NFL lawyers plan to file their opposition to efforts by the suspended players in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal to remove Paul Tagliabue as the appeals officer in advance of Friday's federal court deadline, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Ed Werder. The decision on whether Tagliabue recuses himself from hearing the appeals of four players suspended in bounty scandal belongs to the former commissioner, according to a source. Commissioner Roger Goodell removed himself from hearing this set of appeals and appointed his predecessor last week. But the players and their union contend Tagliabue should be disqualified because of his employment by a law firm that has handled bounty-related matters for the league and represented Goodell in Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against him. The hearings are scheduled for next Tuesday, subject to any court rulings. Source: The Redzone
