NFL Players Association Files Grievance On Behalf Of Suspended New Orleans Saints Players

Grievances have been filed with an arbitrator by the NFL Players Association over NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's suspensions handed down to players involved in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal.

NFLPA officials are questioning whether Goodell has the authority to hand down those punishments. The players union says Goodell should not be allowed to punish players for acts which happened before the current bargaining agreement was finalized on August 4th of last year.

Four current and former Saints players were suspended, with current Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma facing the harshest punishment. He was suspended for the entire 2012 season without pay. Another current Saints player, defensive lineman Will Smith, was suspended for four games. Two former Saints players, defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove and linebacker Scott Fujita, received eight and three game suspensions respectively.