According to ProfootballTalk.com, suspended Saints LB Jonathan Vilma is suing NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell for defamation.
Vilma will currently be forced to miss what would have been his ninth NFL campaign because of his alleged participation in the Saints "Bounty Scandal" that has dominated sports page headlines throughout the NFL offseason. Vilma has thoroughly denied any involvement in the "subcontracts" that were supposedly offered to Saints players as incentive to injure key players from opposing teams.
Vilma released a statement Wednesday via his legal representation:
"I am shocked and extremely disappointed by the NFL's decision to suspend me for the 2012 season. Commissioner Roger Goodell has refused to share any of the supposed evidence he claims supports this unprecedented punishment..... "I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player. I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped to create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players. I have always conducted myself in a professional and proud manner. I intend to fight this injustice, to defend my reputation, to stand up for my team and my profession, and to send a clear signal to the commissioner that the process has failed, to the detriment of me, my teammates, the New Orleans Saints and the game."
One could easily speculate from reading his public statement that Vilma intended to officially appeal his suspension and that may still be part of his agenda. However, it is unlikely that even with the State of Louisiana's backing, that he would be able to persuade a known disciplinarian such as Goodell into changing course.
The development that Vilma plans to fight for his public image rather than the right to join his team on game days may surprise some, but perhaps Vilma has chosen a wiser path.
If the assertions made in Vilma's public statement are accurate, then Goodell may be unable to produce enough evidence to warrant the former Hurricane's censure and damaged public perception.
In the court of law, the burden of proof will rest on Goodell . Instead of being the judge and jury, Goodell will be under the microscope himself at the mercy of a truly impartial party. At a league hearing, the Commissioner is not required to assume innocence until guilt has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt. While it remains undetermined if his crusade will only include the defamation suit, it appears that Vilma understands the odds of fighting back via appeal to the league office and has decided to go another route.
