Report: Fear stopping witnesses in bounty appeal from talking

The NFLPA said in a letter to the NFL on Friday that fear of being blackballed from the sport has stopped possible witnesses to come forward in defense of the Saints players in the bounty scandal appeals to be heard Monday, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports. "Finally, we have been informed that several witnesses who are current or suspended NFL club employees are concerned that appearing to offer truthful testimony about this matter would negatively impact their careers," the NFLPA wrote. "We note that the concerns of those individuals will be eliminated if, in the quest to obtain the complete truth regarding this matter, the NFL compels their attendance and truthful testimony."