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While former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and attorneys representing the NFL and the four players fighting league suspensions all filed into a downtown office building by 8 a.m. eastern Thursday morning, former New Orleans Saints assistant Mike Cerullo wasn't seen entering the building.


It's possible that Cerullo, a former quality control defensive assistant with the Saints, could be testifying via videoconferencing. Cerullo and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams are the primary league witnesses against Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, defensive end Will Smith and former Saints defenders Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove. Williams is scheduled to appear at the hearing Friday and according to one report Thursday was seen boarding an aircraft in St. Louis bound for Washington.

Tagliabue, appointed by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to conduct the appeal hearings, declined to comment as he entered the office building while Peter Ginsberg, Vilma's attorney, declined to comment other than to respond "terrific," when asked how he was doing. NFLPA lawyer Jeffrey Kessler is involved in the hearing as well as former U.S. attorney judge Mary Jo White, who is representing the NFL.

Stay with NOLA.com as we will have updates all day.

Mike Cerullo not spotted as New Orleans Saints bounty hearing begins in Washington | NOLA.com

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