NEW ORLEANS — Former Saints defensive lineman Anthony Hargove describes in a sworn statement how he was told by ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and current New Orleans assistant head coach Joe Vitt to deny the existence of a bounty program to NFL investigators.
In a document obtained yesterday by the Associated Press, Hargrove acknowledges that he acted on Williams’ and Vitt’s instructions to “play dumb” if asked whether he was aware of bounties being placed on former Vikings quarterback Brett Favre or any other player.
The declaration does not go into specifics, however, about just what Hargrove knew or did not know about the bounty program in New Orleans, and for that reason it has become a point of contention between the NFL and the NFL Players Association.
From the union’s perspective, Hargrove’s statement does not say he lied to anyone, nor does it state he or any other Saints participated in a bounty program that offered cash bonuses for hits that injured targeted opponents.
The NFL, by contrast, has said Hargrove’s words acknowledge the existence of a bounty program and show Hargrove initially lied to NFL investigators about it.
Hargrove, now with the Packers, was one of four players who received suspensions of various lengths in connection with the bounty probe. Hargrove was suspended eight games, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire season, Saints defensive end Will Smith for four games and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita for three games.
* Vilma appealed his season-long suspension for being named as a ringleader of the cash-for-hits system.
In papers filed yesterday, Vilma argued Commissioner Roger Goodell should not hear the appeal and asked for a delay in the process until the jurisdictional issue has been settled through NFL Players Association grievances filed last week.
Vilma’s appeal also says the NFL has failed to present evidence linking him to a system in which players were paid to injure opponents.