NFL and NFLPA representatives meet to discuss evidence against players in New Orleans Saints bounty scandal - NFL News
Representatives from the National Football League (NFL) met with union leaders from the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) on Monday to discuss punishments to be handed down to players involved in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.
The union members and the league met for over two hours according to sources as the union looked for further information and evidence the league had gathered against the alleged 22 to 27 players involved in taking bounties.
The NFL in early March revealed that the Saints were running an illegal bounty program for three years spanning from 2009-11 and 22 to 27 players from the defensive roster participated in the scheme designed to injure opponents.
The NFLPA though had urged the league to share its finding fully with the union and give the players due process before handing down any punishments.
The league reciprocated by inviting the union to meet with their representatives and go over the evidence.
NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith in a statement on Monday said that their goal is to ensure a fair trial for the players but they will not play any role in recommending punishments to be handed down.
"Our duty is to view and understand the evidence and to ensure it is substantiated and concrete,"
Adding further he said.
"We also have an obligation to ensure that our players have fair due process. It is not our duty to give recommendations for discipline in a vacuum without information or without consultation with our players.”
The Saints management has already been given severe punishments by the NFL and the franchise itself has been fined $ 500,000 in addition to having their second round draft picks taken away for two years.
New Orleans though will appeal that decision in a hearing which is likely to be scheduled this week.
Smith also discussed the meetings and the future course of action the union will follow.
"Our team will meet with the NFL today, ask hard questions and will expect to see all documents and direct evidence of a pay-to-injure scheme. I will get a full briefing by our team and after that, the next step will be to consult with players about what
was learned. Only then will we confer with the NFL."
More news is likely to be released soon as details of the meeting and discussions are made public.
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