Wow, this is shocking!
Payton suspended one year, Williams indefinitely, Saints fined $500K
The NFL absolutely dropped the proverbial hammer on the Saints for “Bountygate” Wednesday, as CBSSports.com’s Mike Freeman reports Sean Payton’s is suspended for the entire 2012 season without pay, Saints general manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for eight games, the Saints are fined $500,000 and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely.
In addition, the Saints will lose a second-round pick in both 2012 and 2013. In addition, Jay Glazer of FoxSports.com reports that Joe Vitt, linebackers coach and assistant head coach, will be suspended as well. Vitt would’ve been a candidate to take over as head coach for Payton, but now it’s likely offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael.
The NFL has since announced the news, and it is an absolute stunner — as severely as everyone expected Goodell and the league to punish, this goes far beyond what anyone could have expected.
“We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” Commissioner Goodell said in a statement released by the league. “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,” Commissioner Goodell continued. “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.”
Damn I was about to post that. That is a bit harsh, a massive fine and suspension for a couple of games would have been right.
What the hell!!!!!!!!! This is insane!!!!!
They are trying to destroy the Saints. What the hell?
They have been gunning for the Saints since they won the Super Bowl.
I am LIVID!!! Are they going to do this to the other teams that do this????????????? As soon as the Saints, finally, finally make their team one of the top few they do this. I want other head coaches heads to roll if this has been being investigated through-out the league.
Bet they just focused on the damn Saints. Unfair you betcha! I cannot express what I really feel like right now.
/damn b*tches. They want to make sure the Saints never, ever reach the Super Bowl again.
What about when it happened with Williams and the Redskins staff are they going to do something there? Nope…just to the Saints. This chaps me so bad!
Wait til CG hears about this.
This is on Williams head and since he is no longer with the Saints well got to teach the Saints a lesson.
Belichick got off scott-free for Spygate.
The integrity of the game is more important than any team or player, and if you’re emphasizing player safety like you SAY you are, punishment must be swift, severe, and above all consistent.
I’d say 1/2 season would have been more appropriate.
Fines are a joke with salaries what they are. Suspensions definitely get the message across.
@ Bumr50:
And rape is just a four game suspension. This is a joke.
I’m not saying some punishment shouldn’t have been handed down but this is insane.
@ Lily:
The Patriots just signed Donte Stallworth.
He ran over and killed a guy while drunk.
@ Bumr50:
They have been gunning for the Saints since they won the Super Bowl.
Hence the reason the OT rules were changed because the Saints won in OT in the play-offs during their run to the Super Bowl. This makes me sick.
Don’t tell me this hasn’t been going on with other teams…where is the investigations with that? They just went for the Saints.
Other teams head coaches should roll too if they are in anyway dealing with this as a fair investigation. Not. Going. To. Happen.
The punishment seems too light to me. any of the guilty with a superbowl ring should have the ring recalled. No one is really going to care if the punishment doesn’t affect them personally. Who cares if coach pays a fine and is suspended.
@ Bumr50: I’d say if you do the crime you pay the time. After that it is ok to get your job back in most instances.
darkwords wrote:
Really? Fine I want to see other head coaches who have done this be suspended for a damn year. Take away their Super Bowl ring? Whatever.
You think this goes on with just one team you are insane.
@ darkwords:
He did no time.
If that was me, I’d be in a State Prison for a minimum of five years. Not my sentence, I’d serve at least that.
It’s not even all about money. It’s about a different standard.
darkwords wrote:
Just like Michael Vick? Well that isn’t working out too well.
Paying a player to deliberately take an opposing player out of the game is the most despicable example of bad sportsmanship that I can think of. **spit** If such a bounty hit had ended a player’s season or career, a lifetime ban for whomever ordered and paid for the hit wouldn’t be enough. I’m really sorry that this happened to the Saints as I’ve been in their corner as they worked their way up from NFL doormat to champs. Heck, Drew Brees was the QB at Westlake High up in Austin and my associate’s twin sons were his favorite receivers. A real shame, but they’ll get no sympathy from me.
@ huckfunn:
Sympathy? No. But fairness. Sorry other coaches have done this and this should investigated clear across the board.
Lily wrote:
It’s too bad it had to happen to the Saints, but the NFL has really put the marker down on that kind of crap. Payton really pooted in his dinner plate when he tried to cover it up. Aikman’s career was cut short by 4 or 5 years for exactly the same thing; 10 concussions and he was done and there’s no doubt whatsoever that he was a bounty target.
