NFL Headlines: Saints’ Bounty Suspensions Re-Issued, & Brian Cushing out for the Year
By Jason Marcum
Oct 16, 2011; Oakland, CA, USA; Cleveland Browns linebacker
Scott Fujita(99) during the game against the Oakland Raiders at the O.co Coliseum. The Raiders defeated the Browns 24-17. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
The NFL has just announced they’ve re-issued the original Saints’ bounty discipline, which includes suspensions for Saints MLB Jonathan Vilma, DE Will Smith, Browns OLB Scott Fujita and free agent DT Anthony Hargrove. Vilma will be suspended the remainder of the 2012 season, while Fujita gets his initial three-game suspension reduced to just one, making him unlikely to play this week vs. the Bengals. Smith still gets four games, and Hargrove gets just seven games now after he originally faced a four-game suspension, though no team is likely to sign him this season with five weeks already gone.
The NFL Player’s Association just released this statement in reaction to the ruling:
"For more than six months, the NFL has ignored the facts, abused the process outlined in our collective bargaining agreement and failed to produce evidence that the players intended to injure anyone, ever. The only evidence that exists is the League’s gross violation of fair due process, transparency and impartiality during this process. Truth and fairness have been the casualties of the league’s refusal to admit that it might have made a mistake. We will review this decision thoroughly and review all options to protect our players’ rights with vigilance."
Courtroom football is back.
After Texans All-Pro LB Brian Cushing went down with an injury during Monday night’s in over the Jets, he did so after Jets guard Matt Slausen hit him with a dirty block in the back of the knee, and it turns out the hit tore Cushing’s ACL, and will knock him out for the season.
After a promising rookie campaign forecasted a bright future for Lions RB Jahvid Best, concussions derailed his 2011 season, limiting him to just six games and caused him to start this season on the PUP list. Head coach Jim Schwart said today that Best is in the best shape he’s been in since he was a rookie, and should be ready to return to action once he is able to come off of the PUP list.
Want more Bengals news? Like Stripe Hype on Facebook, or grab our RSS feed.