Vilma Will Ask Federal Judge To Overturn Bounty Suspension

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma today will ask a New Orleans-based federal court to overturn his one-year suspension, and he will call as witnesses six current and former teammates, as well as interim coach Joe Vitt. The NFL suspended Vilma as part of the alleged bounty system at the Saints. He denies there was one, and presumably is calling his teammates to rebut that before judge Helen Berrigan. The NFL contends there was a bounty program, and that the issue is a private labor matter that the court is barred by law from ruling on. Vilma has already missed the first two days of practice.

The NFL has not called any witnesses, but can cross examine Vilma's witnesses. His witnesses are Saints LBs Scott Schanle and Jonathan Casillas, Saints S Roman Harper, Saints DT Sedrick Ellis and former teammates Troy Evans and Randall Gay. Gay recently sued the NFL for concussions he allegedly received while playing. Vilma is also a witness.