NFL roundup: Goodell upholds bounty-related suspensions of players
Roger Goodell is standing by the NFL's investigation into the Saints' bounty system, informing the four players who received suspensions as a result of the alleged pay-for-play setup that their discipline has been upheld.
That means a season-long suspension without pay for Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Also suspended without pay current Packers defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (first eight games of 2012), Saints defensive end Will Smith (four games) and current Browns linebacker Scott Fujita (three games).
An appeal took place June 18, but Vilma all but voided his appeal by walking out of the hearing.
In a letter to the four players Tuesday, Goodell cited "conduct detrimental to the NFL," writing:
"Throughout this entire process, including your appeals, and despite repeated invitations and encouragement to do so, none of you has offered any evidence that would warrant reconsideration of your suspensions. Instead, you elected not to participate meaningfully in the appeal process..."
The NFLPA took little time in issuing its own statement criticizing Goodell's stance.
"The players are disappointed with the League's conduct during this process," the statement said. "We reiterate our concerns about the lack of fair due process, lack of integrity of the investigation and lack of the jurisdictional authority to impose discipline under the collective bargaining agreement. Moreover, the Commissioner took actions during this process that rendered it impossible for him to be an impartial arbitrator."
Vilma informed federal judge Helen G. Berrigan by letter last week that he planned to file an injunction if Goodell didn't overturn his suspension. Vilma has filed a separate defamation suit against Goodell.
Goodell did also reserve the right to reduce the suspensions should new information come to light.
---Quarterback Drew Brees of the Saints won his grievance regarding his franchise tag status under the collective bargaining agreement.
The ruling by arbitrator Stephen Burbank means that if Brees and the Saints cannot reach a multi-year deal before the July 16 deadline and Brees plays out the final year of his contract, New Orleans cannot use the franchise tag on him beyond 2013. And the franchise number for 2013 would call for a 144 percent raise to $23,574,240, according to ESPN.
The NFL Players Association asked Burbank to review the case, claiming that since the Chargers used the franchise tag on Brees after his 2005 rookie contract expired, the Saints could not use it more than twice. The collective bargaining agreement states that players cannot be franchised more than three times.
---Former NFL defensive end Ben Davidson died from prostate cancer at the age of 72, the team confirmed Tuesday.
Davidson played three seasons for the Packers before joining the Raiders from 1964-71 and emerging as a feared pass rusher on Oakland's defense dubbed "11 Angry Men." Davidson started 70 of 110 games in eight seasons with the Raiders and was a three-time AFL All-Star.
----Running back Derrick Ward said Tuesday on Twitter that his NFL career ism over.
"To all my fans just wanted to let u know its been a great ride the last 9yrs but I'm calling it a career. I thank u all for believing in me!" he tweeted.
Ward, 31, spent the past two seasons with the Houston Texans as a backup.
