Hargrove: Coaches told me to deny bounties

While one of the players suspended for participation in the Saints' bounty program has filed an appeal, statements that another was told to "play dumb" if questioned about the bounties have surfaced.

The Associated Press obtained a document in which defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove describes in a sworn statement how he was told by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and current New Orleans interim head coach Joe Vitt to deny the existence of a bounty program to NFL investigators. Hargrove, now a member of the Packers, was suspended for eight games.

Hargrove's statement says that in March 2010, he met with NFL investigators who asked him a range of questions about a bounty program in New Orleans and that he denied knowledge of any of it, in line with the "clear directions'' he had received from Williams and Vitt. Hargrove's statement also describes Williams saying that league officials "have been trying to get me for years'' and "if we all stay on the same page, this will blow over.'' It also described Vitt reminding Hargrove of his loyalty throughout Hargrove's career.

The NFL Players Association maintains that Hargrove's statement does not indicate that he lied to investigators, nor does it prove the existence of the program. The league believes it does.

Williams has been suspended indefinitely and has apologized for his actions in the bounty program. Vitt, who is the Saints' interim head coach while Sean Payton serves a one-year suspension, will be suspended himself for the first six games of the 2012 season.

Meanwhile, another of the suspended players, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, filed an appeal of his one-year suspension and asked that it be delayed until the NFL and NFLPA can decide who should hear the appeal.

Vilma's filing also states that he has yet to be presented any evidence that the NFL gathered to reach its conclusions. Last week, former U.S. attorney Mary Jo White, who was hired by the NFL to evaluate its bounty investigation, said there was evidence from "multiple independent sources.'' The NFL has said its investigation included 18,000 documents and nearly 50,000 pages.

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"To be able to share, discuss and analyze the supposed evidence that has been gathered is a fundamental cornerstone of a fair and just process, and a vital prerequisite to uncovering the truth,'' wrote Vilma's attorney, Peter Ginsburg.

Scott Fujita, now with the Browns and suspended for three games, also issued a statement.

"I disagree wholeheartedly with the discipline imposed,'' he wrote. "I have never contributed money to any so-called 'bounty' pool, and any statements to the contrary are false. To say I'm disappointed with the league would be a huge understatement.''