New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma files appeal with NFL over bounty punishments - NFL News
New Orleans Saints linebacker and defence captain, Jonathan Vilma on Monday, filed an appeal with National Football League (NFL) commissioner, Roger Goodell.
Vilma filed the appeal to challenge the severe punishment handed down to him by the league in relation to his participation in the Saints bounty scandal.
The linebacker received a season long suspension for being one of the leaders involved in the scandal and will not be eligible to play even a single game for the entirety of the 2012-13 season.
He will also not receive any compensation or salary during the entire time of his suspension.
Vilma was one of the four players suspended by the NFL last week for their role in the bounty scandal. The other three players have for now reserved their right to an appeal.
In his appeal the linebacker, cites a lack of evidence provided by the NFL to link him to the scandal and asks the commissioner to provide the evidence he used to deliver the ruling.
The linebacker’s lawyer, Peter Ginsburg said.
"To be able to share, discuss and analyze the supposed evidence that has been gathered is a fundamental cornerstone of a fair and just process, and a vital prerequisite to uncovering the truth. Indeed, the failure of the NFL to conduct itself in a just
manner has compromised the process and resulted in erroneous and damaging conclusions."
Vilma was alleged by the league to have offered almost $ 10,000 to teammates during the 2009 National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game against the Minnesota Vikings. Vilma according to the league pledged the money from his own personal account
to any player who knocked out and injured then Vikings quarterback, Brett Favre.
It remains to be seen when Goodell will set the date for the hearings.
The Saints were found to be running an illegal bounty programme which paid players to severely injure their opponents during games. Developed by former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams and allegedly enthusiastically embraced by the players the bounty
programme remained in place for three seasons.
The league finally found enough evidence this offseason to incriminate the Saints and commissioner, Roger Goodell handed down some of the severest punishments of his tenure to both the players and coaches involved.
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