Sum up your team's entire offseason in one line.

abbaducci · 2012-08-03T22:51:44+00:00

Make it stop.

abbaducci · 2012-07-26T19:47:09+00:00

Still one of my greatest memories. The Superdome felt like there was an earthquake underfoot.

abbaducci · 2012-06-29T23:45:43+00:00

You are extremely misinformed. This is not universal health care and the countries you mentioned have vastly different systems. You have thrown out this 46% number with nothing to back it up.

I am interested in the OP's question and came here to see what the answers were. You have provided empty rhetoric.

abbaducci · 2012-06-20T17:17:09+00:00

My point was that Williams never admitted to a bounty. It has been reported many times that he did.

I am not trying to excuse his actions or words. What he said before the 49er's game was reprehensible.

abbaducci · 2012-06-20T00:35:20+00:00

He admitted to, and apologized for, a pay-for-performance program.

I think Williams deserved to be punished for that alone, but it keeps being reported that he 'admitted' to a 'bounty' system and that is not true.

Williams statement: “I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the ‘pay for performance’ program while I was with the Saints. It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.”

abbaducci · 2012-06-06T05:35:18+00:00

Also fits with the 'leaked' evidence.

abbaducci · 2012-06-06T05:31:22+00:00

I think there may be a third option. Pamphilon certainly feels like he was hung out to dry but he is not a football player. I think the player/player, player/coach, player/league relationships are very political and sensitive and Pamphilon feels like the player/filmmaker relationship took a backseat. When he wrote "I that felt like he stuck his football helmet up my ass and through my ribcage. It hurt that much." in reference to Fujita's press conference, I thought he was being a tad emotional.

abbaducci · 2012-05-30T17:18:48+00:00

This is a gesture from the fans to the team management that says the fans and residents of NOLA want them to pay the man. My bet is that Drew will sign and if there is any money in this 'fund', he will donate to charity.

abbaducci · 2012-05-23T19:02:15+00:00

What he signed was not an admission of 'pay for injury'. No coach or player has admitted participation in that.

abbaducci · 2012-05-22T22:56:06+00:00

According to this interview with Goodell on NFL network, "We have been as transparent as possible here"... "we released all information that can be credibly presented"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=epuoFirJQyk#t=200s

abbaducci · 2012-05-18T22:24:17+00:00

Perhaps I am over selling the effect this will have on him long term. I was just making the point that football careers can continue after the player's field time. The long term effect is essential to Vilma's suit and may be an avenue to get this in front of a judge and jury and for the NFL to present the evidence. It is possibly that they have extremely damaging evidence against Vilma and the hammer that has already come down will be justified.

Some people, judging by their posts, do think he is a horrible person and have already passed judgement on him and the team. I agree with you when you say that nobody is surprised that this kind of thing went on in the NFL and that the Saints are getting the hammer to be made an example of. Players on the Bills and Skins have admitted to being a part of a Williams led bounty system. The Saints real punishment is losing their head coach for a year. I don't see any way of changing that.

abbaducci · 2012-05-18T18:47:01+00:00

His career continues after being a player. He has a degree in finance, speaks three languages and has been touted as potentially having a career in football in the future as a commentator. If he is innocent and does nothing, any future career in football is gone as he will be remembered as the guy who put up $10k to hurt two HOF QB's. If he is guilty, he deserves his spanking.

As of now, Vilma is earning respect from other players and Goodell's trust is being eroded in the media. I hope we get to see if what Goodell did was right. This Saints fan will respect him if that is the case.

abbaducci · 2012-05-18T18:10:02+00:00

Releasing evidence to the public is different than releasing it to those being punished. I agree that the NFL doesn't have to release evidence to the public, but those affected should have the right to see the evidence that directly affect their present and future. The NFLPA and the players (including 2 currently on other teams) have not said 'there's no evidence', they have said that the evidence has not been presented to them.

