By Sam Farmer, Los Angeles Times –
All four players suspended by the NFL for their alleged involvement in the New Orleans Saints’ bounty scandal appealed their penalties to the league in time for Monday’s deadline.
“I disagree wholeheartedly with the discipline imposed,” linebacker Scott Fujita said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. Fujita, who now plays for Cleveland, was suspended for three games.
“I have yet to hear the specifics of any allegation against me, nor have I seen any evidence that supports what the NFL alleges.”
The NFL Players Association said as much last week in a grievance protesting the suspension of the four players, among them linebacker and defensive captain Jonathan Vilma, and defensive linemen Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith. Hargrove, who received an eight-game suspension, now plays for Green Bay.
In his sworn statement to the NFL, a copy of which was obtained by Yahoo Sports, Hargrove describes how he was told by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and assistant head coach Joe Vitt, to deny the existence of a bounty program to NFL investigators.
Hargrove said Williams and Vitt instructed him to “play dumb” if he was asked about bounties.
The statement was submitted to the league through the NFLPA and underscores the union’s general theme that any blame for the alleged bounty program should rest at the feet of the coaches, not the players.
The NFLPA grievance also argues that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is prohibited from punishing players for any aspect of the case that occurred before the new collective bargaining agreement was signed in August. Further, the union argues it’s not Goodell who should handle such matters of discipline under the new labor agreement.
Vilma, who received a full-season suspension, released a copy of his appeal to Goodell through his lawyer, Peter R. Ginsberg.
“The NFL has refused to provide a single piece of evidence to us,” Ginsberg wrote. “That approach to this serious matter was reflected in the NFL outside counsel’s disturbing recent statement to the media that the players’ requests to review and understand the alleged evidence against them is a ‘red herring.’ ”
