Addressing the media following the Spring League Meeting, Goodell said the NFL plans to release proof of bounties to the public, NFL.com reports.

“Yes, I do,” Goodell said when he was asked if he expected the proof to be revealed.

Though we’ll eventually get to feast our eyes on what should be overwhelming evidence, Goodell said no more information would be released until the appeals process with the NFL Players Association concludes. Fujita, Jonathan Vilma, and other alleged participants in the supposed ‘pay-for-play’ system under then-coordinator Gregg Williams have recently filed grievances after being handed multi-game bans.

Interestingly, Goodell confirmed the NFLPA “expressly told the players not to cooperate in the bounty investigation.”

“I invited them in and they decided not to do that,” Goodell said.

Goodell, whose faced an intense amount of criticism from players, fans, and media in recent months, acknowledged the process will take time, and is not worried about appeasing each sect.

“You don’t worry about a popularity contest. You can’t. You can’t make everyone happy on this,” Goodell said.

No matter what is revealed, it appears Goodell learned his lesson after the last NFL scandal, SpyGate, when he destroyed videotapes and other incriminating evidence against the Patriots, basically sweeping the dirt under the rug.

This will certainly be worth a gander or two, but there’s no telling when the proof actually comes out. If Goodell takes as long as he did issuing the initial suspensions, it unfortunately will be later, not sooner.

On Tuesday, Fujita told the Associated Press that he’s innocent of any bounty allegations, despite knowing first-hand what actually took place within the Saints’ supposed pay-for-performance system under former coordinator Gregg Williams.

Fujita, who was suspended three games by commissioner Roger Goodell, is appealing his ban and hopes to be cleared because “my reputation is a lot more important to me than three game checks. My track record speaks for itself.”

Ironically, Fujita is an executive member of the players’ union, so he’s more than aware of the firestorm this story has brought upon the league. He also hinted strongly that the full truth has yet to be heard.

“There will come a time when I’ll be willing to share everything,” said Fujita.

Playing detective for a second, it appears Browns receiver Josh Cribbs was on to something a few weeks ago, when he passed along this cryptic tweet: “Hey @nfl, I wouldn’t force @scottfujita99 to take the gloves off if I were you…’Sources’ tell me he knows a little too much!!!”

According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Loomis will join the New Orleans Hornets front office, likely overseeing basketball operations for the NBA franchise, which Benson agreed to purchase last month for a cool $338 million.

Dennis Lauscha, following a promotion to the newly-created title of Saints president, is also expected to have a major role with the Hornets, though Benson wouldn’t specify exactly what that entails.

Loomis, who was suspended eight games for his role in the team’s infamous ‘bounty’ scandal, will continue to run the Saints’ football operations through training camp, doing so with the “largest amount of responsibility and authority.”

Despite an uphill battle that appears increasingly unwinnable, Vilma, at least, is ready to get the process underway, taking to Twitter to share his enthusiasm.

Big day today, one step in the right direction

— Jonathan Vilma (@JonVilma51) May 16, 2012

Evidently, Vilma must’ve received some flack for that tweet, as he confidently told his “haters” who will be laughing last when he emerges victorious.

I see the haters are up this morning. Wen I win this wat will they say then???

— Jonathan Vilma (@JonVilma51) May 16, 2012

Let’s pump the brakes, Jonathan. Assuming your year-long ban sticks (which, in all likelihood, it will), you’ll have plenty of time to interact with those detractors, who won’t let you live down your egregious social media muses.

Andy Reid has chosen to break the trend.

In a recent interview with the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Eagles’ longtime coach threw his support behind Goodell and his strict handling of BountyGate

“I don’t agree with bounties,” Reid said. “I know I don’t believe in that, and I know I support what the commissioner did.”

Despite the heavy amount of negative press Goodell receives on a frequent basis, Reid says the commish is doing a “great job” of improving the game and “making people accountable” for their actions.

“I think the league’s done a great job, and I think if you look at the big picture of Roger Goodell, people kind of micro-analyze him, I think. You have to look at the things that he’s doing he feels are the best for the game,” Reid said.

“He’s making people accountable for their work and what they say and what they do, and I don’t think that’s bad,” Reid said. “Do people like change? No, people don’t like change, so there’s going to be people that gripe . . . but I think for the betterment of the game, for the betterment of the NFL, I think he’s keeping perspective on that.”

It’s hard to argue with Reid, who feels defenders “don’t need the other stuff. You don’t need the extra sugar on it.” With news emerging of former players battling with illnesses and abnormalities stemming from their time in the NFL, it’s imperative the league nips this in the bud, and, hopefully, the severe penalties cast upon New Orleans was a much-needed wake-up call to any would-be offenders.

Citing a source, NFL Network’s Steve Wyche reported Thursday that the Saints and Drew Brees have held “no conversations” regarding a new contract, and the urgency to get a deal done seemingly has “stalled.”

Brees, the team’s franchise player, has said he will not sign nor play under the one-year tender, hinting at a possible holdout earlier in the offseason.

Though owner Tom Benson and GM Mickey Loomis have made it a priority to get Brees locked up, it doesn’t appear as if it will happen before training camp, which is when things could really get messy.

Aside from a football standpoint, the pressure is on to work out an agreement, if only to save a little face during an otherwise disastrous last few months for the organization. The longer this drags out, the uglier it looks for all parties involved.

And, as expected, commissioner Roger Goodell brought the hammer down … hard.

Per multiple reports, the league has suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season.

