Bounty Suspensions Lifted...For Now

(From left to right) Vilma, Hargrove, Smith, Fujita

The first NFL Sunday is finally upon us. Their have been many offseason moves, rookies have been named starters, and even Terrell Owens, Chad Johnson, and Randy Moss all got another chance to make it back into this league. All that being said, perhaps the biggest story of this season to date was the decision made by a three-person arbitration panel lifted the suspension of four NFL players.

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, and free agent Anthony Hargrove were all suspended for were offered, apparently received money to hurt opposing players. The suspensions were all very serious starting with Vilma who received a full season suspension, Hargrove received 8 games, Smith received 4 games and Fujita received 3, all without pay. 

Vilma was very active in getting his suspension lifted and appealed on more than one occasion and this Friday Vilma and the rest of the players received justice...for now. The arbitration panel agreed that NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell cannot suspend the players for receiving money for big plays, but can still suspend them for a "bounty" on the other team, if he can prove it.

For now the players are active, and Sants' Will Smith actually started the game. However, members of the Saints coaching staff and front office who were suspended are not affected by the panel's decision. Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended for the full 2012 season, General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for the first 8 games, interim Head Coach Joe Vitt was suspended for the first 6 games and Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams, who was accused of offering the "bounties" is suspended indefinitely. All of these suspensions still stand.

One Last Thing: The most important thing here is that Commissioner Goodell actually needs to provide some evidence in order to suspend these players. This shows that the NFL is not a dictatorship and that Goodell doesn't have all of the power for once. However, if Goodell can find enough evidence to prove that the players are guilty, then the suspensions should come back because paying for your guys to hurt another is ridiculous.