VIDEO: NFL's DeMaurice Smith Visits CBS THIS MORNING

VIDEO-20000101

NFL Players Association Executive Director DeMaurice Smith discussed the ruling to overturn the New Orleans Saints Bountygate player suspensions and urged the NFL to apologize in an interview with co-hosts Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell that was broadcast live today Dec. 12, 2012, on CBS THIS MORNING on the CBS Television Network (7:00 AM – 9:00 AM). Watch the interview in its entirety below!

Below is the transcript of the interview:

ROSE: Are you satisfied with what former Commissioner Tagliabue said?

SMITH: Well, certainly satisfied in the ruling that he did not believe that there was any evidence supporting the suspension of The Players. Frankly, I'm still disappointed in the National Football League, and certainly disappointed in the way in which they conducted an investigation because I now know, having read and seen all of the testimony, that there was certainly no evidence that the bounties existed. And frankly, I was a prosecutor in this city for 10 years. I understand how to do investigations, and the investigation that the League did was sloppy, the investigation that they did was more outcome-focused than frankly process-focused.

ROSE: But Tagliabue also said that the system was at fault.

SMITH: Well, I think what Paul indicated in the transcript, having seen all of the evidence, was that there was no basis to punish The Players. And I think that-

ROSE: But?

SMITH: And I think that as soon as the transcript is released and everybody can read the testimony under oath, I think it's important for all Americans to see what Greg Williams said when he said that there was no bounty.

O'DONNELL: But doesn't this-by Tagliabue, doesn't this undermine Roger Goodell's authority?

SMITH: Well, at times when you make a wrong decision, perhaps your authority should be undermined.

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