NFLPA hires lawyers to represent players in New Orleans Saints bounty scandal - NFL News
The National Football League (NFL) is taking its time to announce the punishments for players involved in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal and with a decision imminent the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) has hired outside counsel to represent players
if needed.
The players union announced the decision on Sunday to hire lawyers for players after it warned that players involved in the bounty scandal may face criminal charges.
Gabe Feldman, a sports lawyer though doubts that criminal proceedings will be opened up against players.
"They're difficult cases to bring, because it's hard to prove the injury was caused by a tackle with specific intent to injure, rather than a regular tackle. We all know injuries are a part of football. There can't be legal liability anytime there is an
injury. Otherwise, you can't have football."
The NFLPA has also advised Saints players to keep a union representative and lawyer present during their hearings with the league.
NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, had earlier announced the punishments to be faced by the franchise and management over the scandal and his decision delivered some of the severest punishment ever received by any league team in history.
The Saints were fined $ 500,000 and had their second round draft picks taken away for two years. Head coach Sean Payton is facing a one year suspension while general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant coach Joe Vitt were each given eight and six-game suspensions
respectively.
Goodell in a statement said that he was highly disappointed in the players’ behaviour and seeing team leaders taking to the bounties with such enthusiasm was unheard of.
"While I will not address player conduct at this time, I am profoundly troubled by the fact that players — including leaders among the defensive players — embraced this program so enthusiastically and participated with what appears to have been a deliberate
lack of concern for the well-being of their fellow players,"
The NFL report released earlier in March named defensive line captain Jonathan Vilma as being one of ringleaders of the system and was accused of offering $ 10,000 to fellow teammates to injure ex-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre in a 2009 National
Football Conference (NFC) Championship game.
The Saints players also provided their own personal money to the bounty pool which reached a maximum of $ 50,000.
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