NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has agreed to meet with the four players suspended for their connection to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, according to ESPN.com.
While the dates of the meeting have not been set, Goodell has agreed to meet with Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent lineman Anthony Hargrove.
The four players won an appeal last week from a three-member appeals panel and were eligible to play for the first week of NFL games. Goodell previously suspended linebacker Vilma for the whole 2012 season, Hargrove for eight games, Smith for four and Fujita for three.
The panel stated that due to the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL and NFL Players Association, Goodell overstepped his authority in handing out punishment. The players had not met with Goodell prior to the handing out of those suspensions.
"I'm expecting a fair meeting, unlike the June 18 appeals hearing," Vilma said in a text message, according to ESPN.com. "We can all benefit from transparency regarding evidence and witnesses instead of using conjecture or hearsay to come to inaccurate conclusions. I look forward to getting this accomplished."
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. Head coach Sean Payton was also suspended for the entire 2012 season.
Vilma's lawyer Peter Ginsberg told the league that his client was willing to meet with Goodell.
"If the commissioner feels sitting down with Jonathan and discussing matters will lead to a quick and fair resolution, Jonathan has been and continues to be willing to cooperate in any way that helps the truth come out." Ginsberg told ESPN. "We only hope the commissioner keeps an open mind and doesn't feel restricted by his previous and clearly erroneous conclusions."
Vilma had requested a meeting with Goodell earlier in the summer, but cancelled it. He also walked out of an appeals hearing with Goodell that he felt was unfair.
"Each player suspended in the Saints bounty matter has declined multiple opportunities to meet with league representatives to present information," NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said. "We have reminded each of those players that we remain willing to meet with them prior to the commissioner making the determination called for by the CBA Appeals Panel. We intend to conduct any such meetings that are scheduled per our normal process under the CBA."
The players or their representatives haven't had a chance to see the evidence the NFL says they have against them and hope they can come to a fair agreement. The lack of transparency was one reason that Vilma walked out of an earlier appeals hearing.
"We want to see the evidence and confront the witnesses," Ginsberg said. "When the commissioner produces less than one percent of the evidence gathered in the investigation, it became abundantly clear we were not being offered a fair opportunity to present to him in a very strong and detailed manner what in fact took place and decided not to participate in what was clearly a charade."
Fujita and Vilma were hurt and did not play on Sunday, while Smith was able to suit up and take snaps for the Saints. Hargrove is still a free agent without a team.
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