NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handed down heavy suspensions yesterday to four Saints players in regard to the Saints pay-to-injure investigation, with linebacker Jonathan Vilma receiving the heaviest hit. Vilma issued a statement today, indicating that he will appeal the one-year suspension that the NFL hit him with.
“I am shocked and extremely disappointed by the NFL’s decision to suspend me for the 2012 season,” Vilma said. “Commissioner Roger Goodell has refused to share any of the supposed evidence he claims supports this unprecedented punishment.”
Vilma went on to explain his position: “The reason is clear: I never paid or intended to pay, $10,000 or any amount of money, to any player for knocking Kurt Warner, Brett Favre or any other player, out of the 2009 Divisional playoff game, 2010 NFL Championship game, or any other game. I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player. I also never put any money into a bounty pool or helped create a bounty pool intended to pay out money for injuring other players I have always conducted myself in a professional and proud manner.”
The other three players received shorter suspensions – Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, and Will Smith. Fujita, now with the Browns, is suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season, without pay. Anthony Hargrove, now with the Packers, is suspended for the first 8 games of the season. Will Smith, still with the Saints, is suspended for the first four games of the season.
Smith, in a statement released to Pro Player Insiders Wednesday evening, made it clear he will fight the ruling, categorically denying the accusations against him and saying the NFL never contacted him regarding evidence or any potential punishment related to the case. Further, the Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion stated he will work alongside the NFL Players Association to appeal the decision.
“I am disappointed the NFL has punished me with a four-game suspension,” Smith said in his statement. “I have never in my career, nor as a captain, asked others to intentionally target and hurt specific opposing players. I was in no way involved in establishing or assisting Gregg Williams with implementing a bounty program. The accusations made against me are completely and 100 percent false, and I plan to appeal the decision along with the help of the NFL Players Association.”
As of this writing, Smith, Fujita and Hargrove are allowed to participate in their clubs’ offseason activities including preseason games before their suspensions take effect. Vilma is suspended immediately and will be reinstated following the 2012 season’s Super Bowl.
The NFLPA said Wednesday that it will “vigorously protect and pursue all options on [the players’] behalf.”
Where Next?
The players have a three day window in which to file their appeal. The NFL has taken the position that the appeal will go before Roger Goodell, who handed down the suspensions in the first place. ESPN reports that the NFLPA plans to contend that this is ultimately an on-field disciplinary matter.
The distinction is important. Under the new collective bargaining agreement signed last summer, off field disciplinary actions are under the sole discretion of Goodell. Discipline for on-field incidents, such as a suspension for a hit on the field, are reviewed by either Ted Cottrell or Art Shell, who were jointly appointed and jointly paid by the league and the players association for this purpose.
As an example, last year’s suspension of Ndamukong Suh for stomping on Green Bay Packer guard Evan Dietrich-Smith was handed down by Goodell, but the appeal was heard by Shell.
Look for the appeals to be formally filed within the next 24 to 48 hours, and then for the debate over the interpretation of the CBA to begin. The appeal process normally goes quickly (Suh’s was completed within a few days), but if the NFL and NFLPA can’t agree on the interpretation of who has jurisdiction, this could drag on for some time.
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