Player safety on owners' agenda

By BARRY WILNER

(AP) -- With a dispute under way over the player suspensions handed out in the Saints' bounty case, NFL owners will meet in Atlanta on Tuesday.

The New Orleans situation is certain to get some attention at the meetings, where Commissioner Roger Goodell will be asked about Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against him. Goodell's authority for administering discipline is being challenged by the players' union, Vilma and three other players suspended for their roles in the bounty system.

Owners also will discuss several bylaw changes that were tabled in March, including designating one player suffering a major injury before Week 2 of the season as eligible to return from injured reserve, and moving the trading deadline back two weeks to after Week 8.

Updated May 21, 2012