@ huckfunn:
Bring Brees back to the Texans.
Calo wrote:
We’d actually rather have him in Dallas.
@ huckfunn:
Either team will send Lily over the edge.
Calo wrote:
{Calo} you are killing me here.
Calo wrote:
Why are you doing this to me!!!!!!!!
/yes it will send me over the edge!
huckfunn wrote:
I’m not saying that the team shouldn’t be punished. This happens all over the league. Let’s be fair in this.
huckfunn wrote:
By who the Saints? Are the Saints responsible for every injury out there?
Lily wrote:
The Saints are one of my top 3 favorite teams, in fact I’ll root for them against anybody but the Cowboys and Texans. I’m not down on the Saints or out to get them. If the Cowboys or Texans got caught up in the same thing, let the hammer drop on them, or anyone else. Just because others got away with a light slap doesn’t mean what the Saints got isn’t fair. I think that “hitman” type stuff is not far short of criminal, particularly if someone is permanently injured as a result. And then Payton was stupid enough to try and cover it up.
I’m gonna mix up a toddy and watch the news.
bbl
@ huckfunn:
Not disagreeing with you. But this is more than crushing to Saints fans. If the NFL is going to lower the hammer on this there are other coaches just as guilty. That is my only point.
On the sports boards it’s an all out hate fest on the Saints.
Take their super bowl ring away!
Fire Sean Payton!
The whole nine yards.
Make no mistake about this fact. The league has only dealt with the Coaches/head office people so far.
Wait until the player suspensions are handed down. The Saints are dead this year and probably next. Might not be fair as Lily states, but it ain’t over yet!
Tanker wrote:
Yeah I know. This isn’t over yet which is why I am complaining they are destroying the team completely. I understand that some punishment is to handed down but what they are doing is completely destroying the team itself. Witch hunt. What about the other teams that do this?
Or are they just going to make an example with the Saints. The team is done.
@ Bumr50:
Really? The Steelers never, ever did anything of the sort?
So I am right, Goodell isn’t going after the other teams that did this sort of thing. About right.
@ Lily:
I understand your frustration, but couldn’t complain if the Steelers did it last season, got caught, and suffered the same fate.
THIS killed them:
@ Bumr50:
The cover-up always is worse than the crime. Seems he had a chance to be done with this, but took the wrong course of action..
@ Bumr50:
Yep that is bad. Good grief. I don’t know why Payton did this.
All I know is the Saints are crushed. This isn’t over yet. There is more doomage to come. Back to bags over our heads. Don’t even know if I’ll watch football in the fall.
I just don’t like all the grave-dancing over this.
@ Bumr50:
One difference is the Steelers have had great football teams, not the Saints. This is what makes it even harder to bear. We were always the bottom-dwellers, always. We sucked! Then this happens.
I am by no means defending what Payton did. But the complete and total crushing of the team is heavy-handed. Naturally the Saints will be the poster boy for the bounty system and to avoid. This is what the Saints will be remembered for. What a way to go down in the NFL’s history.
Lily wrote:
no, we have rules made against us
google ‘mel blount rule’ and ‘hines ward rule’.
coldwarrior wrote:
Yeah I know. This is just crushing to me. Because they are actually crushing the Saints. They aren’t finished with them yet at all.
@ coldwarrior:
Those two rules…because the NFL doesn’t like a team to dominate for too long.
So if you are a great player and you do well you get punished.
The NFL might as well go to Powder-puff flag football seems to be headed that way.
@ Lily:
league is getting sued for not watching out for safety of the players.
the league has to protect their workers and immediately stomp on and eradicate any and all ghetto-thug crap if they want to protect the brand. this isnt the nba.
I seem to be the only one here that thinks this is way over-handed in punishing the Saints. Do I think the Saints need to be punished for this of course. But to destroy the team completely to make an example seems over-handed.
What next? Are they going to take away their Super Bowl rings? I will not doubt this at all. Coming soon.
@ coldwarrior:
Yep. I saw that law-suit. So they are going to hold up the Saints and what they are doing to them to show they are all about safety.
@ Lily:
i am surprised the league didn’t press criminal charges. i would have. there would be few coaches doing time for this.
