B2 Thursday, May 3, 2012 NFL THE INDEPENDENT | Ashland | Kentucky Vilma suspended for season No pay for LB; 3 other Saints get shorter bans

By HOWARD FENDRICH that will end with New Or- AP Pro Football Writer leans hosting the . Hoping to close the book As attention to concus- on bounties, the NFL sus- sions has increased in recent pended seasons, Goodell has empha- defensive captain Jonathan sized the importance of Vilma without pay for all of player safety via rules en- next season Wednesday and forcement and threats of gave shorter bans to three fines or suspensions. The other players for their lead- NFL is facing dozens of law- ing roles in the team’s cash- suits brought by more than for-hits system that knocked 1,000 former players who say key opponents out of games the league didn’t do enough from 2009-11. to warn them about — or Defensive lineman Antho- shield them from — the dan- ny Hargrove, now with the gers of head injuries. , was sus- If Goodell aims to move pended for the first half of on from the bounty case, the the 16-game season; Saints NFL Players Association defensive end Will Smith might not let him: The sus- was barred for the opening pended players have three four games; and linebacker days to appeal, and NFLPA AP FILE PHOTO , now with the head DeMaurice Smith said Saints linebacker takes down Buccaneers running back Kregg Lumpkin last season. Vilma has been sus- , will miss the union would fight the pended without pay for the entire 2012 season by the NFL, one of four players punished for a pay-for-pain bounty system. the first three games of 2012. ruling. Fujita is a member of Like Vilma, they were sus- the NFLPA’s executive com- team and my profession, and thousands of dollars offered tributed a particularly large Favre twice in that game, pended without pay, costing mittee who has spoken out to send a clear signal to the for big hits that sidelined sum of money toward the and the league later said each hundreds of thousands in the past about the need Commissioner that the opponents. Originally, the program; specifically con- they should have received of dollars. for the league to do a better process has failed, to the league said 22 to 27 defen- tributed to a bounty on an another penalty for a brutal The league said its investi- job of protecting players. detriment of me, my team- sive players were involved opposing player; demon- high-low hit from two play- gation showed “a significant Through his agent, Vilma mates, the New Orleans in the illegal scheme, which strated a clear intent to par- ers that hurt Favre’s ankle. number of players partici- issued a statement saying he Saints and the game.” was orchestrated by then- ticipate in a program that He was able to finish the pated” in the bounties — by is “shocked and extremely Smith said the union “has Saints defensive coordina- potentially injured opposing game, but the Saints won in ponying up cash or collect- disappointed” by the pun- still not received any detailed tor Gregg Williams and players; sought rewards for overtime en route to the ing it — but noted that “the ishment and denying he was or specific evidence from the started in the season New doing so; and-or obstructed NFL title. players disciplined partici- a bounty ringleader. league of these specific play- Orleans won its only Super the 2010 investigation,” Fujita, the NFL said, pated at a different and “I never set out to inten- ers’ involvement in an alleged Bowl championship. Goodell said in a statement. “pledged a significant more significant level.” Add tionally hurt any player and pay-to-injure program. We Targeted players included According to the league, amount of money to the pro- the losses of Vilma and never enticed any teammate have made it clear that pun- Aaron Vilma, a linebacker, offered hibited pay-for-performance- Smith to the previously an- to intentionally hurt anoth- ishment without evidence is Rodgers, Cam Newton, Brett $10,000 in cash to any player bounty pool” during that nounced suspension of head er player. I also never put not fair. We have spoken with Favre and Kurt Warner. who knocked then-Cardi- season’s playoffs. Smith, ac- coach for all of any money into a bounty our players and their repre- “Knockouts” were worth nals QB Warner out of a cording to the NFL, 2012, along with shorter pool or helped to create a sentatives and we will vigor- $1,500 and “cart-offs” $1,000, playoff game at the end of “pledged significant sums to penalties for general manag- bounty pool intended to pay ously protect and pursue all with payments doubled or the 2009 season, and the the program pool.” er Mickey Loomis and assis- out money for injuring other options on their behalf.” tripled for the playoffs. same amount for knocking The league said Hargrove tant coach , and NFL players,” Vilma said. He The NFL said its investi- “In assessing player disci- then-Vikings QB Favre out “actively obstructed the Commissioner Roger Good- added: “I intend to fight this gation determined the pline, I focused on players of that season’s NFC cham- league’s 2010 investigation ell came down hard on the injustice, to defend my repu- Saints ran a bounty system who were in leadership