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New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has accepted an invitation to meet with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for the first time to discuss bounty allegations, said his lawyer Peter Ginsberg.

"Mr. Goodell invited Jonathan to present his side of things and we have decided to accept the commissioner's invitation," Ginsberg said Tuesday.

The league has also agreed to meet with current Saints defensive end Will Smith, Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove.

Vilma, who was suspended for the entire 2012 for his role in the Saints bounty scandal, had his suspension overturned by a three person appeals panel on Friday. Smith (suspended for four games), Fujita (suspended for three games) and Hargrove (suspended for eight games), also had their suspensions overturned.

Although the players are free to play until told otherwise, the panel remanded the case back to the commissioner, giving him the power to rule on conduct issues, and possibly reinstate the suspensions.

The meeting likely wouldn't take place until next week, according to ESPN's Ed Werder, and would take place before Goodell made his decision on whether to reinstate the suspensions.

Vilma told Werder in a text message that he expects a fair meeting with Goodell.

"We can all benefit from transparency regarding evidence and witnesses instead of using conjecture or hearsay to come to inaccurate conclusions," Vilma told ESPN. "I look forward to getting this accomplished."

Previously, Vima walked out of an appeals meeting with Goodell on June 18 and canceled an Aug. 23 meeting he had scheduled.

"Each player suspended in the Saints bounty matter has declined multiple opportunities to meet with league representatives to present information," said NFL spokesman Greg Aiello. "We have reminded each of those players that we remain willing to meet with them prior to the commissioner making the determination called for by the CBA appeals panel. We intend to conduct any such meetings that are scheduled per our normal process under the CBA."

The NFL declined to comment on when the meeting would take place. Ginsberg also declined to comment on the details of the meeting.

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saintfan

If I were one of the players I wouldn't book the flight unless my lawyer is allowed to attend. There is exactly zero reason for any player to assume Roger will operate on good faith outside his agenda.

Beastmode

If I'm Vilma the talking would have been over after I found out about my suspension on ESPN. It was the wrong course of action and set the boudaries on good faith; there is none. There can be no good faith when someone totally disrespects your whole career, a solid career being attacked by weak evidence that would collapse in a real court room.

TXGSP

The statement by NFL spokesman Greg Aiello could be viewed pretty much as the league determining they did nothing wrong in the whole matter.

"We intend to conduct any such meetings that are scheduled per our normal process under the CBA."

You should have completed EVERYTHING to this point by the CBA. The appeals panel basically told them to:

"IT APPEARS YOUR DECISION MAKING WAS NOT SOUND IN THIS SITUATION. START OVER, AND FOLLOW THE CBA."

TheOak

I hope Rog chokes on his continental breakfast.

SaintsBro

The longer it takes them to decide when to schedule "any such meetings" then the longer Will Smith can keep playing, and the longer Vilma can keep rehabbing his knee. In fact, there's almost kind of an incentive here, for the NFL to stall and drag their feet on it, to try and make the story die down and have it go away from the media spotlight a little bit. Because right now, the sentiment of the public and a large chunk of the media is definitely leaning more towards the side of the players, quite a bit more than it was when the story first broke, before all this happened. That thing with Terry Bradshaw, there was another "Free Payton" piece on the national Fox sports site a while ago...Goodell is finally taking a PR hammering over this.

Quite frankly, the best "out" for the NFL right now is to just sort of wet down the fireworks, and have the story fizzle out, let it die...make it a "do over" with some lighter suspensions and more probation, before they completely lose their shirt in court. Then hopefully once that entire house of cards topples, they will have no choice but to reinstate Payton.

ScottF

Complete bullsh** from Roger. What could he possibly say at this meeting other than that he was wrong, which we know he won't do. He didn't show evidence then, so what's different now?

Beastmode

Exactly. Even when it was proven the NFL was just flat out wrong they refused to own up to it or even consider reducing the suspensions. Now all of a sudden they want to sort it out...shut the front door.