NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Rejects Appeals Of Suspended Players

The appeals of four former and current New Orleans Saints players for their alleged roles in the team's bounty scandal have been denied by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

Current Saints players Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith, as well as former Saints players Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove, met with Goodell about three weeks ago but were not happy with how it went. They have maintained that they have been wrongly accused in the situation, accusations they say have been based on insufficient evidence.

Goodell says all four players are still welcome to meet with him to give their side of the story, and that he reserves the right to reduce the suspensions should new information be brought forth. Goodell says he did not take his initial decision lightly and that the players have chosen not to participate fully in their appeal hearings.

Vilma received the toughest punishment, getting suspended without pay for the entire 2012 NFL season. Smith is facing a 4-game suspension. Hargrove, who’s now with the Green Bay Packers, was suspended for eight games while Fujita, who’s now with the Cleveland Browns, was suspended for three games.