Jonathan Vilma’s Lawyer: Roger Goodell Is Misguided And Irresponsible

When it was reported that the NFL had physical evidence of the New Orleans Saints intricate bounty system — specifically a ledger of bounty payments — the fans and players wanted the information to be made public. Throughout the entire scandal, Roger Goodell has insisted that he has evidence, but has refused to share it.

What is the commissioner hiding? If he really does have the evidence, get out there and release it and prove that you made the right decision with the suspensions that appear outrageous on the surface.

One person who is becoming increasingly tired with Goodell’s act is Jonathan Vilma’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg. Vilma has been one of the players who has had their image questioned the most during this entire situation. Vilma even went as far as to file suit against Goodell for defamation.

The latest talk of the so-called ledger has pushed Ginsberg over the edge. He said that the report is “yet more evidence of how misguided and irresponsible Commissioner Goodell has been in handling this issue.”

Ginsberg points out that the so-called ledger identified no specific players and that any payment given was for “good, clean, legal plays, and . . . any dirty or penalized play resulted in fines to players, not awards.” Ginsberg then preached on Vilma’s innocence in the entire “Bountygate” scandal:

“The truth is that Jonathan Vilma gave no money, incentive or encouragement ever — not at any time in his eight-year career — to injure or knock out of any game any player with a dirty or unsportsmanlike hit.  The facts are plain and simple.  During the three seasons in question, Jonathan Vilma was one of the least penalized players not only on the Saints but in the NFL.  There is not one instance in which Jonathan Vilma set out to injure a player or gave any incentive to another player to injure an opposing player.”

I agree with Ginsberg about how poorly Goodell has handled the situation and how it is completely irresponsible to talk up all this evidence without releasing it. It’s time to man up and show your cards. If Goodell refuses to play his games, then this issue will not be resolved anytime soon.

Goodell has promised that the evidence will be released, so it’s about time that he lives up to a promise and gives everyone what they are asking for.

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