Recent News

Jonathan Vilma and the NFL Continue Legal Battle as Judge Urgers Sides to Reach Agreement

August 13th, 2012 at 2:32 PM
By Chester Baker

The Jonathan Vilma versus the NFL saga carries on. U.S District Judge Ginger Berrigan refused to make a ruling on the case when both sides appeared in court on Friday, where Vilma was seeking to receive a temporary restraining order against the NFL, which would allow him to join training camp. The Associated Press reports that Berrigan believes the season-long suspension to be an extreme punishment, and that she would rule for Vilma. Berrigan is not sure if she has jurisdiction to do so, however, prompting her decision to urge both sides to reach a settlement on their own.

'My Trusty Gavel' photo (c) 2009, Brian Turner - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

The NFL has maintained that the courts do not have any right to overturn the season long suspension handed to Vilma, stemming from his role in the bounty program of the Saints. As the league is governed by commissioner Roger Goodell and the collective bargaining agreement, the NFL believes the courts would be overstepping their boundaries if they were to overrule this suspension. Furthermore, the NFL believes a court decision in the case could open the doors to other lawsuits from players regarding fines and suspensions.
No matter what way this case goes, little to prove or disprove the alleged bounty program will be presented by the NFL, as they believe all testimony on that subject is irrelevant.

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Deal or No Deal, New Orleans Saints Linebacker Jonathan Vilma and NFL Heading to Court

August 9th, 2012 at 1:05 PM
By Chester Baker

While it still remains unclear whether the NFL actually offered Saints’ linebacker Jonathan Vilma a reduced suspension settlement offer, there is no disputing that the two sides will take their battle to the courts, beginning on Friday in U.S. District Court. Whether or not the offer was ever given, Vilma will continue with his case against the NFL, hoping for a temporary restraining order which would allow him to return to his team. The Super Bowl champion also has a separate case against Roger Goodell for defamation, which Vilma would have also been required to drop had he accepted the alleged offered.

'NFL logo' photo (c) 2010, Matt McGee - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

   
   Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that judge Ginger Berrigan, who will hear the case, will offer her decision on the temporary restraining order as early as Friday, or soon thereafter. Schefter, along with Ed Werder of ESPN, report that the NFL’s strategy in the case is not to challenge testimony denying the bounty, but rather to attest that the court’s cannot overrule a process which the players agreed to in the collective bargaining agreement.

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Jonathan Vilma Offered Possible Reduced Suspension for Upcoming Season, NFL Denies Reports

August 6th, 2012 at 1:53 PM
By Chester Baker

Conflicting reports regarding Jonathan Vilma surfaced today, as multiple news outlets released information claiming that the NFL had offered Vilma a reduced suspension for the upcoming season. The Saints’ starting middle linebacker was suspended for the entire season for his alleged involvement in the New Orleans bounty scandal, which also led to the suspension of head coach Sean Payton for this upcoming campaign, as we well as the indefinite suspension of former defensive coordinator Greg Williams, who is alleged to have been the orchestrator of the bounty program.

Vilma has since issued a lawsuit against the NFL and Roger Goodell for defamation and loss of wages, in the hopes of retaining a temporary restraining order, which would allow him to make a return to the Saints

'Marines at NFL Draft 2012' photo (c) 2012, MarineCorps NewYork - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

 ESPN reported that the NFL has offered Vilma a settlement deal which would reduce his season long suspension to eight games. The settlement would be contingent on Vilma dropping his lawsuits against the commissioner and the league. Information from ESPN personalities Chris Mortensen, Ed Werder, and Adam Schefter were used in the report.

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Hall of Fame Game Recap, New Orleans Saints Top Arizona Cardinals 17-10

August 5th, 2012 at 11:54 PM
By Mike Burke

Hall of Fame Game Summary

The first game of the 2012 preseason is in the books as the New Orleans Saints defeat the Arizona Cardinals 17-10. The game started with a bang as Drew Brees led the Saints to a touchdown on their first possession. Mark Ingram scored on a one yard touchdown run to cap a 10 play 71 yard drive. The Cardinals responded in the second quarter as running back Alfonso Smith scored on a four yard touchdown run to tie the game 7-7. The Saints would add a field goal on their next drive to make the score 10-7. Following a Cardinal’s punt, the Saints scored a touchdown as Saint’s backup quarterback Chase Daniels threw a touchdown pass to Travaris Cadet, 17-7 Saints. A Jay Feely field goal in the third quarter would be the final points of the game. Late in the fourth quarter, Saint’s linebacker Lawrence Wilson iced the game with an inception off Cardinal’s backup quarterback Ryan Lindley at the one yard line.

'Drew Brees' photo (c) 2007, Ed Schipul - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

New Look Saints

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New Orleans Saints: Hall of Fame Game Preview

August 3rd, 2012 at 8:05 PM
By Mike Burke

Finally after 26 long weeks, football season returns this weekend with the annual Hall of Fame Game. On Sunday, the New Orleans Saints will take on the Arizona Cardinals in the NFL’s first game since Super Bowl XLVI. Although it may only be preseason, there are a lot of interesting story lines for this game. Here are a few things to look forward to in this weekend’s action.

'ProFootballHallOfFame2012 006' photo (c) 2012, DebMomOf3 - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/

New Look Saints

After an offseason to forget, the Saints are ready to get back to football. Saints’ linebacker Scott Shanle had this to say, "just to get back to playing football after what's gone on, I think it's a sanctuary for us.” This will be the first time the Saints will take the field since “Bountygate” and the suspensions of head coach Sean Peyton and linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Saints fans will also get their first look at their defense under new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo. In addition, two players worth keeping an eye on are linebacker Curtis Lofton and guard Ben Grubbs. Curtis Lofton will be filling in for Vilma as he serves his 2012 suspension and Grubbs will be replacing two-time Pro Bowl guard Carl Nicks, who signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the offseason. This weekend will give Saints fans a brief preview of what has yet to come in 2012.

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