Pash: Players wrongly protected by union
It is believed by NFL that the intention of the players? union was to protect the New Orleans Saint who had been seen to get into the bounty scandal of the team rather than supporting those members of the team who was seen to be hurt by the plan of pay-for-pain.
Jeff Pash, the league counsel commented while speaking to the Press Sports Editors, ?The approach of the union is quite unfortunate. They protected the players who could have been disciplined in the phase that came next. They defended and excused the players? conduct in helping to carry out this program.? At the same time, the victims who were hurt and injured badly were to be considered, as they are also a part of the union.
In future it may so happen that the players of this team may not hesitate to jeopardize the other players? safety. Roger Goodell, the commissioner, met DeMaurice Smith, who is the head of the NFL Players Association, together with the executive members of the union. Pash has the expectation that Goodell is soon going to punish the players.
Sean Payton, the coach of Saints, has already been suspended for the season of 2012 and a fine of $500,000 has been imposed on the team. Gregg Williams, the defensive coordinator of Saints, had been suspended indefinitely. The general manager of New Orleans named Mickey Loomis has been given a ban of eight-game after the preseason, and the interim coach named Joe Vitt is finally suffering the six-game suspension due to his involvement in the activity.
After this, it is expected that the players would maintain the appropriate discipline. Its importance lies in the fact that the shared accountability gets reinforced through this. As per the investigation reports, there has been a severe violation of the safety policies and the rules. It is the responsibility of the players to ensure the disappearance of the bounties from the league.
?According to the present dynamic situation, there is an obligation in ensuring that the process that players have, is fair due and they can be protected from the league? , said by Atallah, the spokesman. ?Whatever the related information had been given, and whatever alleging was seen to have taken place, if the league became more forthcoming, perhaps, it would have been a better position in dealing with the issue in a much collaborative manner.?
After the breaking out of the scandal, all the coaches and team owners were required by the NFL to certify that their respective teams wouldn?t indulge into any such kind of activities or programs.


