Bellichick stole games and all he did was lose cash. I expected a suspension but a whole freakin’ year?

When Belichick was caught and told to stop, he stopped. When the Saints were caught and told to stop, they didn’t. THAT’S why the NFL came down on them so hard.

Guess he’s as shook by this.

probably already mentioned but the severity is related to goodell’s project to make the game safer, hypocritical tho it may be

Drew Brees to the Niners!!!

Makes a lot more sense than Manning. Niners’ system more like the Saints’ than the Colts’.

truth. these are prominent, white middle managers who got punished more severely than anybody else (except Mike Vick, who was in prison for nearly his whole suspension anyway). There’s no more talk of unfair practices in suspension. Unless they have Jonathon Vilma shot or something.

So do the Saints just fire him

Benson won’t fire him, because the next day he’d be on Jerry’s payroll.

Does this effect Drew Brees?

Brees has said he will not sign the franchise contract.

On what legal grounds can this be used to challenge a collectively-bargained clause? The players and owners agreed to the franchise tag. The agreement isn’t nullified because one player doesn’t like his situation.

unless there’s specific language in the agreement pertaining to this situation i would not put it past a disgruntled player to challenge the franchise tag in the court of law.

Roger is just the worst. If I’m Sean Peyton I’m in court tomorrow. You think you taking 5 million from me? Not happening.

Have to give Goodell credit on this one. Now when a James Harrison complains, all he has to do is point at New Orleans and keep it moving.

On what legal grounds can this be used to challenge a collectively-bargained clause? The players and owners agreed to the franchise tag. The agreement isn’t nullified because one player doesn’t like his situation.

or maybe to avoid a legal battle the league tells the saints to field offers for brees and let him go if that’s what he wants.

The league isn’t about to destroy the franchise tag for every team just to get Drew Brees to not present a lawsuit that has little chance of succeeding.

“We don’t think there’s any danger in 2 more games, and you’ve seen our commitment to player safety.”

Saints assistant Joe Vitt is also suspended 6 games and fined $100,000.

Imagine being this poor bastard. You’re making LB coach money, and now you’re looking down the barrel of a six-figure fine and losing like 40% of your upcoming salary. Yikes.

That’s just it. Coaches and execs fall under NFL oversight but the players live under the CBA their union brokered for them. Again, this is one of those things they should have fought to have undone last year. They didn’t and now they’re stuck with it again.

Right. My argument is that i would not be surprised to see a legal challenge to the franchise tag b/c of this. or maybe to avoid a legal battle the league tells the saints to field offers for brees and let him go if that’s what he wants.

Would likely have been our 1st this year, but that got traded to NE. So they go for 2 2nds — meaning Saints won’t get to draft till Round 3.

And it means my annual Draft Party might as well be cancelled as it’ll have as much excitement for me as a Glee watching party.