But he has given players such as Vilma every reason to dig by scapegoating them and making them look like rogue thugs who turned an otherwise safe Sunday activity into a dangerous sport. It is disingenuous when viewed generously and the height of hypocrisy in any light. Goodell, for all practical purposes, ended Vilma’s career when he suspended him for a season. What does Vilma have to lose? Why not go for a kill shot in court? Why not go digging?
I am not saying players do not know the risks, or do not willingly sign up for, or do not get paid handsomely for the risk. What I am saying is I get the feeling those “dumb NFL players” — you know, the ones doing most of the risk-taking and sacrificing, league-building and money-making — finally have had enough.