NEW ORLEANS (NFL/Wyche) – While Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a letter stating his intent to appeal his season-long suspension Monday, three other players suspended in the Saints bounty scandal, jointly filed, through the NFLPA, a “reservation of rights” letter to the NFL.
Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith, filed notice that they reserve the right to appeal after a grievance filed by the NFLPA on their behalf challenging commissioner Roger Goodell’s authority regarding these suspensions is heard. The NFLPA states that no appeal should be heard until an arbitrator or arbitrators rule on two grievances that were filed last week are resolved. Vilma’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, also said that protocol also applies to Vilma.
“I look forward to the opportunity to confront what evidence they claim to have in the appropriate forum,” Fujita said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. “I have never contributed money to any so-called ‘bounty’ pool, and any statements to the contrary are false. To say I’m disappointed with the league would be a huge understatement.”
Players had until the end of business Monday to notify the NFL of their intent to appeal their suspensions. Fujita, a linebacker with the Browns, was suspended three games; Smith, a defensive end with the Saints, four games, and Hargrove a defensive lineman now with Green Bay, eight games. Vilma’s suspension was to take effect immediately but he is allowed to participate in offseason workouts at-least until his appeal is heard.
The NFL has not set a timetable as to when Vilma’s appeal will occur. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is reviewing the players’ filings from Monday along with the grievance filings and will determine the next steps in the process.
The NFL meted out punishment against the players for participating in what it said was a pay-for-performance program in which players were paid out of a pool they funded to injure opponents from 2009-2010. The league says it has a preponderance of evidence to support its discipline. The players and the NFLPA said they’ve yet to see any evidence linking players to the program.
Saints Coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the season, assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games, General Manger Mickey Loomis for eight and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely for their roles in the program. All appealed to Goodell and did not get their suspensions reduced. The Saints also were docked two second-round draft picks and fined $ 500,000.
The NFLPA, in its grievance, argues that Goodell does not have the authority to judge, rule – and hear appeals — against the players. The NFLPA states that based on negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, that no players would be punished for actions prior to last season. The league disagrees, arguing that such an agreement was not made and that Goodell, according to labor pact agreed upon by the league and its players, has authority to rule and hear the appeals for “conduct detrimental.” The bounty rulings fall under the “conduct detrimental” element of the CBA, according to the NFL.
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Pereira will tell you it’s okay, don’t worry.
How about the league admitting the officials this year have sucked more than ever?
As a Lions fan and a fan of the NFL I am sick of he league apologizing for mistakes made in games when it’s already too late to fix it. Instead of writing apologies to teams and fans maybe the league could hire some capable officials that know all the rule to the NFL.
Does that mean players should play through a whistle? Does that also mean there will no longer be personal foul penalties for late hits?
How many days will i have to wait for the league to admit that the line judge for the denver-pittsburgh game deserves to be banned from officiating any level of football..Harrison and Woodley get held every play all the time so usually it is not worth pointing it out becasue it is just a waste of energy…. but it was straight up criminal what the broncos were able to do and a line has to be drawn somewhere
When is the league going to admit that Santonio Holmes never got two feet down in the end zone against the Cardinals. Put that on tv and discuss. Refs pretty much suck.
Just do a 2-for-1 with the steelers/broncos blown lateral fumble non-call…
Why does everyone assume it would have been a TD for the Lions? The Saints players didn’t attempt to recover the ball when the whistle blew. If the ref hadn’t blown the whistle, the Saints could have recovered the ball. So all in all, the Lions got lucky.
But this is all spilt milk. Lions are sitting at home. Saints are getting ready for 49ers.