Jon Vilma motion to reconsider rehabbing at Saints facility denied

A motion filed by Jonathan Vilma’s lawyer requesting an expedited decision on allowing him to rehabilitate at the Saints facility was denied by Judge Helen G. Berrigan on Thursday.

Earlier in the week, the NFL said Vilma could rehabilitate his surgically-repaired left knee offsite with the Saints training staff.

However, head trainer Scottie Patton filed an affidavit in support of Vilma’s cause, showing how extensive an injury the linebacker had and why he needed to work out with Patton.

In the motion filed Wednesday that the Eastern District of Louisiana judge overturned Thursday, Vilma’s lawyer , Peter Ginsburg, argues that Patton won’t have the time to leave the Saints’ Metairie facility because players are already reporting.

Patton, the motion says, “is responsible for ever team member and literally works round-the-clock to fulfill those duties.”

It goes on to say that “Patton simply cannot and does not have the time to travel to a private facility to administer rehabilitation sessions to Vilma that take three to five hours per day.”

A settlement conference has been set for Monday and a hearing on his request for an injunction, which could delay his suspension, is set for Thursday, the first day of preseason practice for the Saints. Both the conference and the hearing are scheduled in New Orleans.


(wwltv.com)