Saints hired former FBI director Louis Freeh to take top-to-bottom look at organization after bounty, wiretap claims (1 Viewer)

[jimrip]

Freeh, who now runs his own investigative firm and law practice, was retained in late April to conduct a top-to-bottom investigation of the Saints, focusing initially on the wiretapping allegations. Eventually, we’re told, Freeh will turn to the bounty case.

 

[VDK]

People - this has nothing to do with proving Goodell wrong.

Benson wants to make sure his people are running a clean business. This is self-analysis, not preparing for battle against Gooodell.

I like that Benson is being proactive.

I agree. This is an internal review to give Benson a piece of mind about his organization in light of all these recent allegations. I'm almost certain it has nothing to do with disproving bountygate.

 

[AARPSaint]

For the reasons I explained before: I don't think so.

And also, be careful what you wish for. If Goodell is gone, the logical replacement is Jeff Pash, who in my book, is even worse!

That would be MUCH WORSE!

 

[birdog]

This is probably the most telling about the Freeh hire...and it comes from bensel:

"“Serious allegations have been made about our organization this off-season; we take these allegations very seriously,” Bensel said via email. “As a result, we have hired the Freeh Group, founded by former director of the FBI and former federal judge Louis Freeh. Mr. Benson moved quickly to hire them and has spared no expense to get to the bottom of these allegations. We have given the Freeh Group complete access to our team and all of the individuals who have been associated with this news story.”

Getting to the bottom of those allegations is the time bomb for the NFL....Freeh will have to look at all of those allegations...bountigate, wiretape-gate and all the others (if there are others)

This is very much a huge news, and the NFL will have a very hard time to discredit Freeh......

 

[mt15]

For the reasons I explained before: I don't think so.

And also, be careful what you wish for. If Goodell is gone, the logical replacement is Jeff Pash, who in my book, is even worse!

I dont agree with this. I believe Jeff Pash is too involved in all the controversy, so much so that when Goodell is ushered out, Pash will be right behind.

 

[Le_Moyne]

It is incredible how there are no writings about Goodell's performance considering:

- He signed a labour agreement that has almost broken the relations with the players association.
- Is on a current contract fight with current officers.
- With his infinite power has lost all the confidence of objective judgement with the players.
- Has been constantly critize for lack of transparency, by destroying evidence on the patriots' case and for not releasing the one he claims to have in the saints case.
- Gotten into a fight with the owners of the cowboys and redskins.
- Is facing a suit from the NFLPA for imposing cap penalties on an uncapped year.
- Is facing a defamation suit from a current NFL player.
- The league is facing a master complaint combining 86 suits from 2,300 ex-players regarding the league's management of information about brain injuries.

Incredible how bad things are going, and nobody is saying a thing. The office of the Commisioner has not been so devaluated as it is now.

The interesting thing, is that there are so many problems to handle, that I doubt the owners would even consider to make a move.

It's true....but all of this doesn't matter regarding Goodell's job security. The only thing that matter is that he go the NFLPA to sign a 10 year deal that is hugely in the owner's favor and that the NFLPA can't opt out of. Everything else is just meaningless public opinion that won't affect him. On top of that, except for us, Saints fan, only a very small minority of football fans care about all the issue you raised, the very large majority of people who watch the NFL couldn't care less about what Goodell does.

 

[VDK]

I am 100% convinced that his report will contradict the NFL's findings, at which point the media start smelling blood, and will demand all relevant documents to be made public, to settle the issue. If the NFL won't comply, that in itself will be a huge blow to Goodell, and the NFL. There will be nothing, but one thing to deduct from their refusal.....they don't have anything to make their case.

I think Goodell is entering the final phrase of his tenure as the NFL commish.

I think this is wishful thinking on your part. Why would Benson/Saints organization just recently start "fighting" these allegations?

 

[Le_Moyne]

This is probably the most telling about the Freeh hire...and it comes from bensel:

"“Serious allegations have been made about our organization this off-season; we take these allegations very seriously,” Bensel said via email. “As a result, we have hired the Freeh Group, founded by former director of the FBI and former federal judge Louis Freeh. Mr. Benson moved quickly to hire them and has spared no expense to get to the bottom of these allegations. We have given the Freeh Group complete access to our team and all of the individuals who have been associated with this news story.”

