Another hearing before an NFL arbitrator today, as players suspended in the so-called "bounty" scandal try and get the decision on their future taken away from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. 

The NFL Players Association wants the appeal of the suspended players heard by someone other than commissioner Roger Goodell. Tulane Sports Law professor Gabe Feldman says they make an interesting case.

"This is about whether the so-called bounty program is really just a violation of the salary cap," Feldman told WWL First News.  "One of the things the NFL cited as to why this is a violation was the fact that it violated a specific provision of the collective bargaining agreement that prohibits players form receiving payment above and beyond the terms of their contract.  Really, that's designed to prevent owners from paying their players more than they'd be allowed to, to get around the salary cap."

Tulane Sports Law Professor Gabe Feldman:


The league suspended Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the 2012 season, Saints defensive end Will Smith for four games, Green Bay defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove for eight games and Cleveland linebacker Scott Fujita for three games.

The players argue that if it's a salary cap violation, then the salary cap arbitrator, Professor Stephen Burbank, should hear the appeal, not the commissioner.

"They were punished for acting in a way that was detrimental to the image and the public integrity of the league," Feldman says the NFL will argue, which means the CBA dictates that the decision on the player's appeal is made by the commissioner.