The hearing for the grievance filed by the NFLPA with regard to the suspensions issued against the Saints players heard arguments for two-and-a-half hours on Wednesday, before arbitrator Shyam Das at NFL headquarters in New York City, but the hearing ended with no ruling and no further hearings scheduled, according to a source reported by NFL.com.
This grievance is focused on whether NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has the authority to punish players for the alleged pay-to-injure violations, since the NFLPA argues that Goodell has no authority to punish any actions that occurred before the signing of the new collective bargaining agreement, in August 2011.
Two former Saints who were among the four players suspended, linebacker Scott Fujita and defensive end Anthony Hargrove, were in attendance for the hearing in New York. Fujita received a three game suspension and Hargrove received an eight game suspension from Goodell. In addition, two current Saints were suspended as well – defensive end Will Smith for four games and defensive captain and linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season.
The NFLPA is also arguing that the allegations are on-field incidents, and therefore the appeal of the suspensions must be heard by Art Shell and Ted Cottrell. Under the new CBA, commissioner Goodell has the power to punish both on-field and off-field infractions, but on-field infractions are appealed to former players Art Shell and Ted Cottrell, who were jointly agreed to by the NFL and the NFLPA.
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