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Jonathan Vilma appeals ban
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who has been suspended for the entire 2012 season for his role in the team's bounty system, appealed his suspension Monday.
In papers filed Monday, Vilma argues that commissioner Roger Goodell should not hear the appeal and asks for a delay in the process until the matter of who should decide on it has been settled through NFL Players Association grievances filed last week.
Vilma's appeal states the NFL has not presented evidence linking him to a system in which players were paid to injure opponents. It asks the league to provide documentation, including witness statements.
The other three players suspended also have appealed their suspensions, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. They are defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers (for eight games); Saints defensive end Will Smith (four games); and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, (three games).
Hargrove, Smith and Fujita argue in their appeals that Goodell is without jurisdiction either to discipline the players for the conduct alleged or to determine any appeals, league sources said.
Vilma will continue to be allowed to work out with the Saints until his appeal his heard. The other players' suspensions do not take effect until the start of the regular season.
Last week, the players union filed a grievance with the NFL arguing that Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. It argues that a CBA system arbitrator, and not Goodell, has the authority to decide player punishment under such circumstances, as well as rule on any appeals.
Vilma's latest filing not only reiterates those arguments but also states that the NFL still has not provided "a single piece of evidence" to the Saints defensive captain to justify the suspension handed down to him last Wednesday.
"To be able to share, discuss and analyze the supposed evidence that has been gathered is a fundamental cornerstone of a fair and just process, and a vital prerequisite to uncovering the truth," wrote Vilma's attorney, Peter Ginsburg. "Indeed, the failure of the NFL to conduct itself in a just manner has compromised the process and resulted in erroneous and damaging conclusions."
Vilma's legal team now wants to see if there really is evidence such as account ledgers of improper cash bonuses, payment slips or other documents or emails showing Vilma pledged, made or received bounty payments.
Vilma also asks to review any video or audio evidence that the NFL has, including video from games or any statistical analysis of Vilma's on-field performances.
Last week, former U.S. attorney Mary Jo White, who was hired by the NFL to evaluate its bounty investigation, said there was evidence from "multiple independent sources" that shows players received payments for hits on targeted opponents.
The NFL has said its investigation included 18,000 documents comprising nearly 50,000 pages.
White said the NFL has shared ample evidence with suspended players and the NFLPA, and she also said that concealing the identity of witnesses is important in terms of not only protecting those who help investigations but encouraging more to step forward in the future.
The Saints already have been punished heavily in connection with the probe.
Head coach Sean Payton has been suspended the entire 2012 season, while suspensions of eight games were handed down to general manager Mickey Loomis and six games to assistant head coach Joe Vitt. The club also was fined $500,000 and docked two second-round draft choices this year and next. Meanwhile, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who admitted to running the bounty program from 2009-11, has been suspended indefinitely. Williams is currently with the St. Louis Rams.
Source: AP
In papers filed Monday, Vilma argues that commissioner Roger Goodell should not hear the appeal and asks for a delay in the process until the matter of who should decide on it has been settled through NFL Players Association grievances filed last week.
Vilma's appeal states the NFL has not presented evidence linking him to a system in which players were paid to injure opponents. It asks the league to provide documentation, including witness statements.
The other three players suspended also have appealed their suspensions, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. They are defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, now with the Green Bay Packers (for eight games); Saints defensive end Will Smith (four games); and linebacker Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, (three games).
Hargrove, Smith and Fujita argue in their appeals that Goodell is without jurisdiction either to discipline the players for the conduct alleged or to determine any appeals, league sources said.
Vilma will continue to be allowed to work out with the Saints until his appeal his heard. The other players' suspensions do not take effect until the start of the regular season.
Last week, the players union filed a grievance with the NFL arguing that Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case occurring before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed last August. It argues that a CBA system arbitrator, and not Goodell, has the authority to decide player punishment under such circumstances, as well as rule on any appeals.
Vilma's latest filing not only reiterates those arguments but also states that the NFL still has not provided "a single piece of evidence" to the Saints defensive captain to justify the suspension handed down to him last Wednesday.
"To be able to share, discuss and analyze the supposed evidence that has been gathered is a fundamental cornerstone of a fair and just process, and a vital prerequisite to uncovering the truth," wrote Vilma's attorney, Peter Ginsburg. "Indeed, the failure of the NFL to conduct itself in a just manner has compromised the process and resulted in erroneous and damaging conclusions."
Vilma's legal team now wants to see if there really is evidence such as account ledgers of improper cash bonuses, payment slips or other documents or emails showing Vilma pledged, made or received bounty payments.
Vilma also asks to review any video or audio evidence that the NFL has, including video from games or any statistical analysis of Vilma's on-field performances.
Last week, former U.S. attorney Mary Jo White, who was hired by the NFL to evaluate its bounty investigation, said there was evidence from "multiple independent sources" that shows players received payments for hits on targeted opponents.
The NFL has said its investigation included 18,000 documents comprising nearly 50,000 pages.
White said the NFL has shared ample evidence with suspended players and the NFLPA, and she also said that concealing the identity of witnesses is important in terms of not only protecting those who help investigations but encouraging more to step forward in the future.
The Saints already have been punished heavily in connection with the probe.
Head coach Sean Payton has been suspended the entire 2012 season, while suspensions of eight games were handed down to general manager Mickey Loomis and six games to assistant head coach Joe Vitt. The club also was fined $500,000 and docked two second-round draft choices this year and next. Meanwhile, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, who admitted to running the bounty program from 2009-11, has been suspended indefinitely. Williams is currently with the St. Louis Rams.
Source: AP