@ coldwarrior:
CW that very well may come to pass the pressing of charges.
Lily wrote:
the league MUST protect the brand. this thug crap had to be punished hard.
Lily wrote:
there were two ravens admitting on the radio two weeks ago that they had a bounty out on hines ward. stay tuned. this isnt over.
@ coldwarrior:
I do understand that. I’ll get over it in a day or two. But I am sure there are several coaches having a huge sigh of relief.
coldwarrior wrote:
Will they crush the Ravens like they are doing to the Saints? This is what I have a problem with. This is by no means just a Saint problem out there.
@ Lily:
there may be a systemic problem here that has to be addressed. if this is pervasive, many heads should role for this. this is in fact criminal AND occurring on the field under the NFL brand name.
Warren Sapp claims that Jeremy Shockey is the whistleblower.
Buddy Ryan bounty bowl.
Speranza wrote:
Why am I not surprised?
Speranza wrote:
He should be suspended for a whole year without pay and the rest of his other coaches and of course any players that were involved in this. The NFL should go across the board!
coldwarrior wrote:
I do believe it is a systemic problem and needs to be addressed. Payton and Williams didn’t invent this. This is something that is going on with a lot of teams. Those teams also should be investigated too. But will they?
Lily wrote:
i dont believe this was systemic. i do believe a few teams did it but it wasnt league wide.
@ coldwarrior:
I guess I am a bit disheartened here. You are probably right.
My team just went down in flames and it appears it is not the end of it. Do I agree with what the Saints did, no. Did I expect punishment yes. Just not to this degree. Do I think other teams have done it,yes.
Not necessarily every team in the NFL of course not.
I just grieving CW.
@ Lily:
i understand.
@ coldwarrior:
A shock-a-rama!
Lily wrote:
No, you’re not the only one. Yes, what they did was crappy, and I’m all in favor of punitives against them. Goodell will never forgive them for ruining the Brett Favre March to Glory in 2010 and laid an insult on them by changing the O/T rules in playoffs because his precious Favre screwed up.
I didn’t hear boo about the hits that the Saints took until this broke. And yes, Payton should be suspended for a few games -- but not the season. All Belicheat got was a fine for violating the league rules. And you can’t tell me that every defensive coordinator doesn’t say the same thing to his crew -- “get ‘em.”
And CW -- I understand completely about the rules made up for a player, etc. Yell “Tuck Rule” at the Oakland Colisseum.
Lily, it’s going to be a long year, and probably a shitty season. But I think we’ll come through it okay. However if it’s true about Jeremy Shockey, and I have no trouble believing it is, then he should find a way to call in sick the day the Panthers play in the Dome. He’ll need security to get off Poydras Street.
I went back and read the article where Sapp outs Shockey. Now of course they’re saying “violation of labor laws! You aren’t supposed to out a whistleblower.”
Bullshit. Shockey didn’t do this for the good of the league. He did this because he wanted to injure the Saints. He took a few cheap shots of his own on Saints defenders on the field after he was traded to the Panthers. What better way to improve your team’s chances than to utterly debilitate the team that won your division last year.
And Goodell -- I await with interst the punitive measures you’ll be taking against the Redskins, who had the same system under Williams.
And Williams -- you should never be allowed near an NFL team again.
Lily wrote:
Buddy Ryan has not coached in decades. Rex Ryan is a Jets head coach, Rob Ryan is Cowboys Defensive coordinator.
To paraphrase Hunter S. Thompson’s comment about the Kentucky Derby,
the NFL is decadent and depraved.
Carolina Girl wrote:
Damn straight Shockey did this as pay-back!
Thanks for giving me some hope..but they sure as hell not finished with destroying the team. Nope not at all.
@ Lily:
I think the offense will be as great as they were last year -- Payton’s system is still in place and I believe we still have our offensive coordinator.
Who knows? Maybe our backup guys (assuming we lose the lead defensive players to suspension) may prove to be great and ready for prime time. And frankly, I wouldn’t be upset if Roman Harper took his late hits to another team.
Cheer up baby girl -- we’ve been through worse than this -- like 30 years of losing seasons.
The Osprey wrote:
Is that the reason why it’s the only place in America where Socialism works?
http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7722853/new-orleans-saints-senator-dick-durbin-sets-hearing-bounties-nfl
Just getting worse now the Senate is getting involved. Great.