New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma filed motions Wednesday to have former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue removed from hearing the appeals of the four players suspended in the Saints bounties case.

The players' union announced their intention to file similar papers later in the day in U.S. District Court in New Orleans asking Tagliabue to recuse himself because of a conflict of interest:

To comply with the Court-ordered schedule, we will be making a motion under the CBA to recuse Paul Tagliabue today, and will be subsequently filing those papers with the Court. We will have no further comment related to these filings.

Vilma also asked for a neutral arbitrator to be appointed by the court.

Meanwhile, one of the four suspended players will see his 2012 season officially end this week. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita will be placed on injured reserve for what may be a career-ending neck injury.