Saints fan sues NFL for $5M for 'dictatorial interference' from Roger Goodell

Roger Goodell and the NFL are being sued for $5 million by a New Orleans Saints fan. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) A New Orleans Saints fan is suing the NFL

Roger Goodell and the NFL are being sued for $5 million by a New Orleans Saints fan. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

A New Orleans Saints fan is suing the NFL for $5 million for "dictatorial, unreasonable, vindictive, and unfounded, interference from the Commissioner and the League," according to a report Tuesday from The Times-Picayune.

David Mancina filed a class-action lawsuit against the NFL and Commissioner Roger Goodell citing a claim that he and other season-ticket holders had the expectation that the league would help the Saints field "a contending team comprised of the finest athletes, and the best coaches."

The lawsuit is, of course, in response to the Bounty Program that the Saints were alleged to have coordinated internally without knowledge of the league. From a subsequent investigation, the Commissioner suspended head coach Sean Payton, General Manager Mickey Loomis, player Jonathan Vilma and others for participating in and supporting the Program.

In addition to the suspensions, the NFL also forced the Saints to give up its 2012 and 2013 second-round draft picks, "thereby devastating the quality of the Saints, the value of the tickets purchased by Plaintiff and the confidence and emotional attachment of Plaintiff, and the class, to the Saints," according to the suit filed by Mancina.

Mancina's lawyer said "there is no due process" for the fans, who he claims have been ignored since the Bounty Program investigation began in 2009:

"The players are suing because action has been taken against them without due process, but nobody has considered what effect it's had on the ticket holders," he said. "They go out there and support the team and the league year in and year out and they're just completely ignored."

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