NFL comes down hard on Saints for Bounty Gate

The NFL announced Wednesday that New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton would be suspended from the league for one year beginning April 1. General manager Mickey Loomis is suspended the first eight games of the regular season beginning on opening day and fined $500,000. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt has been suspended six games and fined $100,000 and former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely by the league. The Saints organization was fined an additional $500,000 and will forfeit its second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013.

These consequences come as the result of an NFL investigation into New Orleans operating a bounty system from 2009-2011 which paid players for hits that injured other players. Varying amounts were awarded for "knockouts" - an injury where a player was unable to return to the game and "cart-offs" - an injury where a medical cart had to be used to help a player off the field.  Williams admitted to running the program with Payton and Loomis having knowledge of his actions. The league also contends that the Saints continued the program after being told to stop by the league in 2010. Watch the ESPN story on the suspensions below (email subscribers click here).


In his statement announcing the punishments, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell explained why the league took this matter so seriously and why the penalties are so strong. "We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game. We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities. No one is above the game or the rules that govern it. Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised. A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious. When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff  and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game."

Player discipline has yet to be determined as the league shares its findings with the NFL Players Association. Between 22 and 27 players are believed to have received payouts from the bounty system. New Orleans has become one of the league's premiere franchises in recent years and even won the Super Bowl in 2009. The Saints have been viewed as a symbol of the reemergence of the Gulf Region since the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. However, Bounty Gate casts a large shadow over the once-proud franchise. Commissioner Goodell went on to say that bounty systems "are incompatible with our efforts to promote sportsmanship, fair play, and player safety." When your kids ask you about this, reread the last quote from the commissioner. That says it all. Until next time...

Be a Good Sport!

-Sol