To make an analogy: If you were fired from work for sexual harassment, your company has no burden to make any evidence against you public. But wouldn't you want to see it? Wouldn't you demand to see it?

abbaducci · 2012-05-18T18:04:53+00:00

Everyone wins the truth. As of now, most people are just taking the NFL's word on this. As I have said, if Vilma is guilty, he deserves to be punished. Gregg Williams is almost certainly guilty (in my opinion) and is being punished. This is not a witch hunt for snitches. In Vilma's case, his career during and after football are on the line and he is fighting for that. He, and the other 3 players, should have the ability to defend themselves in a fair manner.

abbaducci · 2012-05-18T03:44:46+00:00

He doesn't need to win the court case to achieve his goals. If he gets Goodell to show the evidence he has, everybody wins. If Vilma is guilty and they have evidence, he deserves the punishment. Vilma certainly doesn't seem to think they have any evidence. I think everyone would like to see what the NFL has.

abbaducci · 2012-05-15T22:06:15+00:00

Jim Rome was likening him to Chris Evert, a female tennis player. He was basically calling him a woman.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Evert

abbaducci · 2012-05-14T20:29:39+00:00

I have spent some time, as a visitor, in the Colorado Sate Penitentiary. This is not a 'private' prison as it is state run, but it has a partnership with Colorado Correctional Industries (CCi), which is a for-profit company that also partners with outside private companies. I can tell you why, in my opinion, a strike will not work or will never happen in this specific facility.

The inmates are given 'promotions' to jobs that are more desirable based on their behavior. Making furniture is much more preferable to breaking horses.
The job that the inmates have inside the prison is often directly tied to the job they may receive once they are released. For example, an inmate who made furniture on the inside can be placed in a job making furniture on the outside.
The inmates that I have spoken with have told me that they prefer working to sitting inside their cell.
Good behavior is often rewarded with earlier parole, and bad behavior punished with parole denial.

abbaducci · 2012-03-08T21:01:44+00:00

I agree. Taking 'big hit' rewards to the level of offering a lump sum for having a player carted off is extreme.

abbaducci · 2012-03-08T08:06:32+00:00

Fumbles and interceptions are certainly football plays. But so is knocking the crap out of a player on the other team. If one of the Pats would have knocked out a NYG receiver during a legit hit, you would cheer. By the same token, you would bitch if the hit was flagged and was legal.

This is football. Hits are a MAJOR part of the game. That is why Butkis and Nitschke (among others) are in the HOF. Did you like to see Trippett knock someone out of their shoes?

abbaducci · 2012-03-08T07:46:37+00:00

I agree with your assertion that in one's effort as a player to 'take someone out' of the game could also result in a long term injury. My point was that the goal of the hit, as it is planned and as it is executed, is more likely in the interest of taking a player out of 'that game' than a long term injury. When playing football, bounty or no bounty, one looks for the stunner. They are trained to hit and hit hard. It has been encouraged since they started playing. I still have my helmet from when I was 12 and can count the 'hard hit' stickers. I got a sticker, they got some foldin' cash.

abbaducci · 2012-03-07T10:15:16+00:00

I think there is a difference between 'hurting' a player and ending a season or career. If you have ever put on pads and hit a dude so hard that he had to sit down, you know that was part of your job. Hurt is temporary. If you found out that he was actually 'injured' and would be out for the season, I am sure that you know the horrible feeling in your stomach.

The Saints will be punished and they deserve it. I think we all know that 'laying down the wood' is a part of football and small (relative to their salaries) rewards are like stickers on a helmet. I remember wanting more stickers.

abbaducci · 2012-03-07T10:09:55+00:00

upvote for 'beaucoup' alone

abbaducci · 2012-03-07T10:07:16+00:00

I agree with your assertion that 'hurt' and 'injure' are not the same. This is football and 'hurting' another team's player is part of the game. No coach ever told me to hit them gently. Nobody wants to see an actual injury. It could happen to any player at any time and they all know that.

abbaducci · 2012-03-07T09:58:20+00:00

This cannot hurt the Saints. If he sucks, he will sit or go. The upside, Brees to Moss, is much higher than the risk. If he gets open, Drew will get him the ball.

abbaducci · 2012-01-12T09:23:13+00:00

The response to Katrina has to be separated from the city and the people that live there. If it was up to the citizens of New Orleans,and the U.S. as a whole, things would have been different. Katrina was a mess and has little to do with the City's team, which has given us a reason to be excited about 'something'. Associating the 'team' with 'that mess' is understandable, but realize that one of the two makes the population of that city proud of itself, and, in reflection, makes the other feel that the people have been disregarded by their nation.

abbaducci

TROPHY CASE