New Orleans, La. -
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith met with attorneys for the NFL and Players Association at federal court Monday. The two, along with their attorneys, are trying to make some headway in the lawsuits they've filed against the NFL for their suspensions relating to the bounty scandal.
The sides met for hours before a magistrate judge, trying to reach a settlement in these lawsuits, but it appears no settlement has been reached.
Walking out of federal court Monday afternoon, defensive end Will Smith was mum on the negotiations that went on inside. So too were attorneys for the NFL, who would only say, "We had some useful conversations."
Linebacker Jonathan Vilma told us he was instructed by the judge not to speak publicly about the conversations but he could talk about the team he loves. "Obviously I want the team to do well and I want to be part of the team," Vilma said.
The league has banned him from playing on the team for a year. Vilma has now requested a temporary restraining order on that ban. Thursday, Judge Helen Berrigan will rule on that motion.
FOX 8 legal analyst Joe Raspanti said, "Thursday is a temporary bandaid. It does not solve his long-term problems because temporary restraining orders are by definition, temporary. And they're not gonna get him to the regular season."
Raspanti says Vilma is essentially trying to buy time to ask for a permanent injunction, which could get him back on the team full time.
"They want it to be as quickly as possible. But what they're gonna want to do, and that's their big thing, is to get more information and more importantly, get the decision-making process away from Goodell and into the hands of Judge Berrigan," Raspanti said.
Vilma has the support of interim head coach Joe Vitt and quarterback Drew Brees, both of whom sent sworn affidavits to Judge Berrigan vouching for Vilma's character.
Vilma isn't sure if the two will show up Thursday at federal court, saying, "For us, if they're willing to help me out in that situation, that'd be great. I understand we're about winning and it's about the Saints and if Drew and Joe can't come out, I'm fine with that too."
So while not much was accomplished Monday inside federal court, Vilma is holding out hope that Thursday will bring good news and bring him back to the Saints.
Practice at training camp starts on Thursday, so the chances of Joe Vitt and Drew Brees actually showing up at court for Vilma are probably slim.
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