Why NFL Would Be Smart to Keep New Orleans Saints Bounty Evidence Private

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell claims that he expects the evidence in the New Orleans Saints bounty case to become public soon, according to ESPN.com. But it would be in the NFL's best interests to keep that information private. 

The concern is that if the NFL makes all of the evidence in the bounty scandal public, then the whistle-blower (or whistle-blowers) will be identified. If that happens, that person (or people) could be shunned in NFL circles and could have his or her livelihood taken away simply because he or she did the right thing. 

When the player appeals in the Saints case have concluded, the NFL is likely to at least release some of the evidence, per Judy Battista of The New York Times. But the NFL has no legal need to make the information public.

I realize some fans want answers and want to see exactly what kind of evidence the league has. But if the audio of Gregg Williams before the 2012 playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers wasn't enough proof for you that something crazy was going on with the Saints, then you'll probably never be convinced. 

On the other side, if the league releases all of the evidence and fans see the ugly, inner workings of that bounty program and what went on behind closed doors, fans may never look at the NFL the same way again.

It could seriously damage the NFL as a brand, and as we know, Goodell is a big proponent of protecting the league at all costs. 

This is really a no-win situation for the NFL. If it doesn't release the evidence, people will accuse the league of hiding things and not really having a strong case against the suspended players. But if it does release everything, it could seriously damage the league. 

One thing to remember here is that the NFL does not operate like a court of law. Only Goodell needs to be convinced of the evidence to hand down a sentence. That is laid out in the league's collective bargaining agreement. 

The league would be wise to keep this information in-house. Making it public could only do further damage.