The four New Orleans Saints players that were suspended for being part of the team's bounty scandal won an appeal on Friday, allowing them to play this Sunday.
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove had their suspensions overturned by a three-member appeals panel. The NFL Players Association had filed the appeal on their behalfs.
Although they were overturned, the NFL quickly responded and reinstated them.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell previously suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the whole 2012 season, lineman Anthony Hargrove for eight games, Will Smith for four and linebacker Scott Fujita for three.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said Goodell would "make an expedited determination of the discipline imposed" for violating the league's bounty rule according to the Associated Press.
The reason the panel overturned the suspensions was due to the conclusion they found that Goodell had went too far in his authority by hearing the players' appeals of their punishments for participating in the bounty program.
The league announced earlier in the year that they had obtained a wide range of information detailing a bounty system by the Saints that stretched from the 2009 season to 2011. The report said that up to 27 Saints players were involved and that it was organized and run by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Some of the claims included bounties on quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, as well as cash payouts for injuries and big hits.
The panel stated that Special Master Stephen Burbank should have been the one to dispense punishment for the players receiving benefits.
"Whether the commissioner tries to readdress the situation or not is his call," said Peter Ginsberg, Vilma's attorney told the Associated Press. "We are certainly hoping the appeals board has made it clear the commissioner tried to grab jurisdiction and impose penalties over an area he does not have oversight. ... The factual record in the court makes it clear he has acted in a biased and inappropriate manner."
Vilma has a knee injury and most likely will not play on Sunday, while Fujita is determined to the take the field for the Browns. Hargrove is still a free agent. Smith will be available to play and should see a number of snaps in the first game of the season.
The Saints will open the season against the Washington Redskins on Sunday, but will still be without coach Sean Payton, who is suspended for the entire season.
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