New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma met with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday to discuss his suspension and his role in the alleged bounty program.
Vilma was presented at the meeting with a sworn statement from former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that says the linebacker offered a $10,000 bounty on Vikings quarterback Brett Favre.
''What Gregg Williams said in his most recent affidavit is the same falsity he has previously provided,'' Vilma's attorney Peter Ginsberg told the Associated Press. ''I don't know what Gregg Williams' motives are, but I do know that any suggestion by Williams that Jonathan put up $10,000 as an incentive for his teammates to injure another player is absolutely false.''
Vilma was given the affidavit at the meeting, but claims that it isn't entirely accurate.
He tweeted on Monday that Williams was ''bullied to sign the affidavit,'' saying Williams signed it on Friday.
Williams has been suspended indefinitely after allegations about the bounty system came to light.
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 Williams.
Some of the claims included bounties on quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner, as well as cash payouts for injuries and big hits.
Vilma has denied his alleged role in the system and had his season-long suspension overturned two weeks ago by an appeals panel.
"Today everyone was afforded an opportunity to start over,'' Vilma said outside the NFL's Park Avenue offices more than three hours after he went in. ''It was in our best interest to meet today. We spoke truthfully, honestly, bluntly.''
The other players suspended for their roles in the scandal will meet with Goodell on Tuesday, including linebacker Scott Fujita, free agent Anthony Hargrove and defensive end Will Smith.
''We appreciate Jonathan Vilma taking the time to meet today and look forward to seeing the other players tomorrow,'' NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said.
The players were all eligible to play the last two weeks after the panel overturned their suspensions.
The reasoning was that Goodell had gone too far in his authority by hearing the players' appeals of their punishments for participating in the bounty program. He could only suspend players based on intent to injure, and not due to secret monetary compensation.
Will Smith played in both Saints games, while Vilma was hurt and did not start. Fujita played in the Browns' week two loss and Hargrove is still a free agent.
Following the meeting, Vilma and his attorney presented defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and former defensive assistant Mike Cerullo with subpoenas in his defamation suit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, according to ESPN.com.
The two helped provide evidence to the league about the bounties and apparently made the claims that Vilma offered $10,000 for injuring Brett Favre.
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