What Did the New Orleans Saints Do?

BY ADAM GREENE

We’ve had some fun with NFL scandals over the years. There were more serious offenses, sure, but nothing that went beyond the game. Not until now.

The New Orleans Saints are actively trying to prevent the release of emails between them and the New Orleans Roman Catholic archdiocese relating to what the Associated Press calls a “burgeoning sexual abuse crisis.”

Over 20 men are suing and accusing the church of exactly what you think they are. And they’re accusing the Saints of assisting the church in damage control. What attorneys for the men want is 276 documents released, communications between the archdiocese and Saints executives, concerning how to “handle” the fact that the church covered up the systemic sexual abuse of children and the systemic protection of their abusers for decades. You know. Normal PR stuff.

“Obviously, the Saints should not be in the business of assisting the Archdiocese, and the Saints’ public relations team is not in the business of managing the public relations of criminals engaged in pedophilia,” the victims’ attorneys wrote in a court filing. “The Saints realize that if the documents at issue are made public, this professional sports organization also will be smearing itself.”

For their part, the Saints paint a rosier picture of their participation with an organization accused of covering up decades of child rape.

“The advice was simple and never wavering,” The Saints said of their communications with the church. “Be direct, open and fully transparent, while making sure that all law enforcement agencies were alerted.”

Which would hold a lot more water if the Saints were willing to be direct, open and fully transparent with the release of these nearly 300 emails.

The Associated Press has joined the court fight to get the Saints to release the documents.

“This case does not involve intensely private individuals who are dragged into the spotlight,” the AP says, “But well-known mega-institutions that collect millions of dollars from local residents to support their activities.”

As NFL scandals go, this one isn’t getting a lot of play, but it’s much worse than any that have come before it.

BountyGate cost the Saints Sean Payton for a year a couple of second round picks when they were accused of targeting and trying to injure other players. The Patriots were hit twice, once for Spygate and the other for Deflategate, and might be again with Spygate 2. It’s all fun and games that might have cost a few teams wins, but it’s safe to say no children were sexually assaulted in the process.

You can’t say that this time.

When Penn State first ignored and then covered up Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse of young boys, it should have cost more than an elderly Joe Paterno his job and some wins (since despicably restored), it should have cost the school its football program.

When the NCAA discovered SMU was getting players paid, they got the “death penalty” in 1987 and didn’t get their football program back until 2007, 20 years later.

But Penn State helping support and cover up the sexual assault of children? A two-year postseason ban, a loss of a few scholarships and Peterno lost 112 wins, which were eventually reinstated. I’m sure he appreciated it as he rotted in hell.

There was no reason or excuse for the New Orleans Saints to “assist” the church in this matter at all. Apparently their owner, Gayle Benson, is buddy-buddy with the New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond, which should be an indictment of her as a person, frankly. That’s likely why the Saints were involved.

It’s also why the NFL should demand the Saints comply with the release of these emails. And if the team and its executives tried, in any way, to “help” the church in “damage control,” then everyone involved should be banned from the league for life and Gayle Benson be forced to sell the team.

This isn’t a deflated football. This isn’t a video tape of a team’s practice or formations. This actually matters.

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