Anthony Hargrove's agent unconvinced by evidence provided by NFL - NFL News
After the National Football League (NFL) released some of the evidence pertaining to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal to the players union NFL Players Association (NFLPA), many have questioned whether the evidence is sufficient enough to warrant such
severe punishments given to the four players.
Commissioner, Roger Goodell in early May had laid out suspensions to four players which include Saints defensive captain and linebacker, Jonathan Vilma, defensive end, Will Smith, Green Bay Packers defensive end, Anthony Hargrove and Cleveland Browns linebacker,
Scott Fujita.
Both Fujita and Hargrove previously played for the Saints.
Goodell suspended Vilma for a year, Hargrove is suspended for eight games while Smith and Fujita are unable to play in four and three games respectively in the 2012-13 season.
Such harsh suspensions are unheard off and the lack of evidence given to the players has led to harsh criticism of Goodell.
The NFL on Friday provided a 200-page document to the NFLPA as evidence for punishments but Hargrove’s agent, Phil Williams questioned the evidence released and said that most have nothing to do with bounties.
In a statement released on Sunday, Williams said.
"If you believe the 'evidence' to be so substantial that you would espouse the 50,000-plus page file, why would most of those pages have zero to do with 'bounties' or even 'pay-for-performance?'”
He continued.
"Do you actually have any concrete evidence that any player from another team was injured as a result of a 'bounty' and that a player from the Saints was therefore paid accordingly? Can you honestly say that the Saints employed a 3-year 'bounty program'
if no one was ever paid for a 'bounty?' Would that not constitute one of the worst followed programs ever witnessed?"
Vilma’s attorney had also previously questioned the evidence on Friday and said that the information provided does not in any way corroborate the accusations levelled against his client.
He also said that the NFL had ignored the request given by the NFLPA to ensure the participation of Saints head coach, Sean Payton and others who were part of the bounty scandal.
Appeals filed by the four players will be heard on Monday and new information is expected to emerge soon.
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