Jonathan Vilma might not serve the entire length of his season-long suspension in the wake of the Saints' bounty scandal. ESPN's Chris Mortensen reports the linebacker could reach an agreement with the NFL to cut his time without play or pay to only eight games -- he broke the news via Twitter:
Report: Jonathan Vilma, NFL In Talks To Cut Suspension In Half
Sources say league has proposed to reduce Jonathan Vilma's one-year suspension to 8 games but no agreement yet. Talks ongoing.
— Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) August 6, 2011
The offer was apparently made last week. This has to do with Vilma’s lawsuit against commissioner Roger Goodell, claiming that the suspension defames Vilma’s character. The league has asked him to drop the suit -- he mockingly posted about the demand on Twitter -- and it would seem the league isn’t all too pleased about the idea of the suit ever making it to court. The reduced suspension is apparently contingent on Vilma dropping the suit.
However, ESPN reports that it’s Vilma who hasn’t accepted the terms of the deal, apparently thinking the suit could benefit him more than playing half a season -- or just that he has the upper hand in whatever negotiations with the league are going on.
For more Saints coverage, check out Canal Street Chronicles. Follow the latest developments in the bounty case in this StoryStream.
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