ESPN has reported that Saints Linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been offered a deal by the NFL to lessen his 16 game suspension to 8 games if Vilma agrees to drop his civil lawsuit against NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.
Four players including Vilma (16 games) Saints defensive end Will Smith (four games), Packers defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove (eight games), and Browns linebacker Scott Fujita(three games) were suspended for their alleged participation in the Saints bounty program from 2009-2011.
Vilma’s has filed a Civil Lawsuit against Roger Goodell because he claims defamation of character. Settlement talks are expected to pick-up Monday and sources say that Friday’s next scheduled appearance before U.S. District Court Judge Ginger Berrigan could bring about a tentative deadline.
Saints head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the 2012 season, and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended from the NFL indefinitely.
The Saints were also fined $500,000, and lost their 2012 and 2013 second round draft picks.
