NFLPA Reportedly Files for Restraining Order in Saints' Bounty-Scandal Saga

The NFLPA has reportedly filed for a temporary restraining order that would allow three players suspended in the Saints bounty scandal to take the field. 

Tulane University's sports law program director Gabe Feldman had this tweet:

"

NFLPA just filed motion for temporary restraining order in Bounty case to lift suspensions before regular season starts.

— Gabe Feldman (@SportsLawGuy) September 4, 2012"

On August 30, the AP reported that a three-member panel had concluded hearing the NFLPA's appeal of the decision by—and I will let the AP lay out the legal language here—"NFL system arbitrator Stephen Burbank, who concluded that Goodell had the authority to hear and rule on the players' appeals of their suspensions."

As the AP points out, the panel was going to "try to issue an opinion next week." 

The involved players, which the AP reports in a different article, are the Packers' Anthony Hargrove, Saints' Will Smith and Browns' Scott Fujita. 

Smith has a four-game suspension, Hargrove has eight games and Fujita has three.

Jonathan Vilma, who has been suspended for the season, is not a part of this lawsuit, but he had previously filed for a temporary restraining order on his own behalf in hopes that he would be able to return to his team. However, this was denied by U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan on August 10. 

That ruling came, as UPI points out, "even though she said she didn't think the action against Vilma was fair."

This case is a mess, but it is fascinating from a precedent standpoint. The ruling here will impact how the NFL handles the discipline of its players for years to come.