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Jonathan Vilma's hearing as he attempts to delay or overturn his season-long suspension has been moved up a week to July 26.

A U.S. District Court judge in Louisiana granted Vilma's motion Tuesday, although Vilma sought a hearing for Thursday. The Saints open training camp next Tuesday.

On Monday, Vilma's attorneys asked Judge Helen G. Berrigan to hear their request for a temporary restraining order before the Saints' training camp opens.

Vilma was suspended by commissioner Roger Goodell for his role in the team's bounty program. He also has sued Goodell for defamation.

Earlier Tuesday, the league filed a claim that the New Orleans linebacker did not "exhaust the dispute resolution procedures" in the collective bargaining agreement.

Vilma and the other three players suspended -- Saints defensive end Will Smith, current Packers DE Anthony Hargrove and current Browns LB Scott Fujita -- did not defend themselves at their appeals hearing before Goodell last month. Goodell then upheld the suspensions.

Saints coach Sean Payton, like Vilma, is suspended for the 2012 season.
The NFL also says Vilma is incorrect in stating he can't have the Saints' medical staff monitor and guide his rehabilitation. He can, as long as it is at a private facility and not at the team's training complex.

Berrigan made note of that data in her decision Tuesday.

Interim coach Joe Vitt, who will serve a six-game suspension when the season begins, also filed an affidavit with the court in support of Vilma's request. Vitt, who did not fight his suspension imposed by Goodell, also called the bounty program "nonexistent" in the affidavit.

Vitt said he wanted "to refute that the Saints ever had a bounty program or that any member of our defense, including Mr. Vilma, ever placed a bounty on an opposing player or set out to injure anyone or to encourage any other Saints player to injure anyone."

Jonathan Vilma of New Orleans Saints gets injunction hearing moved up - ESPN



My take: This is either really good for Vilma or really bad...

Beastmode

The NFL's policy is absurd. It's an undue hardship on someone in rehabilatation. The facility has all the equipment he needs and houses the offices of the medical staff. Making these players and staff go find a private facility to conduct their rehab is counter productive from a logistical and financial perspective.

I know this is not the angle he is taking but if I were a pro athlete in rehab and was told I could no longer use the best resource at my place of employment for an injury that occured on the job I'd be upset.

TheOak

Scratches head.... Halo that post feels familiar?

Halo

Probably a good sign. They moved this up to accommodate Vilma, to reinstate him through his restraining request.

Goodell and the NFL wanted Vilma's reinstatement hearing for this friday, the day the Judge decides whether the court will accept his care or award summary judgement as per the NFL and Goodell's request.

Sounds to me the court is probably going to accept the case.

TheOak

Devils advocate: Or the Judge just wants to get it over with and is tired of it?

On Judge Helen G. Berrigan: (this Judge is a heavy hitter)
Courthouse News Service
Federal Judge Overturns Louisiana
USAO Press Release -

jeanpierre

Get 'em Hammer...

Beastmode

She is a heavy hitter and Vilma's best shot at opening up any fissure if there is one. The NFL may walk away unscathed but there is a chance they won't, even if small it's better than nothing.

Rugby Saint II

Keep fighting the good fight.

homerj07

WTF. Let's get this over with. Is he or isn't he going to play?