Email written from jail adds new twist to New Orleans Saints bounty scandal - NFL News
As each day goes by something new is revealed about the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.
On Thursday the Associated Press got their hands on an email written by marketing agent, Mike Ornstein in which he asks the Saints former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams to put $ 5000 on Green Bay Packers quarterback, Aaron Rodgers ahead of
the Saints first game of the season.
The Saints were defeated by the Packers 42-34 in that game.
Ornstein was in a federal prison at the time as he was accused of scalping Super Bowl tickets while also selling fake game worn jerseys.
The agent in his email to the Saints coaching staff with whom he was friendly talked about his prison experience but the last line of the letter rang alarm bells over the bounty culture at the Saints.
"PS Gregg Williams put me down for $5000.00 on Rogers (sic)."
The National Football League (NFL) had cited the line in its early report over the Saints bounty scandal and said that head coach, Sean Payton had received the email from his “close associate”.
Release of the letter led to strong criticism from Saints linebacker, Jonathan Vilma’s attorney, Peter Ginsberg who said according to
ESPN.com.
"Ornstein's email is just another example of the speciousness of the quote-unquote evidence that commissioner (Roger) Goodell claims to have to support his erroneous accusations against Jonathan and the other players.”
Ornstein himself in a telephonic interview said that the entire email was written as a joke with his friends at the Saints.
"It's a running joke going for three years,"
Adding further he said.
"First of all, I don't have $5,000 to put down. When I wrote that email, I was in jail. How was I going to pay for it? In stamps? I'm in federal jail in Florence."
Whether made in jest or in seriousness the league now has to share the evidence it has used to punish the Saints players as their credibility is being called into question.
Commissioner, Roger Goodell early last week announced suspensions for four Saints players for what he alleged were their leading roles in running the bounty programme.
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