Report: Roger Goodell upholds, reduces bounty suspensions

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has ruled on the current and former New Orleans Saints defensive players alleged to have participated in a team bounty program according to ESPN’s Chris Mortensen.

Sources: Goodell upholds Vilma suspension but keeps game checks on PUP; Fujita reduced 3 games to 1, Hargrove reduced 8 to 7, Smith stays 4—
Chris Mortensen (@mortreport) October 09, 2012

Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma’s one-year suspension has been upheld. Saints defensive end Will Smith’s suspension will remain four games. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita’s suspension was reduced from three games to one. Free-agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove’s suspension was reduced from eight games to seven.

The players received a brief reprieve when an internal appeals panel recently vacated the suspensions originally doled out by Goodell.

All four players can appeal the latest ruling.