New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and three other players suspended in the NFL's investigation of the team's cash-for-hits bounty system, challenged their punishments Monday.
Vilma, named by the NFL as a ringleader of the operation, appealed his season-long suspension while the Players Association notified the league it was reserving the appeal rights of Saints defensive end Will Smith and those of ex-Saints Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita.
All four players and the union argue that no appeal should be heard before NFLPA grievances are resolved questioning NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's authority to discipline the players and to hear their appeals.
