Goodell Says League Plans to Release Evidence in Saints Bounty Case ATLANTA - N.F.L. Commissioner Roger Goodell said Tuesday that he expected to eventually make public the evidence the league has gathered showing that New Orleans Saints players were paid bounties for injuring opponents. He had no comment on the defamation lawsuit against him filed last week by Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, who has been suspended for a year. Goodell said he did not expect that case to hold up the players" appeals of their suspensions. Goodell said the league was waiting for arbitrators to rule on the union's appeal of the suspensions - which challenges Goodell's right to discipline the Saints in the matter - before hearing the player appeals. But in his first extended public comments about the fierce player reaction to the Saints" penalties, he said he did not take personally the lawsuit or statements by other Saints players indicating that they believed the team was being railroaded by the league. Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita, a former Saint who has been suspended three games, said Tuesday that he was optimistic about his appeal. "I have been around this league for 30 years," Goodell said. You're going to make decisions that are not going to be unanimous. I know that's breaking news to you. It just doesn't happen. But what I have to do is in best interests of game long term and recognize that not everyone is going to agree with your decision. You watch Pete Rozelle, Paul Tagliabue, you're part of their decision-making process. You watch other leagues and try to take in every perspective. You're not always right, so you have to listen to other perspectives. You don't worry about winning a popularity contest. Asked if he has second-guessed himself, Goodell said: "Sure, you second-guess yourself. That's what an appeals process is for. You want to hear what players have to say. When we get to appeals, we'll be able to talk about it. In other news at the meeting, the owners approved a change to injured reserve rules that would allow teams to return one player from injured reserve each season. That player would have to be designated to return when he is placed on injured reserve. He has to be on the active roster at the final cutdown before the season begins, and can return to practice after Week 6 and play in games after Week 8. The owners also approved a rule moving the trading deadline from after Week 6 to after Week 8, which could spur more trades because it will be clearer then which teams are in contention. Goodell said he was closer to a decision about the Pro Bowl, which he said must be improved competitively. Goodell did not commit to playing the game next season, but if it is played, it could be in Hawaii or New Orleans, where the Super Bowl will be played.