Posted on 08 May 2012. Tags: ‘Reservation, Anthony Hargrove, evidence, file, Fujita, Hargrove, jonathan vilma, League, Nfl, NFLPA, Rights', Saints, Smith, Will Smith
NEW ORLEANS (NFL/Wyche) – Whilst Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed a letter stating his intent to appeal his season-lengthy suspension Monday, 3 other players suspended in the Saints bounty scandal, jointly filed, through the NFLPA, a “reservation of rights” letter to the NFL.
Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith, filed notice that they reserve the appropriate to appeal following a grievance filed by the NFLPA on their behalf difficult commissioner Roger Goodell’s authority regarding these suspensions is heard. The NFLPA states that no appeal should be heard till an arbitrator or arbitrators rule on two grievances that had been filed last week are resolved. Vilma’s lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, also stated that protocol also applies to Vilma.
“I look forward to the opportunity to confront what evidence they claim to have in the appropriate forum,” Fujita said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press. “I have never ever contributed income to any so-called ‘bounty’ pool, and any statements to the contrary are false. To say I’m disappointed with the league would be a large understatement.”
Players had until the finish of business Monday to notify the NFL of their intent to appeal their suspensions. Fujita, a linebacker with the Browns, was suspended three games Smith, a defensive finish with the Saints, 4 games, and Hargrove a defensive lineman now with Green Bay, eight games. Vilma’s suspension was to take impact quickly but he is allowed to participate in offseason workouts at-least till his appeal is heard.
The NFL has not set a timetable as to when Vilma’s appeal will occur. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league is reviewing the players’ filings from Monday along with the grievance filings and will determine the next steps in the procedure.
The NFL meted out punishment against the players for participating in what it said was a spend-for-efficiency system in which players had been paid out of a pool they funded to injure opponents from 2009-2010. The league says it has a preponderance of evidence to assistance its discipline. The players and the NFLPA mentioned they’ve but to see any evidence linking players to the program.
Saints Coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the season, assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games, Common Manger Mickey Loomis for eight and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely for their roles in the program. All appealed to Goodell and did not get their suspensions lowered. The Saints also had been docked two second-round draft picks and fined $ 500,000.
The NFLPA, in its grievance, argues that Goodell does not have the authority to judge, rule – and hear appeals — against the players. The NFLPA states that based on negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement, that no players would be punished for actions prior to last season. The league disagrees, arguing that such an agreement was not created and that Goodell, according to labor pact agreed upon by the league and its players, has authority to rule and hear the appeals for “conduct detrimental.” The bounty rulings fall beneath the “conduct detrimental” element of the CBA, according to the NFL.
(About:) This write-up was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Fujita, Hargrove and Smith file ‘reservation of rights’ with league.
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Posted on 25 April 2012. Tags: Admitted, Carolina Panthers, Gregg Williams, player', Saints, Smith, Steve, Steve Smith, Targeted, the Saints
Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith wasn’t surprised at all when the New Orleans Saints’ bounty plan came to light this offseason. The longtime NFC South rival stated he’s “always known” Gregg Williams’ defenses attempt to hurt opposing players.
“I really had an altercation with a guy who told me firsthand,” Smith stated Tuesday on NFL.com’s “Dave Dameshek Football Program,” although he didn’t name the Saints player. “I was going out of bounds, and the guy went for my ankle. I mentioned, ‘Hey, man, cut that out.’ He’s like, ‘Well, we get fined if we don’t go right after your legs when you go out of bounds.’ … And really this past year, this last game when we played them, I had a little conversation with Gregg Williams. … He took responsibility, he was saying it wasn’t right, but that’s who he was.”
We’re past the point of being surprised by the Saints’ activities at this point. Would it seem out of character for Williams to have his players spend modest fines if they didn’t play with an edge?
The Carolina-New Orleans rivalry was re-ignited last season by a scuffle following a Smith touchdown celebration (not to mention a late hit by Saints safety Roman Harper). We won’t have to wait extended to see if Smith’s words further inflame the matchup: The Saints head to Carolina in Week two next season.
The Saints just have to hope they have enough non-suspended players to field a defense that day.
(About:) This report was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For a lot more NFL news see: Steve Smith: Saints player admitted he targeted me.
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Posted on 17 April 2012. Tags: ‘bounty', case, Could, Harper, jonathan vilma, Linebacker, Nfl, player', Punished, Roman, Roman Harper, Saints, Smith, Will Smith
Whilst significantly of the focus regarding pending player discipline for the New Orleans Saints’ “bounty” system has focused on linebacker Jonathan Vilma, safety Roman Harper and defensive end Will Smith also featured prominently in the NFL’s investigation, sources with understanding of the situation said Monday.