posi- pionship game. The Saints into the program by being Saints ahead of a season tation, to stand up for my for three seasons, with tions at the Saints; con- were flagged for roughing untruthful to investigators.” Police: Seau’s death Don t miss a thing! looks to be suicide Going on By GILLIAN FLACCUS and his many Patriots team- Associated Press mates,” the statement said. In October 2010, Seau sur- vacation? OCEANSIDE, Calif. Former vived a 100-foot plunge down NFL star Junior Seau was a seaside cliff in his SUV, found shot to death at his hours after he was arrested home Wednesday morning for investigation of domestic DO in what police said appeared violence at the Oceanside N’T M to be a suicide. He was 43. home he shared with his girl- ISS Police Chief Frank McCoy friend. The woman had told A S said Seau’s girlfriend report- authorities that Seau assault- INGL ed finding him unconscious ed her during an argument. E with a gunshot wound to the There was no evidence of ISS chest and lifesaving efforts drugs or alcohol involved in UE! were unsuccessful. A gun the crash and Seau told au- was found near him, McCoy thorities he fell asleep while AP FILE PHOTO said. Junior Seau is shown on the driving. He sustained minor Seau’s mother appeared sidelines while playing for injuries. before reporters, weeping the in Seau spent parts of 20 sea- uncontrollably. 2009. sons in the NFL, including “I don’t understand ... I’m his 1990-2002 stint with his shocked,” Luisa Seau cried can’t imagine this, because hometown Chargers. He out. I’ve never seen Junior in a helped them to their only Her son gave no indica- down frame of mind. He was Super Bowl appearance, was tion of a problem when she always so upbeat and he voted to a team-record 12 spoke to him by phone earli- would keep people up. He straight Pro Bowls and was er this week, she said. practiced the way he played. an All-Pro six times. “He’s joking to me, he He made practice fun. He He amassed 545 tackles, 56 called me a ‘homegirl,”’ she was a coach’s dream. He was 1/2 sacks and 18 intercep- said. an amazing guy as well as a tions in his career. Seau was a standout line- player and a person. This is “Twenty years, to be part backer with the University hard to believe.” of this kind of fraternity, to of Southern California be- Seau’s death follows the be able to go out and play the fore going to the San Diego suicide last year of former game that you love, and all Chargers — his hometown player Dave the lessons and the friends team — whom he led to the Duerson, who also shot him- and acquaintances which Super Bowl following the self in the chest. you meet along the way, you 1994 season. Seau remained with the can’t be in a better arena,” “Everyone at the Charg- Chargers until 2003 and Seau said last August after ers is in complete shock and went on to play with the Mi- the Chargers announced he disbelief right now. We ask ami Dolphins and New Eng- would be inducted into the everyone to stop what land Patriots before retiring team’s Hall of Fame. they’re doing and send their after the 2009 season. Seau was the fifth pick prayers to Junior and his “Junior was a fierce com- overall in the 1990 draft out family,” the team said in a petitor whose passion and of Southern California, and Have your newspapers delivered when you return by holding them in an statement. work ethic lifted his team- stayed with the Charges un- INDEPENDENT VACATION PACK. “It’s a sad thing. It’s hard mates to greater heights. His til being traded to the Dol- to understand,” said Bobby enthusiasm for the game phins. He came out of retire- It’s easy! Just call 606.326.2674 or 1.800.955.5860 to have your Independent Beathard, who as Chargers was infectious and he passed ment a few times to play newspaper stopped while you are away and ask for the “Vacation Pack.” took Seau that on to everyone who was with the Patriots in search with the fifth pick overall in around him. He loved the of a Super Bowl ring and WE’LL DELIVER YOUR PAPERS WHEN YOU RETURN AND the 1990 draft. “He was real- game so much, and no one was with the team when YOU WON’T MISS A THING WHILE YOU WERE AWAY! ly just a great guy. If you played with more sheer joy,” they lost to the New York Gi- drew up a player you’d love Dolphins CEO Mike Dee said ants in the Super Bowl fol- to have the opportunity to in a statement. lowing the 2007 season, The draft and have on the team “Junior was one-of-a-kind. which ended New England’s and as a teammate, Junior The league will never see quest for a perfect season. and Rodney (Harrison), anyone like him again,” Dee More than 100 people gath- Independent they’d be the kind of guys said. ered outside of Seau’s home, you’d like to have. The Patriots also issued a only hours after he was “He was a leader emotion- statement expressing grief found dead. Families showed P.O. Box 311 • 224 17th Street • Ashland, KY 41105-0311 ally and he played that way,” over Seau’s death. “This is a up with flowers and fans 326.2674 or 1.800.955.5860 Beathard said. “He was sad day for the entire Patriots wearing Chargers jerseys great to young kids. I just organization, our coaches waited to get more news. www.dailyindependent.com