May 18, 2012

In another twist to the Bountygate saga that’s been making painful headlines since March, New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has filed a federal court lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

Vilma is suing Goodell for slander and libel for public remarks the commissioner made while issuing discipline against Vilma and four other players, along with major penalties and fines against head coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis, interim head coach Joe Vitt and the franchise.

“It’s important to note that Vilma has filed this suit against commissioner Goodell independently of the NFLPA,” said sport business commentator Tom Mayenknecht, host of The Sport Market on TSN Radio 1050 in Toronto, TEAM 1040 in Vancouver and heard nationally online at TSN.ca/radio and TEAMradio.ca. “It’s another thread to a difficult situation for the NFL and the commissioner’s office, let alone the New Orleans Saints organization. This has been a painfully bad story for the league, especially when set against Goodell’s mantra around player safety.”
The 30-year-old Saints linebacker is asking for unspecified damages. The lawsuit spanned 16 pages.

“Commissioner Goodell opted to enter into the public arena rather than proceed appropriately and deliberately within the confines of the NFL process,” said Peter Ginsberg, Vilma’s attorney, in an interview with NFL.com. “In doing that, he made a series of horrific and false accusations about Jonathan. The commissioner, having wandered into the public arena, is now being asked to answer for the damage he’s done in making those erroneous accusations.”

Mayenknecht said he’s not aware of a similar case in which a professional athlete has singly filed a suit against the commissioner of his league.

“That’s what makes this interesting,” said Mayenknecht. “It’s Jonathan Vilma versus Roger Goodell.”

The NFL issues a short statement: “We have not yet reviewed the filing. However, our commitment to player safety and the integrity of the game is our main consideration. We recognize that not everyone will agree with decisions that need to be made.”

Former federal prosecutor Mary Jo White was much stronger in her views on the Vilma lawsuit and the evidence against the Saints linebacker, which she reviewed last month. “In my life as a prosecutor, I’ve had a lot less (evidence) to obtain a conviction. So no question about how solid the evidence is.”

TheSportMarket.biz with files from NFL.com.