NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith and NFLPA President Domonique Foxworth traveled to New Orleans Thursday to confer with some Saints players and show support for all players on the team.
Mary Jo White, an attorney with Debevoise & Plimpton, was hired by the NFL to assess the league’s investigation of the alleged “pay-to-injure” program involving current and former Saints players. She conducted a media availability session Thursday morning, saying that players were active participants in the matter and that they “enthusiastically embraced this program.”
“Each player had the responsibility to say no to this program and they didn’t do that,” White told reporters via conference call. “They obviously had the option to report this to the union and they didn’t do that.”
Richard Smith of Fulbright & Jaworski LLP is lead outside counsel for the union in this case. After White’s remarks, he retorted Thursday afternoon and questioned White’s claims in comments to Pro Player Insiders.
Richard Smith said, “I was at the meeting with the NFL’s lead investigators in March. She was not there. Anyone, especially former prosecutors like both of us, know that what the league provided could never be called ‘substantial evidence’ of player participation in a ‘pay-to-injure’ program.
“Worse yet, Mary Jo provided nothing new or compelling today beyond another press briefing. My guess is that a veteran FBI agent like Joe Hummel would agree as well.”
Jonathan Vilma (one season), Anthony Hargrove (eight games), Will Smith (four games) and Scott Fujita (three games) were suspended by Commissioner Roger Goodell Wednesday. All players can file appeals, and the players union currently is considering all legal options on the suspended players’ behalf.
I had the unfortunate opportunity of listening to the ESPN’s special on the bounty situation, and not once this notice was mentioned,guess they have chosen to ignore or they are not aware of its existence… wonder what which?