/10 12:44:41

No, the players desrved to sit

Message sent nuff said !

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Proud 2012/09/10 11:36:16
Cancer-Fighter 2012/09/10 11:23:37

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

I think the whole bounty crap is ridiculous!!!! Show me the evidence.....this is football? Right?

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Purple Pinto ~PWCM~JLA 2012/09/10 03:33:42

No, the players desrved to sit

+1
Sorry, if Pete Rose can be banned for life from baseball for betting on the game, I don't think a year suspension for thuggery and potential life changing injuries is harsh at all.

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wamcalif 2012/09/10 03:15:05

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

The point was made. Let's play some football.

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carlton999 2012/09/10 00:36:18

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

if the video that I saw was all the evidence they had on Vilma they had no choice but to over turn his suspension.

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Michelle 2012/09/10 00:05:12

No, the players desrved to sit

+1
So all that talk about "good sportsmanship" was just jaw jacking? What a great lesson for our kids!

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NPC 2012/09/09 23:25:27

No, the players desrved to sit

Bad decision

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boneman1 2012/09/09 21:30:12

No, the players desrved to sit

The NFLPA agreed to the contract that gives the commissioner the authority to hand out punishment. If the courts overturn the suspensions it I'd say they're basically nullifying the new CBA.

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SamE 2012/09/09 20:43:19

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

Is it good for the NFL, I do not know. They went through the process in place and a decision was made.

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jgh57 2012/09/09 18:52:56

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

+1
The Saints were not doing anything any of the other teams weren't doing. The coaches should be back as well.

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ssmithix 2012/09/09 17:24:54

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

Everyone else was doing it, the Saints just happened to get caught

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Cancer-... to ssmithix 2012/09/10 11:26:24

We haven't seen any evidence as to the allegations yet...let's see it!

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Akes88 2012/09/09 12:18:47

No, the players desrved to sit

there should be some kind of punishment. they did get fined right

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pizzaman7 2012/09/09 09:14:09

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
It is a rough enough sport already. Goddell was trying to ensure that this sort of thing is frowned upon. Hopefully this behavior stops.

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TheTruth1313 2012/09/09 06:14:35

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

+1
Also, it is about time that little nazi Goodel got put in his place.

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Akes88 to TheTrut... 2012/09/09 12:23:43

This isnt golf. if they hit someone the wrong way, they could end up paralyzed. u dont think that deserves a harsh punishment?

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TheTrut... to Akes88 2012/09/10 06:56:14

+1
Football is a violent sport. I'm merely pointing out that Goodel has, time and time again, over stepped bounds and this was one of those times.

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Akes88 to TheTrut... 2012/10/26 03:51:00

So what should be done about it?

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TheTrut... to Akes88 2012/10/26 21:26:16

Not much. From the info that has come up since, it seems that the "bounty" was actually rewarding good and legal hits that might have led to an injury.

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Irish little 2012/09/09 03:31:32

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
They are ooveroaid to begain with, then get xtra pay to take out another player? Kick them out of the game for good along with the people that came up with the idea.

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Annie~Pro American~Pro Israel 2012/09/09 03:27:48

No, the players desrved to sit

+4
Wow! Some NFL players have resorted to purposely hurting other players? OK, I know its been going on for a while but it has got to stop, we're not the ancient Roman's boys! So the Unions got the guy off, no punishment. Unions corrupt everything, so it seems.... I was at that Saints game back when Demsey kicked that winning field goal. Football has changed allot since then.

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Bryan Longworth 2012/09/09 03:09:56

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
This is the result of the power of unions and their willingness to defend their members bad behavior. This sends a clear message to every player in the league: you will not be held accountable, even if you purposely hurt another player.

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kobidobidog 2012/09/09 01:44:35 (edited)

Yes, the suspensions were too harsh

+2
The players are not taught that what they do will have eternal consequences because they die. A consequence way worse than they can imagine awaits them doing harm to people in a premeditated way The saints would be wise to stop the way they play. It is evil. They already have a consequence because they want to disable people on purpose. Repenting is what I want to see.

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zeldama... to kobidob... 2012/09/09 21:58:37
kobidob... to zeldama... 2012/09/10 04:08:43 (edited)

Child,... you don't know that religion, and Jesus is like oil, and water. Scribes wanted him dead because people began to believe on him when he raised Lazarus. The Buddhists anti war stance, and the Sikh religion are not like them not taking the name. but have the meek lowly Jesus in them. Look beyond the name. I see religions errors, all of them. Apologize to me. it will do you good. All I want is good for you. The Saints should humble them selves so they can be right with their brother. That much I can say. All of them need good chiropractic practitioners that are found on www.upcspine.com, and upper cervical heath centers. U, C,S, only.

The saints paying for that care. Atlas Orthogonal, Grostic, and NUCCA are some good techniques. Light toggle recoil too,

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joe mauro 2012/09/08 21:48:59

No, the players desrved to sit

+1
this decision is almost as bad as the casey anthony trial.It smells of a payoff! This is a horrible precedent,now more and more teams will pay players to seriously hurt othrt players with no fear of punishment! Throw the ref issue in and it makes for a bad nfl season with bad decisions by the nfl office,the owners and the courts.It almost makes me feel sorry for the millions of people who are crazy enough to bet on this,we ALMOST.

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shotgun the 3rd 2012/09/08 20:17:40

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
No I think when these above the law and rules atheletes get caught screwing up they should be banned forever and loose it all. They are supposed to be role models for the kids.

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BILL 2012/09/08 20:07:39

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
BIG MONEY TALKS AND THOSE GUILTY PLAYERS WALK

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joe mauro to BILL 2012/09/08 21:50:47

i guess the judge gets free tickets and or dope and hookers,besides cash.

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BILL to joe mauro 2012/09/09 18:56:23

+1
I have no doubt that you are right on all counts, 'welcome to the new Land of the /free if you can Afford it

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chadwr85 2012/09/08 19:16:34

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
Since when does a private business (NFL) have to go to court for punishing players/employees for breaking the rules. The NFL should stay internal and in no way shape or form should the players been able to go to court. I really wan't to know in what job can you go challenge and win against the discipline.

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Bob DiN 2012/09/08 17:14:15

No, the players desrved to sit

+2
The violations were harsh.

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E.Griffin 2012/09/08 16:36:11

No, the players desrved to sit

+3
No with a caveat, team members, AS A TEAM, should make it perfectly clear there are some things they will NOT take part in. Period.

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