Getting to the bottom of those allegations is the time bomb for the NFL....Freeh will have to look at all of those allegations...bountigate, wiretape-gate and all the others (if there are others)

This is very much a huge news, and the NFL will have a very hard time to discredit Freeh......

I think you're dreaming! First, Freeh's investigation will NEVER be made public. Even if he looks into the bountygate stuff, what will he find? Nothing that will "save" the Saints. Do you think a former FBI guy will make a difference between a pay for performance and a pay to injure program? IN his eyes, it will be the same thing....breaking the rules.

And for all the people who actually think that Goodell has a real chance of loosing his job over this all story....don't be so naive! Goodell answer only to the owners and the owners have nothing to complain about his job, he just screwed the NFLPA for the next 10 years! What's not to like? The legal action over the concussion story? Everybody knew that was coming!

 

[birdog]

I think this is wishful thinking on your part. Why would Benson/Saints organization just recently start "fighting" these allegations?

Fighting?

I don't think they want to fight.....not yet.

However, the discrepancies are so huge, than Benson decided to get to the bottom of these discrepancies. He figure that if the NFL made a bogus charge regarding the pay for performance program, and they falsely accused coaches, and players, he needs an independent review of all the allegations. Let the chips fall where they might.

One thing I don't expect....that the Freeh findings remain secret......they won't, if the accusations from the NFL are without merit.

 

[Saint Droopy]

This is what I got out of this...

The difference between White’s role with the NFL and Freeh’s role with the Saints is that White reviewed the product of the league’s investigation. Freeh is actually conducting the investigation. Unlike White, who had a pre-existing relationship with the NFL, Freeh enters the picture with no prior relationship to worry about maintaining, which allows him to be truly independent and thorough and, ultimately, successful in getting to the truth.

That’s apparently want Tom Benson wants: the truth. Regardless of whether he, or anyone else, can handle it.

Which is what everybody wants... one way or the other.

 

[SharonT]

Nothing that will "save" the Saints. Do you think a former FBI guy will make a difference between a pay for performance and a pay to injure program? IN his eyes, it will be the same thing....breaking the rules.

He's not a judge or jury. He'll probably be looking at procedures and for ways to tighten up security, so that this doesn't happen again. If he's coming in as a consultant, his job will be to look for holes and offer suggestions. He's probably doing backgrounds on people and finding ways to minimize the chances of future drama, like what has rained down on us these past few months. (just be nice to the janitor.)

 

[cki3915]

I think we can conclude that some conclusions have already been drawn.

Freeh comes on board in April.

First order of business...investigate wiretapping.

Meaning...investigate Loomis.

What's happened since then?

Loomis's role in the Benson organization has expanded, as he will oversee both the Saints and the Hornets.

So, if there was any there there in regards to Loomis, or any chance of there being a there there with Loomis, Benson would not expand his power like that.

I think everyone is right here among the posters. Yes Benson wants to get to the bottom of things. If there are wrongdoers in the organization, they will go. If the investigation shows the NFL is the wrongdoer (as in false conclusions or concoction of evidence), then Benson will take his findings to fellow owners and Goddell will be in major trouble.

 

[Saintshizzle]

I hope that Benson and Freeh gave each other a wink as they shook on the deal.

I would not let the Government, or even a spinoff consultant, anywhere near my organizaton for investigation, and he has free reign to boot? Im with Sarcartic (no pun) on this one, bc unless there is a side deal, how can this possibly be helpful? If we were that clean, then shame on SP and ML for just tking those severe punishments.

As long as Tom Benson is prepared for where this may go. We fans may have a lot more to deal with after this. I hope not though.

 

[FDWOOD]

freeh the saints!!!!!!!!!

 

[Le_Moyne]

One thing I don't expect....that the Freeh findings remain secret......they won't, if the accusations from the NFL are without merit.

Come on dude, of course the findings will remain secret! When has that kind of internal investigation's findings ever been made public? NEVER!

Benson would have nothing to gain from it on top of that! First, Freeh's investigation is going to take some time, probably months. By then, the season will have started. Even if Benson really wanted to bring the fight to Goodell, with all the legal back and forth, it would take a full year for any decision to be made. By then everyone would have been reinstated and we would have nothing to gain from it....other than letting this all thing being a distraction for the entire season and the superbowl hosted in our stadium.

Benson is only doing this to know what is going on in his franchise and as a PR move.