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Was it a diabolical plan to injure NFL players, as the league claims; or a way to give a defense a little incentive to make game-changing plays that don't draw personal foul penalties, which is how the Saints described it? That's essentially the difference between the league's description of a so-called "bounty" program and what the Saints say was pay-for-performance.
Players finally got their chance to confront the league's witnesses with these hearings. WWL legal analyst Doug Sunseri says these appeals are primarily to show a federal judge that the league has a fair system.
"I think the league is probably going through this to satisfy the procedural concerns, the due process concerns and fulfilling the requirements of the collective bargaining agreement," Sunseri explained.
Listen to WWL Legal Analyst Doug Sunseri:
In the end, does Sunseri think suspended players like Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith will win their exoneration?
"I do anticipate...the league may reduce some of the penalties just because it wants to sort of move on from this issue, but I don't think overall it's going to change the league's mind," he said.
Tagliabue has indicated it won't be too long after the hearings wrap up tomorrow before he issues a ruling.
