re: NFL presented Vilma w/sworn affidavit of GW stating Vilma offered 10k for Favre

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NFL gave Jonathan Vilma a sworn affidavit from former Saints DC Gregg Williams that the New Orleans LB offered $10,000 to any teammate who knocked Brett Favre out of the January 2010 NFC Championship game. More on ESPN and ESPN.com.

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Does anyone else appreciate the irony of Goodell basing the entire defense of his suspension on the declaration of Greg Williams, who admits that he lied in the same declaration? The NFL's defense is that we should now believe an admitted liar.

It appears to me that this declaration is parsed in a desperate attempt to support Goodell's defense in the defamation suit while also supporting the coaches and players positions that there was a pay for performance pool, but it contained no intent to injure and that the performance pool actually punished illegal conduct.

Thus, the commisioner can back down the length of the suspensions in a face saving gesture, while continuing to deny that his remarks were legally defamatory. There is a difference between a statement being inaccurate and being defamatory.