New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith attend hearing – NFL News
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith attended Bounty gate hearing on Friday in Washington D.C.
Vilma and Smith were there with their lawyers to hear what Saints’ former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said.
Their lawyers cross-examined Williams because they had appealed for it recently.
Smith said:
"We got to hear what Gregg had to say. We wanted to make sure we were there just to hear him out."
He added:
“We know what we did and know what we didn't do. I mean, we just wanted to be there because it was our right to be there."
Williams started this bounty pool based on performance bonuses in 2009. He has accepted that and apologised for it after the scandal was unearthed by the league.
Williams was suspended for indefinite period.
Along with 22-27 players, Vilma and Smith were also included in this programme and contributed to the secret fund for paying bonuses.
Vilma was accused of paying $10,000 bonus to anyone for knocking out quarterback Brett Favre from National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game.
Smith was suspended for four games, while Vilma got suspended for the entire 2012 season but after his appeal, the NFL reduced his ban and he got the chance to return on the field.
Both of them played first game of this season on Thursday, November 29.
Former National Football League (NFL) commissioner Paul Tagliabue was hearing the case. He insisted that proceedings remained private.
When Vilma was asked about the details of hearing, he said:
"Paul wants to keep it under wraps, keep everything low-key ... so not really much I can say right now, Of course, it felt good being able to go in there."
According to the Associated Press, Smith found the hearing helpful for them.
When Vilma was asked about it, he was not sure. He said:
"Yeah? Well, we said that last time, and we saw how that turned out. So we'll see what happens."
The next hearing is scheduled on Monday, in New Orleans, where Vilma is going to be questioned.
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