NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell agreed Tuesday to meet with Jonathan Vilma and the rest of the New Orleans Saints players who were accused this offseason of being involved in the bounty scandal.
Four players were implicated in the investigation conducted by the NFL: Vilma, Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove and Will Smith. Only Smith and Vilma remain with the team, but all four are going to take part in the sit-down with Goodell.
According to NFL.com, both sides are very open to the meeting.
"We have accepted Commissioner Goodell's invitation to meet with him to share information and hopefully resolve this matter appropriately," Vilma's lawyer, Peter Ginsberg, said Tuesday.
Vilma is the central figure in this situation, with the middle linebacker in the process of suing Goodell for defamation.
Vilma said he is hoping the league will take this meeting with an open mind, with the commissioner making the decision on his fate afterward. The NFL released a statement, also on Tuesday afternoon, to explain its expectations.
"Each player suspended in the Saints' bounty matter has declined multiple opportunities to meet with league representatives to present information," the league said. "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."
For more on the Saints' bounty Scandal, please be sure to check out our blog Canal Street Chronicles and our dedicated NFL hub.