Goodell appoints Tagliabue to hear player appeals

By Barry Wilner

Associated Press

Published: Friday, Oct. 19 2012 12:25 p.m. MDT

FILE - In this Sept. 17, 2012 file photo, New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma arrives at the NFL football headquarters to meet with Commissioner Roger Goodell, in New York. Vilma is again asking a federal judge to overturn his suspension in the NFL's bounty probe of the Saints. In papers filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, Vilma says Goodell engaged in a "farcical review" of his previously vacated disciplinary action before reaffirming the Saints linebacker's full-season ban last week.

Louis Lanzano, File, Associated Press

Enlarge photo»

Summary

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, to hear the appeals of four players suspended in the Saints bounties scandal.

NEW YORK — NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has appointed his predecessor, Paul Tagliabue, to hear the appeals of four players suspended in the Saints bounties scandal.

Goodell says Friday that he notified Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove, as well as the players' union, that Tagliabue would be the hearing officer to "decide the appeals and bring the matter to a prompt and fair conclusion."

The union and the four players had asked Goodell to recuse himself, contending he could not fairly rule. Their second set of appeals is expected to be heard Tuesday.

Vilma was suspended for the 2012 season and Smith was banned four games for his role in the bounties program. Fujita, now with the Browns, was barred three games, since reduced to one. Hargrove, a free agent, had his suspension reduced from eight games to seven.

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