Roger Goodell responds to Jonathan Vilma's defamation suit

Roger Goodell has responded to Jonathan Vilma’s defamation lawsuit by asking the Louisiana District Court to dismiss it.

Goodell filed a motion before today’s deadline and requested an oral argument to back his motion to dismiss. A hearing has been scheduled for Aug. 1.

According to Albert Breer of NFL.com, Goodell’s reply was 715 pages in length, the majority of which referred to or were excerpted directly from the CBA.

Goodell claims Vilma’s assertion was all “relating to and emanating from Commissioner Goodell's imposition of discipline for conduct detrimental to the integrity of, or public confidence in, the game of professional football.”

The CBA gives Goodell sole power to impose discipline. We’ll see what the next step in this process is.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune