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It's a simple proposition for Steelers 5-time Pro Bowl OLB James Harrison.
If suspended Saints LB Jonathan Vilma loses in his lawsuit against NFL Commission Roger Goodell, he feels it shows Goodell has too much power.
If Vilma wins, however, according to Harrison, "the floodgates will open."
The floodgates of media attention will open over Harrison's comments, that's for certain.
It won't be long before the cat-calls over Harrison's vitriol directed toward Goodell will begin once again, one once again, Steeler Nation will defend Harrison. Scott Brown penned the piece in the Tribune-Review, and wisely pointed out the Steelers were the only team not to vote in favor of the new CBA, which extended Goodell's czar-like authority over the league.
Harrison, according to Brown, also took a subtle shot over news that the NFL competition committee is looking to mandate the use of knee and thigh pads for the 2013 season.
"I don't know how many guys end their career on a thigh or a knee bruise."
Before James Harrison, you never heard of a player getting fined six figures, either. The point is, it's a completely new NFL than the one most of us grew up with. The league commissioner taking certain actions that gets himself, and not the league, sued is certainly no less of an eye-opening bit of news than an employee not appreciating the fact his boss's boss doles out the penalties and hears the appeals.