Harper and Smith were probed in depth and could end up facing more severe discipline than the majority of the players whom the league believes were active in the program. The NFL’s report indicated 22 to 27 players were involved for the duration of the 3 years the Saints’ defense was investigated.
Vilma is expected to face the most stern punishment of any Saints player, sources said. The linebacker is preparing for a suspension among two and eight games.
Linebacker Scott Fujita has been mentioned in connection to the case, and he was a element of the NFL Players Association contingent that met with NFL officials in New York on Monday, serving in his capacity in the union’s executive committee. But Fujita was with the Saints for only one of the three seasons beneath evaluation ahead of going to the Cleveland Browns. Other individuals, like Vilma, Smith and Harper, had been there for all three seasons and have been focal points in the investigation from a player standpoint, sources said.
Saints quarterback Drew Brees said Monday that the NFL still has not presented him with “meaningful evidence” in the Saints’ “bounty” case.
Adhere to Jason La Canfora on Twitter @JasonLaCanfora.
(About:) This post was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Roman Harper, Will Smith could be punished in ‘bounty’ case.
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Posted on 16 April 2012. Tags: Brees, coach, DeMaurice, Drew, Drew Brees, Fujita, meeting, Nfl, NFLPA, officials, Saints, Scandal, Scott, Scott Fujita, Smith, union
NEW YORK — The NFL and NFLPA are meeting on Monday, with heavy-hitters in the room to discuss possible sanctions against players in the Saints’ “bounty” scandal affair.
Union officials arrived at 11 a.m. ET, with NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith leading New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees and ex-Saints LB Scott Fujita, now with the Cleveland Browns, in the league workplace at 345 Park Ave. Both Brees and Fujita are members of the NFLPA’s executive committee. Fujita is a single of the central figures among the players involved in the NFL’s three-year investigation.
Each the NFL and the union declined to comment on the meeting, which is expected to wrap up in the afternoon.
Also portion of the union’s contingent were NFLPA president Domonique Foxworth, union lawyers Richard Berthelsen and Heather McPhee, as nicely as Fulbright and Jaworski lawyer Richard Smith, the outside counsel the PA hired to handle the Saints case.
The league already sanctioned the team itself, as nicely as New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis, head coach Sean Payton and assistant head coach Joe Vitt, and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. All but Williams appealed the penalties, but the punishments were upheld by the NFL. Payton’s season-extended suspension started out on Monday.
Loomis has been suspended for eight games and assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games for their involvement in the program, in which defensive players had been financially rewarded for injuring opponents from 2009 to 2011. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely for his role in the scandal.
The league has but to announce player punishment for the “bounty” program that has rocked the Saints organization.
Jonathan Vilma is widely expected to get the harshest punishment among the Saints players from the league, but other individuals could be in the crosshairs as effectively. The union interviewed Brees, as properly as Fujita and defensive captain Will Smith at its player representative meeting last month in Marco Island, Fla.
Fujita also has a close relationship with Steve Gleason, the former Saint stricken with ALS who invited filmmaker Sean Pamphilon into a defensive meeting on the night ahead of the team’s NFC Divisional Playoff. That’s exactly where Pamphilon recorded Williams’ significantly-publicized speech calling for Saints players to target 49ers players’ injuries.
The union was aware of the tape before it was released by Pamphilon, and issued a statement Monday confirming that.
“The NFLPA was aware of the existence of the Gregg Williams audio prior to its release,” the statement stated. “We learned of the tape as component of our effort to acquire any and all data connected to an alleged spend-to-injure scheme. We had no manage of the content material and did not make a determination on the technique of its release. To date, the NFL has not provided the NFLPA with detailed evidence of the existence of such a system.”
(About:) This article was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For far more NFL news see: Drew Brees, Scott Fujita, DeMaurice Smith meeting NFL officials.
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Posted on 19 March 2012. Tags: agent, Condon, consideration, considering, contract, Jim Harbaugh, Letting, news, Nfl, Niners' Smith Reportedly, Niners', Peyton Manning, reportedly, San Francisco 49ers, Smith, sweepstakes, tom condon
It’s been an uncomfortable week for San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith.
The 49ers entered the Peyton Manning sweepstakes this week when coach Jim Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman traveled to Durham, N.C., to watch Manning function out at Duke University. Even worse for Smith is that his own agent, Tom Condon, also functions for Manning.
Smith now is considering modifying agents, a league source told the San Francisco Chronicle on Saturday. NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reports that Smith hasn’t but interviewed any prospective new agents.
Condon has been Smith’s agent since the quarterback entered the league as the No. 1 general choice in the 2005 draft. Smith became a totally free agent when he was unable to agree to a new contract with the 49ers.
The 49ers have provided Smith a three-year, $ 24 million contract that the quarterback is weighing, a league source told the Chronicle.
