Saints LB Vilma says Gregg Williams lying about $10K Favre bounty
The NFL presented Jonathan Vilma and his attorney with a sworn statement from former Saints defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams saying the linebacker placed a $10,000 US bounty on Brett Favre.
Vilma met with Commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday in New York about his suspension, which has been temporarily lifted. Attorney Peter Ginsberg said they were given an affidavit at the meeting.
"What Gregg Williams said in his most recent affidavit is the same falsity he has previously provided," Ginsberg said.
Meanwhile, Saints on the field to try to regrouop
New Orleans Saints interim coach Aaron Kromer's message to his 0-2 team on Monday had less to do with what has gone wrong than what could still go right.
"When you are on the inside, you'll see that we are going to be a good team," Kromer said. "We're not good enough yet. We've lost two games by eight points so we are that much not good enough. ... We need to be nine points better than we are right now, and that's not asking a lot."
The Saints entered the season defiant in the face of bounty sanctions that included coach Sean Payton's season-long suspension, saying expectations remained high coming off three straight playoff appearances.
They knew they would miss Payton's presence to some extent, but readily point out that they still had a coaching staff full of experienced Payton disciples, and they had the talent and leadership of record-setting quarterback Drew Brees.
The most glaring deficiencies are on defence; the Saints are last in the NFL in yards allowed with 922, and tied for last in points allowed with 75.
New Orleans certainly expected better when Payton moved quickly last January to lock up Steve Spagnuolo as the club's new defensive co-ordinator.
Spagnuolo blamed himself for several breakdowns that helped Carolina beat New Orleans 35-27 on Sunday. He said alignments he called on a couple third-and-long plays were mistakes which Panthers quarterback Cam Newton exploited for long completions. He said he called blitzes too aggressively in the second half.
The Saints on Sunday will go against Kansas City and quarterback Matt Cassel.
"I don't know what Gregg Williams' motives are, but I do know that any suggestion by Williams that Jonathan put up $10,000 as an incentive for his teammates to injure another player is absolutely false."
Vilma tweeted on Monday night that Williams was "bullied to sign the affidavit," saying Williams signed it on Friday.
Williams is now with St. Louis, though he has been suspended indefinitely. An associate of his said Williams did not want to talk to the media.
Vilma, who denied in court that he offered money in exchange for injuring the former Vikings quarterback, was one of four players suspended by Goodell in the bounty scandal.
"Today everyone was afforded an opportunity to start over," Vilma said outside the NFL's Park Avenue offices more than three hours after he went in. "It was in our best interest to meet today. We spoke truthfully, honestly, bluntly."
An appeals panel earlier this month said Goodell must clarify his rulings to ensure no part of his decisions was based on salary cap violations. That would be the jurisdiction of special master Stephen Burbank.
Goodell must show that the basis for the discipline was inappropriate conduct — such as intent to injure — rather than any secret monetary compensation. In that case, he has full authority to impose the suspensions.
Players and coaches implicated in the bounty pool have testified under oath in a related federal court case they never intended to injure opposing players.
New Orleans defensive end Will Smith (four games), Browns linebacker Scott Fujita (three) and free agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove (eight) are expected to have their meeting Tuesday.
"We appreciate Jonathan Vilma taking the time to meet today and look forward to seeing the other players tomorrow," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
Smith played in each of the Saints' first two games and Vilma is on the physically unable to perform list. Fujita made his season debut in Cleveland's loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. Hargrove was cut by Green Bay during the preseason.
Vilma, initially suspended for the entire season, requested a separate meeting. He hasn't played because he is on the physically unable to perform list as he rehabilitates following off-season surgery on his left knee.