Jonathan Vilma Files Motion to Vacate Suspension

By: Kim O'Hara | Posted: October 15, 2012

Jonathan Vilma is not about to take his newly re-issued punishment lying down. As of this morning, Vilma has filed a motion to vacate his season-long suspension. He filed an appeal with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell last week, but is seeking assistance from the outside in an effort to at least delay the enforcement of his suspension.

Vilma is eligible to come of the Physically Unable to Perform list this week and could potentially play this Sunday (he has told WVUE-TV that he will be on the field against Tampa Bay), so one can assume he has filed an outside motion to prevent Goodell from rejecting his appeal outright. Vilma has also requested that Goodell recuse himself on the basis of bias. I'm no legal expert, but I think we have a better chance of seeing Gregg Williams win a Nobel Peace Prize. 

This is another chapter in the ever-developing Bountygate saga. A scandal that was once perceived as the NFL cracking down on pay-for-play schemes and otherwise unsavory behavior in the League has now very publicly become a war of wills between Vilma and Goodell. And we'll all stay tuned to see who wins this next battle. 

Kim O'Hara is the Associate Editor of TheFootballGirl.com. She is an avid fan of sports in general, but the NFL in particular. She has also been a contributor to ESPN the Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @arahomik      

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