NFL Rejects Saint Players’ Bounty Appeals

Roger Goodell and the NFL have handed down their decision. They have rejected the appeals of four current and former New Orleans Saints players suspended in connection with the league's bounty investigation of the Saints.

This is where it is going to get real. The players said they intend to fight Goodell and the NFL's ruling in Federal Court.

ESPN is reporting:

In a ruling handed down on Tuesday, Goodell told Jonathan Vilma, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Scott Fujita that each of them is 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.
Instead, however, the players intend to fight Goodell's rulings through the federal court system.
The players have declined to meet with Goodell because they have argued that Goodell lacked the jurisdiction to rule in the matter and has violated the spirit of the league's Collective Bargaining Agreement by making public statements about the case that demonstrated he could not be a neutral arbitrator.
The NFL says its investigation found that Saints players paid into a system, run by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams form 2009 to 2011, that offered improper cash payments to teammates who injured targeted opponents.