Anthony Hargrove’s Suspension Upheld, Can Still Appeal
Green Bay Packers defensive end Anthony Hargrove had his eight-game bountygate suspension upheld, which shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone.
After all, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is the sole authority choosing the punishment, handing out the conviction, hearing the appeal and ruling on it. In his letter to Hargrove and the three other former New Orleans Saints convicted, Goodell cited the players’ reluctance to take part in the appeal proceedings as his reason for upholding the suspensions.
“Although you claimed to have been ‘wrongfully accused with insufficient evidence,’ your lawyers elected not to ask a single question of the principal investigators, both of whom were present at the hearing,” Goodell wrote in his appeal ruling. “You elected not to testify or to make any substantive statement, written or oral, in support of your appeal; you elected not to call a single witness to support your appeal; and you elected not to introduce a single exhibit addressing the merits of your appeal.”
Goodell did leave the door open for players to present evidence on their behalf, meaning there’s still a slight chance the suspensions could be reduced.
”The record confirms that each of you was given multiple chances to meet with me to present your side of the story,“ Goodell said. ”You are each still welcome to do so.”
Thus far, the players seem to merely be crying foul about the evidence presented against them. Although that evidence is vague at best, the players haven’t done anything to refute it.
Whether they will remains to be seen, but their unwillingness to participate in the NFL’s process leaves the possibility open that this could end up in court.
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This whole thing is sooo stupid. The majority of the teams do it, the Saints were the only ones to be caught while doing it. In addition, the Williams Dbags from the shitty state with a lot of lakes next to Gods Country (Wisconsin) didn’t ever get reprimanded for Starcaps which was actually proven with factual evidnece. Why on vague evidence would these players in the bounty scandal be pentalized so severely?
The League is putting so much emphasis on player safety recently, they had to make an example of the Saints. I’m sure this is very common (looking’ at you, Detroit) but the Saints were just the unfortunate ones to get caught at the wrong time.
Not that I think it’s okay, it’s totally reprehensible and I’m glad they got the book thrown at them, even if it means Hargrove is suspended.
KNEEL BEFORE ME!!! I AM ZOD! (GOODELL)
Goodell is the MAN. Watching him rip out the hearts of the Saints is more fun than watching a preseason game.
This article leaves out the fact that per the CBA the players had two arbitrators rule on the suspensions. Both agreed with Goodell.
AZ Packfan, as the Emperor once famously said, you are mistaken about “a great many things.”
There is nothing stupid about any of this.
“The majority of teams do it…” Wrong. Prove it.
The Saints were more than caught. They were warned. They lied and kept on doing it.
The Williams WERE punished for the StarCaps incident. Pat Williams retired to avoid the suspension that Kevin Williams served.
Lastly, why are the Saints being so harshly “pentalized”? Well, because the NFL can’t afford to have players being monetarily rewarded by other players or coaches for injuring opposing players. Simple.
Marcellus Wiley admitted on ESPN that they all did it during his playing years. The Williams douches did get suspensions, however it wasn’t until years after the incident. Lastly, you’re a douche. simple
And Wiley is qualified to speak for the majority of current NFL locker rooms? No.
I fail to see how the Williams’ suspension being a couple years later makes your statement that they were never reprimanded true.
But, hey, calling me names is a hell of a lot easier than trying to defend the Saints, so I get it. I would probably resort to that tact as well.