His defensive cohorts at the time — Scott Fujita (3 games), Anthony Hargrove (8 games), and Will Smith (4 games) — got off a bit easier, but nonetheless paid the price for participating in the biggest sports scandal since SpyGate.

They join head coach Sean Payton (entire season) and GM Mickey Loomis (8 games) on the ban block.

Vilma, the ringleader of former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams‘ defense, will have his suspension kick in immediately, whereas Fujita, Hargrove, and Smith can still participate in all offseason activities and preseason games.

For those unaware, Vilma personally offered $10,000 to any Saints player who could injure notable quarterbacks, such as Kurt Warner or Brett Favre, and knock them out of contests. Now, that measly 10 grand will cost him more than $2 million, his current 2012 salary.

Unfortunately, this doesn’t mean we can officially turn the page just yet. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, all four players will have their suspensions appealed.

“Get ready for a massive multiple legal battle over this on several fronts,” a source tells Schefter.

Expect this story to continue burning hot through the summer.

Now, it’s ramped up a bit as one of the more outspoken Ravens (are there any other kind?) has taken aim at him.

Speaking on KILT-AM in Houston (via SportsRadioInterviews.com), safety Bernard Pollard took a shot at Goodell, saying the commissioner’s ultimate goal is to have players “running around with helmets and flags on.”

It’s getting out of hand. This is not powderpuff football, this is not flag football,” Pollard said. “This is a violent sport. And it’s a fun sport — we all love playing this game. And we’re blessed by God to even go out there and display our talent to the world, but at the same time you can’t sit there and say, ‘We want guts, we want glory, we want heart.’ You can’t give a player heart but at the end of the day you tell him, “Well, hold on but be careful when you go to make that hit.’ We wear helmets and shoulder pads. That means you’re supposed to go knock somebody around. We ain’t wearing flags.”

Then, touching on the topic of bounties, Pollard said he “doesn’t care if you do a bounty or not,” adding it’s “outrageous” to suspend someone — in this case, Saints coach Sean Payton — for an entire season as it’s a “violent” sport.

“This is a game, this is a violent game. You can’t take this away. You suspend a man for a whole year? You suspend a man for a whole year and now you’re looking for players to suspend? This is outrageous,” Pollard said. “You’ve gotta be kidding me. He said he was gonna take a dollar (during) the lockout, I guarantee you he didn’t take a dollar that year. I guarantee you he got every bit of that (inaudible) mill.”

Pollard, of course, is somewhat of a notorious player, having been the one that dove into Tom Brady’s knee in 2008, ending the quarterback’s season with a torn ACL and MCL. He’s generally a hard-hitter, but is known to tackle low — too low for the NFL’s liking.

He also plays on one of the most physically-imposing defenses in the league, and would’ve been a perfect pupil of disgraced defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. I’m only kidding … sort of.

Though Pollard has a point — that we don’t want to see the game devolve to a pee-wee level — his outlandish comments will do nothing to sway the mind of Goodell, whose faced tougher opposition in the past.

Per the Associated Press, commissioner Roger Goodell stated he won’t prevent New Orleans from hiring Parcells, saying, “That’s their decision.”

“That’s their decision. They need to make those decisions and we’ll move forward,” Goodell said Monday. “Bill’s a great coach, and I’m sure (he) will add a lot of personality and intrigue. And he’s as competitive as they get, so I’m sure he’ll do a good job.”

There is no question Sean Payton would love to see this happen, recently admitting there’s interest in placing his squad in the hands of a longtime friend and confidant.

The problem for Payton is he’s currently in NFL purgatory, waiting to have his season-long suspension appeal heard by the commish. That’s of the BountyGate variety, of course, so he’s not (or shouldn’t be) holding his breath.

Goodell plans to hear the appeals (including GM Mickey Loomis‘) this week, with a ruling to come shortly thereafter.

In the meantime, you could probably find Parcells in Florida, and Payton … well, I’m guessing wherever Jimmy Buffett’s next tour stop is.

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That’s sure to quell the masses outside the Superdome.

While we wait for the NFL to rule on the appeals of Saints head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis, a swarm of the Who Dat nation decided to band together in a show of support for the organization.

Per WWLTV in New Orleans, “several dozen” Saints fans gathered outside the Superdome on Sunday, protesting the NFL’s decision to harshly penalize the franchise (most importantly, Payton) in the wake of the bounty scandal.

Dressed in custom garb and carrying signs (and, oh look, rolls of paper towels), protestors lined up outside the stadium, chanting “Free Sean Payton!” in a display that would surely make those in Miami proud.

“It’s just wrong what they doing to the coach,” said one protester.

Payton, of course, was suspended for the entire 2012 season, while Loomis was hit with an eight-game ban. Fans, such as Keith L’Hoste and Jan Hankins, believe commissioner Roger Goodell came down too severely on Payton, and needs to “reconsider” his decision.

“There’s 32 teams in the league and everybody’s done it, and as far as we’re concerned, there’s no reason to have this kind of a suspension for a head coach,” said Keith L’Hoste.

“We think the penalties are too harsh. So, I think Goodell needs to reconsider,” she said.

Earlier Sunday, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that both Payton and Loomis will have their appeals heard Tuesday in New York, with a decision expected to come within days.

Though the protestors acknowledge this is unlikely to change Goodell’s mind, they nonetheless feel it was their duty to come out and stand by their team during these tough times.

“Wanted to come out and show support for our coach, show him what he means to us and the team and the city,” said Masike Turner.

[Photo: WWLTV]