New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma arrives at federal court in New Orleans, Monday July 23, 2012. Vilma and lawyers for the NFL arrived at federal court for a settlement conference in Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his season-long suspension in the Saints bounty investigation. (AP Photo/The Times Picayune, Ted Jackson)NO SALES, MAGS OUT NO SALES, MAGS OUT
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma arrives at federal court in New Orleans, Monday July 23, 2012. Vilma and lawyers for the NFL arrived at federal court for a settlement conference in Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his season-long suspension in the Saints bounty investigation. (AP Photo/The Times Picayune, Ted Jackson)NO SALES, MAGS OUT NO SALES, MAGS OUT
New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma arrives at federal court in New Orleans, Monday July 23, 2012. Vilma and lawyers for the NFL arrived at federal court for a settlement conference in Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his season-long suspension in the Saints bounty investigation. At right is attorney Peter Ginsberg. Man at left is unidentified. (AP Photo/The Times Picayune, Ted Jackson)NO SALES, MAGS OUT NO SALES, MAGS OUT
National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell at the Allen & Company Sun Valley Conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, Thursday, July 12, 2012. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
Attorneys representing the NFL, from left, Lynn Swanson, Gladstone N. Jones, III and Gregg Levy arrive at federal court in New Orleans, Monday, July 23, 2012. New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and lawyers for the NFL arrived at federal court Monday for a settlement conference in Vilma's lawsuit seeking to overturn his season-long suspension in the Saints bounty investigation. (AP Photo/The Times Picayune, Ted Jackson)NO SALES, MAGS OUT NO SALES, MAGS OUT
ADVANCE FOR WEEKEND OF JULY 21-22 - FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2011, file photo, New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma (51) takes down Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Kregg Lumpkin (28) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Tampa, Fla. Vilma is suspended for the 2012 season for his role in the bounty program an NFL investigation unveiled. (AP Photo/Brian Blanco, File)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma and defensive end Will Smith met Monday with NFL lawyers and a federal magistrate in a settlement conference for lawsuits spawned by the players' suspensions following the league's bounty investigation.
Vilma and his attorneys emerged from the three-hour-long conference with U.S. Magistrate Daniel Knowles III without commenting on whether progress was made toward resolution of the case. The meeting was closed to the public.
Peter Ginsberg, one of Vilma's attorneys, said only that the group "went through the settlement process" and that he expects "things will move along."
Vilma declined to comment on the talks, but said, "I want the team to do well, and I want to be part of the team."
The star linebacker and Saints coach Sean Payton have been suspended for the 2012 season for their alleged roles in a bounty program the NFL says targeted opposition players for three seasons. Smith is suspended for four games.
NFL attorneys and lawyers for Smith also declined comment.
Vilma's lawsuit claims NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell failed to make a timely appeal ruling regarding his season-long suspension.
His suit also asks for a temporary restraining order to allow Vilma to rejoin the team. U.S. District Judge Helen Berrigan in New Orleans is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday on that request.
Vilma filed a separate suit against Goodell for alleged defamation of character. The NFL Players Association sued the NFL on behalf of Smith and two other suspended players, Scott Fujita and Anthony Hargrove.
The Saints open training camp on Tuesday.
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