Vilma Speaks Out on His Appeal With Roger Goodell
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NFL via Getty Images(NEW YORK) — The four players suspended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell had their appeals heard Monday. Will Smith was suspended for four games, Scott Fujita was given a three-game suspension, Anthony Hargrove was handed a three game-suspension, and Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the entire 2012 season.
Vilma met with Goodell for about on hour Monday, and denied any participation in the team’s bounty program under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. They wanted to meet longer than the hour, but Vilma and his lawyer felt like it would have been a waste of time.
“I don’t know how I can get a fair process when he is the judge, jury, and executioner,” Vilma told reporters following his appeal. “You’re assuming it will be fair, but it’s not.”
“Shame on the National Football League and Commissioner Roger Goodell for being more concerned about ‘convicting’ us publicly than being honorable and fair to men who have dedicated their professional lives to playing this game with honor,” the other three players said in a joint statement.
Part of the players’ complaint is that the NFL has refused to provide enough evidence that would support their decision to suspend the four players.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio