The infamous 'no call' in the NFC Championship was infuriating to Saints fans. The lawsuit against the NFL was a result.
However, earlier this week the team filed an amicus brief with the court siding with the National Football League in their efforts to get the case canned.
"The Saints appreciate that those fans are willing to take up what they may perceive to be the Saints' cause," the brief states. "But taking up such a cause in this form, in the courts, is not warranted, and is not in the Saints' interests."
In the brief the team says they've already achieved their aims by having changes to league rules instituted. The Saints brief goes on to content that if allowed to continue, it would spawn future lawsuits every time a perceived bad officiating call is made.
A team source told WWL First News:
- "The Saints have always been completely supportive of our fans unbridled enthusiasm and understand their passion, in particular for the no-call situation in the NFC Championship game. In no way do we not appreciate the support. However, we also need to be mindful not to open a virtual Pandora’s Box that allows courts and judges to either affirm or reaffirm contests played on the field. Mrs. Benson and Coach Payton have worked diligently this offseason through the proper channels at the league level to address these concerns."
Meanwhile the NFL contends lawsuit opens up professional sports leagues to frivolous lawsuits.
On Tuesday the NFL filed an appeal to the Louisiana Supreme Court looking to block the lawsuit.
The filing by the NFL and the brief from the Saint organization comes after a judge ordered NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and three referees involved in the 'no call' play to be deposed by Attorney Antonio LeMon, who is suing the league.
Another hearing on the matter is set for August 20.
Attorney Tony Le Mon issued the following:
We have filed our opposition late this morning to the NFL's writ application to the Louisiana Supreme Court wherein the NFL seeks to overturn the rulings in our favor by the Trial Court and the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals. Because the Supreme Court asked that we quickly file our opposition, we expect a ruling fairly soon. We learned last night that the Saints were joining the NFL in seeking a dismissal of our lawsuit. We can assure you that the four ticketholders who initiated this lawsuit, including me, are passionate fans and do not want to cause any harm to the Saints organization. This lawsuit is very different from any other ticketholder lawsuit that has ever been filed against the NFL because it is based on the unique laws in Louisiana, rooted in the Napoleonic Code, which exist only in Louisiana. There is no other law like this in the country. This case has gone further than any other ticketholder lawsuit against the NFL in this country because of Louisiana courts do not consider the common law rulings in other states which have been favorable to the NFL. This lawsuit is crafted to keep this matter in state court so that only Louisiana law controls the outcome. It would likely not survive in any other state. Our lawsuit has always been about finding out what really happened in the NOLA "No Call" play.