(About:) This post was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For more NFL news see: Niners’ Smith reportedly considering letting go of agent Condon.
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Posted on 18 March 2012. Tags: agent, Alex Smith, Cost-free, Dolphins', freeagent, Green Bay Packers, Matt Flynn, meeting, news, Nfl, quarterback, Smith, Sunday
Totally free-agent quarterback Alex Smith is visiting the Miami Dolphins’ team facility Sunday, a league supply tells NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora.
Former Green Bay Packers quarterback Matt Flynn also visited the team over the weekend.
The San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday the 49ers have supplied Smith a three-year, $ 24 million contract that the quarterback is weighing. Nonetheless, the team is also believed to be a finalist for the services of Peyton Manning.
Smith reportedly might sever ties with longtime agent Tom Condon, who also represents Manning.
“I never ever believed a year ago (Peyton) Manning would be a totally free agent, either,” Smith told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel upon arriving in Miami on Sunday morning. “I’m by no means surprised by anything.”
The Dolphins also courted Manning, but learned late last week they were not in the running to land the star quarterback.
(About:) This report was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For far more NFL news see: Free-agent QB Smith meeting with Dolphins on Sunday.
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Posted on 11 March 2012. Tags: ‘It, Alex Smith, Career, contract, Done', Nfl, Niners, Niners', Peyton Manning, profession, San Francisco 49ers, Smith, turn
Alex Smith doesn’t have to worry about the San Francisco 49ers creating a run at Peyton Manning, a team supply told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora earlier this week, and Smith remains confident a new deal will get done to preserve him in San Francisco.
“I feel so,” Smith told The Arizona Republic, via the Sacramento Bee, on Saturday. “It’s just a process. It takes some time. It will get accomplished.”
Smith is set to grow to be a totally free agent next Tuesday and is coming off the best year of his career, leading the 49ers to an NFC West title and a trip to the conference championship game. Smith, who threw for a career-high 3,144 yards with 17 touchdowns to 5 interceptions in 2011, did not indicate disappointment that a new deal has not however been reached.
The Bee reported Wednesday that the Niners have an offer on the table for Smith, but the two sides at present can’t agree to the length of the contract nor the cash involved.
“You know, it’s going. I’m not disappointed about something,” said Smith, whilst in Arizona for former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner’s annual charity football game. “It sort of is what it is proper now. I’m not worried about something. I’ll just leave it at that.”
(About:) This report was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For a lot more NFL news see: Niners’ Smith on new contract: ‘It will get done’.
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Posted on 13 February 2012. Tags: 'Going, ‘Not, Anywhere', Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions, Johnson, Lewand, Lions, Lions President Lewand, President, president Tom Lewand, says, site, Smith, turn
The Detroit Lions have already started the method of getting star wide receiver Calvin Johnson locked up for the future.
Lions president Tom Lewand told WBBL-FM last week the team has currently started contract discussions with the representatives of Johnson, who is below contract through the 2012 season.
“Calvin’s under contract for this year,” Lewand mentioned, referring to subsequent season. “He’s clearly somebody that we want to maintain around for a long, long time. We’ve been in discussions with him, we’ll continue those, but as I said, he’s under contract for 2012, so he’s not going anyplace. We’ll continue to operate with him. The good news there is that he’s actually expressed an interest in staying.”
NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported that the Lions are interested in restructuring Johnson’s contract due to salary cap pressure.
Lewand added that the powerful chemistry amongst Johnson and quarterback Matt Stafford is a factor.
“As I mentioned earlier, he’s got a excellent connection with Matthew,” Lewand stated. “I consider we’ve got the makings of what could be a single of the fantastic batteries in the league in Calvin and Matthew. So there’s a desire among all parties to keep that together, and it’s been my experience that when that desire exists, that you generally can get deals accomplished.”
The Lions took Johnson, who caught 96 passes for 1,681 yards and 16 touchdowns this season, with the second general choose in the 2007 NFL Draft, when he signed a six-year deal. He has 366 profession receptions for five,872 yards and 49 touchdowns.
Earlier this month, Arizona Cardinals wideout Larry Fitzgerald sang Johnson’s praises, telling the Lions’ official site that Johnson is “an very, extremely impressive talent” who really should be the NFL’s highest-paid receiver.
Among the Lions players who are scheduled to turn into free of charge agents this offseason, running back Kevin Smith has gone on record as wanting to remain with the team.
“In every single interview that I’ve completed, even though I’m a free of charge agent, I’ve referred to the team and me as us,” Smith said last week, according to MLive.com. “I’m on the Lions roster in my opinion till I’m not on the Lions roster. That says it all.”
(About:) This write-up was distributed by Syndicated Sports news wire and aggregation service, For far more NFL news see: Lions president Lewand says WR Johnson ‘not going anywhere’.
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