Players file "reservation of right" notice with NFL over New Orleans Saints bounty scandal suspensions
Three former and current, New Orleans Saints players filed appeals on Monday with the National Football League (NFL) challenging commissioner, Roger Goodell decision to suspend them for their involvement in the Saints bounty scandal.
Green Bay Packers defensive end and former Saints player, Anthony Hargrove along with Saints defensive end, Will Smith and Cleveland Browns linebacker and former Saints player, Scott Fujita filed a “reservation of right” to appeal notice with the NFL through
the NFL Players Association (NFLPA).
The NFLPA which has filed two grievances with arbitrators challenging Goodell’s authority to punish players in the bounty scandal has argued that no appeals can be heard until a decision over the grievances is reached and in accordance with that procedure
filed the “reservation of right” notice with the NFL.
The league is considering these notices as appeals from the players to meet the Monday deadline given by the commissioner to all four players to appeal their sentences.
Linebacker, Scott Fujita in an email to the Associated Press said that he is looking forward to seeing the evidence the league used to suspend him.
"I look forward to the opportunity to confront what evidence they claim to have in the appropriate forum. I have never contributed money to any so-called 'bounty' pool, and any statements to the contrary are false. To say I'm disappointed with the league
would be a huge understatement."
Fujita received the smallest suspension as he was barred from the first three games of the 2012-13 season while Smith and Hargrove face four and eight-game suspensions each.
They also cannot receive any salaries or compensations during the time of their suspensions.
According to NFL.com, NFL spokesman, Greg Aiello said that the league is still looking into the appeals and notices filed and will decide on a future course of action soon.
All four Saints players according to Goodell’s press release announcing the suspensions were accused of playing a leadership role in the bounty scandal.
The Saints ran an illegal pay-for-injury programme in their defensive roster from 2009-11 under the guidance of former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams and paid players significant sums of money from a $ 50,000 bounty pool to injure targeted opponents.
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