Roger Goodell’s hammer isn’t as powerful as he thought.
An appeals panel Friday delivered a big rebuke to Goodell and a big — though perhaps temporary — victory to the four players singled out in the Saints’ Bountygate scandal by overturning the NFL commissioner’s decision to suspend them.
Former Jets linebacker Jonathan Vilma and three other current or former Saints defenders — Scott Fujita, Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove — are eligible to play immediately after the panel decided Goodell overstepped his bounds in banning the four players for their alleged roles in the Saints’ alleged cash-for-injuries program.
The three-member panel of judges agreed upon by the NFL and the players union sent the case back to Goodell for “redetermination” of the penalties after deciding the commissioner’s plan to suspend Vilma for the entire season, Hargrove for eight games, Smith for four and Fujita for three wasn’t entirely within his jurisdiction.
The NFL accepted the decision for now, but promised Goodell would rule quickly on the new player punishments and maintained its Bountygate case remains strong.
Legal experts, however, predicted the league would settle with the players by reducing their punishment instead of letting the case drag on, especially because the suspensions also are being contested in the federal court system, thanks to a suit brought by Vilma.
“Consistent with the panel’s decision, commissioner Goodell will, as directed, make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed for violating the league’s pay-for-performance/bounty rule,” NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. “Until that determination is made, the four players are reinstated and eligible to play starting this weekend.”
Realistically, the decision came too late for Vilma to suit up for the Saints’ opener tomorrow at home against the Redskins, and he is expected to go on the six-week physically unable to perform list because of a knee injury. But Smith and Fujita are expected to play right away for the Saints and Browns, respectively. Hargrove is currently a free agent.
The NFL Players Association claimed in its appeal that the case was a salary-cap violation — which falls under the jurisdiction of an independent arbitrator — and was not a pay-to-injure scheme, which would be open to punishment from Goodell under his powers to rule on “conduct detrimental to the league.”
“We are pleased that the appeals panel ruled unanimously to lift the players’ suspensions immediately,” NFLPA chief DeMaurice Smith said in a statement released last night. “We will continue to vigorously protect the rights of all players.”
The decision also was at least temporary vindication for Vilma, who had been deemed by Goodell as the bounty scheme’s locker-room ringleader. Vilma was given the unprecedented full-year suspension despite seemingly little evidence to back up the NFL’s stance he had offered $10,000 for injuring opposing players over the past three seasons.
“Victory is mine!!!! -stewie griffin …” Vilma exclaimed on Twitter shortly after the decision was announced, referencing a favored saying of the “Family Guy” character.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who has been harshly critical of Goodell and the league for the Bountygate punishments, told reporters in New Orleans last night he never doubted the players’ case.
“No, I’m not surprised by the decision,” Brees said. “Obviously, I felt like they saw the information that we’ve seen for a long time.”
The decision won’t impact the harsh suspensions the NFL handed to Saints coach Sean Payton, assistant coach Joe Vitt, general manager Mickey Loomis and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, because they are league employees not covered by the collective bargaining agreement with the players union.