The Lions' Pride

Federal Judge is hearing Jonathan Vilma's case against NFL today. Here are some notes from Director of Tulane's Sports Law program:

Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Summing up first 15 mins- Judge suggests NFL process was unfair,punishment was excessive, and commish may not have juris. But, plyrs...

8m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge now discussing defamation suit. She is troubled by preemption argument. Ie, that defamation suit is preempted by CBA.

10m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
More good news for Vilma-judge believes that Vilma has shown irreparable harm. Key prong in getting injunctive relief.

11m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Before the who dat nation starts celebrating, still a long way to go in hearing. NFL waiting to respond.

12m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge- if I can find a way to legally do it, I will rule in Vilma's favor.

13m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
But, judge thinks that players still have to exhaust appeal pending of Prof Burbank's arbitration decision.

14m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge thinks process was unfair, punishment excessive, and that RG did not have power to discipline in these cases.

16m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge- "I would like to rule in Vilma's favor. I do think you exhausted your remedies."

17m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Ginsberg coming back to argument that Vilma was punished for putting money on head of specific players and there's no evidence of that.

19m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Ginsberg answering that cartoffs were plan of Gregg Williams. Vilma was making good clean play. Goal of cartoff to "knock wind out of plyr"

21m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge- seems to me that cartoffs, as defined by Vilma and Vitt, ARE bounties. Suggests that Vilma admitted bounty.

22m Gabe Feldman Gabe Feldman ‏@SportsLawGuy
Judge starts things off- I'm not going to restrict what anyone says about anything. Starts by asking about cartoffs.