Arbitrators will hear grievances filed by NFLPA over New Orleans Saints bounty scandal on Wednesday
Announcement of suspensions for players involved in the bounty scandal by National Football League (NFL) commissioner, Roger Goodell led to an immediate reaction from the players union NFL Players Association (NFLPA) who filed two grievances with arbitrators
challenging the commissioner’s authority to give the suspensions.
Those grievances will be heard by arbitrator, Shyam Das on Wednesday according to a report on
ESPN.com.
All four players given suspensions by Goodell are prepared to appeal the decision handed down but will wait till the case over the grievances is resolved by the arbitrators.
The NFLPA grievances cite that according to the new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) agreed between the NFL and the union Goodell cannot discipline players involved in the bounty scandal since it occurred before the new CBA came into effect.
A second grievance filed by the union claimed that since the bounties involved on-field player conduct which was not under the purview of Goodell’s authority.
The NFL had earlier given out severe punishments to the Saints and its management.
Goodell fined the franchise $ 500,000 and took away its second round draft picks for two seasons. The commissioner also laid out suspensions for the management who had lied to the league in its earlier investigations over the bounty programme.
Saints head coach, Sean Payton was suspended for the entirety of the 2012-13 season while general manager, Mickey Loomis and assistant coach, Joe Vitt received an eight and six-game suspension respectively.
Later the NFL announced punishments for the players with Saints defensive line captain and linebacker, Jonathan Vilma who was accused as one of the leaders in the programme being suspended for the entire 2012-13 season.
The league also suspended Saints defensive end, Will Smith for four games for his role in the bounty scandal.
Two other former Saints players were also suspended for their roles in the scandal with defensive end, Anthony Hargrove and line backer, Scott Fujita receiving an eight and three-game suspension respectively.
All eyes will now turn to Wednesday’s hearings over the NFLPA grievances and it will be interesting to see what the arbitrators decide and their decision will be monitored closely by both the league and the union.
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