Former league commissioner Paul Tagliabue overturned the suspensions Tuesday of four National Football League players involved in a bounty scheme scandal.
Jonathan Vilma, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Scott Fujita were all suspended by current commissioner Roger Goodell seven months ago for their roles in the bounty programme where players were given financial rewards for injuring opponents from 2009-2011.
Vilma had been suspended for the entire 2012 season, while Hargrove was originally given an eight-game penalty. Smith was banned for four games and Fujita was slapped with a three-game suspension.
Each of the four players were permitted to play regular season games while the appeals process was underway.
Tagliabue affirmed the league’s findings in the investigation, the results of which were first released in March. But he also ruled the Saints’ organization deserved more of the blame than the the players.
“Unlike (the) Saints’ broad organizational misconduct, player appeals involve sharply focused issues of alleged individual player misconduct in several different aspects,” Tagliabue said on Tuesday.
“My affirmation of commissioner Goodell’s findings could certainly justify the issuance of fines. However, this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints’ organization.”
The NFL said it “respected” Tagliabue’s ruling and that a strong message had been sent.
“We respect Mr. Tagliabue’s decision, which underscores the due process afforded players in NFL disciplinary matters,” the NFL said in a statement Tuesday.
“This matter has now been reviewed by commissioner Goodell, two CBA grievance arbitrators, the CBA Appeals Panel, and Mr. Tagliabue as commissioner Goodell’s designated appeals officer.
“The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years, that the program endangered player safety, and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league. Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football.”
Ex-commissioner Tagliabue vacates suspensions
