Sean Payton suspended for one year

[zbikowski88]

Adam Schefter ‏ @AdamSchefter
Sean Payton suspended one year. Mickey Loomis 8 game and $500,000 fine. Saints fined $500,000 and a second round pick in 2012 and 2012.

The suspension starts April 1st

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Chris Mortensen ‏ @mortreport
Rams DC Gregg Williams suspended indefinitely but will miss at least 2012 season for his role with Saints bounty program

 

[woolybug25]

That's total BS, imo.

Sean Payton suspended, Saints fined for bounty program

 

[zbikowski88]

Saints asst coach Joe Vitt also suspended six games and fined $100,000.

 

[irishog77]

That's total BS, imo.

Sean Payton suspended, Saints fined for bounty program

Maybe, maybe not. But they knowingly broke a rule for 3 years. I don't sympathize with them too much.

 

[BobD]

WOW. Hopefully the Ain't s fans saved those bags, it might be a long year.

 

[DaBLKIrishman]

That's total BS, imo.

Sean Payton suspended, Saints fined for bounty program

Agreed! I can see a game or two and a hefty fine but a whole year is a bit of overkill. I am all for keeping players safe but the NFL is getting softer and softer every year. It's a violent game and everyone knows the risks when playing.

 

[tko]

this is spectacular. the nfl can cease to exist imo, although i enjoy vbetting on the the games that birthday boy McGibb's puts up.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Note to the NCAA, that is how you punish somebody.


Interesting to note that Drew Brees still hasn't signed..... could make things interesting.

 

[Grahambo]

Good. Lay the hammer down and serve notice to all others, don't mess with player safety and don't lie to the NFL. The Saints lied to the NFL about player safety. Mind you, reports also said that the Saints were told to stop by the NFL. They had a chance.

 

[woolybug25]

Maybe, maybe not. But they knowingly broke a rule for 3 years. I don't sympathize with them too much.

Bounty programs have been part of the NFL from it's start. The local sports guy (Alfred Williams, formerly of the Broncos) said that he believes that every team in the NFL has had a bounty program at least once during the last 20 years. I believe him.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be punishment for getting caught, but suspending them for a year and taking two second round draft picks is insane. Look at what the Pats got for spygate, and that was for actually cheating on the field. Bellicheck didn't even miss a single game for it either.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

Bounty programs have been part of the NFL from it's start. The local sports guy (Alfred Williams, formerly of the Broncos) said that he believes that every team in the NFL has had a bounty program at least once during the last 20 years. I believe him.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be punishment for getting caught, but suspending them for a year and taking two second round draft picks is insane. Look at what the Pats got for spygate, and that was for actually cheating on the field. Bellicheck didn't even miss a single game for it either.

I am not defending Bellicheck for his maneuvers, but he wasn't trying to endanger players. He did pay a fine, though, right?

 

[woolybug25]

I am not defending Bellicheck for his maneuvers, but he wasn't trying to endanger players. He did pay a fine, though, right?

He cheated the game. Which if you poll the players, I promise you that it is seen as far worse than paying guys to do what they are already intending to do. As I said, bounties are not knew and anybody that thinks that their favorite NFL team hasn't had one during their lifetime is fooling themselves. Football is a brutal game played by hardened men.

Goodell is doing everything in his power to sissify the game to no end.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

He cheated the game. Which if you poll the players, I promise you that it is seen as far worse than paying guys to do what they are already intending to do. As I said, bounties are not knew and anybody that thinks that their favorite NFL team hasn't had one during their lifetime is fooling themselves. Football is a brutal game played by hardened men.

Goodell is doing everything in his power to sissify the game to no end.

For the sake of argument--football is a hard-hitting sport, known for brutality. However, there are certain things that you can and cannot do. If there is a bounty on a player, which leads to dirty play, people playing after the whistle, or taking cheap shots--it has no place in the game.

 

[irishog77]

Bounty programs have been part of the NFL from it's start. The local sports guy (Alfred Williams, formerly of the Broncos) said that he believes that every team in the NFL has had a bounty program at least once during the last 20 years. I believe him.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be punishment for getting caught, but suspending them for a year and taking two second round draft picks is insane. Look at what the Pats got for spygate, and that was for actually cheating on the field. Bellicheck didn't even miss a single game for it either.

And colleges (and individuals associated with those colleges) give "student athletes" extra "pay" and benefits all the time too. It's been going on there longer than the NFL. The difference though (as Grahambo kind of pointed out) is that the NFL isn't acting like some pussy with their head in the sand like the NCAA almost always does. If a team or individuals are doing something that is against the rules, then hit 'em hard and actually use negative reinforcement to dissuade them from doing it again. Don't do the alternative, like the NCAA, and basically provide little to no incentive to break the rules. And this won't just give Peyton, Williams, Loomis, and the Saints pause about endorsing a bounty program-- it'll give every coach and organization in the entire league pause about committing such an infraction.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

Good. Player safety is the most important thing.

 

[woolybug25]

For the sake of argument--football is a hard-hitting sport, known for brutality. However, there are certain things that you can and cannot do. If there is a bounty on a player, which leads to dirty play, people playing after the whistle, or taking cheap shots--it has no place in the game.

For arguments sake, who said that any of the bounties were for "dirty plays"? They were to take out players or hurt them, not to take them out in a dirty way. Ask any defensive pass rusher if they intend to take a qb out of the game with a hard hit and they will tell you yes. Any NFL QB knows this and understands it. It is ingrained in the culture of the game. Now, no player wants to injure another player (there is a difference between hurting and injuring) but taking the opposing QB out of the game is on the mind of any prolific pass rusher.

Good. Player safety is the most important thing.

If player safety was the most important thing than they would be playing touch football. Don't worry, at this rate, Goodell will have that on the next CBA.

 

[AdmiralBackhand]

For arguments sake, who said that any of the bounties were for "dirty plays"? They were to take out players or hurt them, not to take them out in a dirty way. Ask any defensive pass rusher if they intend to take a qb out of the game with a hard hit and they will tell you yes. Any NFL QB knows this and understands it. It is ingrained in the culture of the game. Now, no player wants to injure another player (there is a difference between hurting and injuring) but taking the opposing QB out of the game is on the mind of any prolific pass rusher.

I guess it's just me taking on the idea that someone would want more pay by actually coming through on a bounty by utilizing dirty practices. When I played football I was a wrecking ball, looking to decimate everyone I ran across. I wasn't out to end anyone's career but I was looking for that "crash".

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

If player safety was the most important thing than they would be playing touch football. Don't worry, at this rate, Goodell will have that on the next CBA.

Tackling and hitting is part of the game. Intentionally injuring players is not.

 

[woolybug25]

Tackling and hitting is part of the game. Intentionally injuring players is not.

No one was paid to injure, they were paid to hurt opposing QB's and take them out of the game. There is a difference between the two. As I said, the bounties weren't paying for anything that wasn't already their intent. If you dont think that pass rushers aim to take QB's out of games you are kidding yourself. They dont want to injure them long term or end their career, but they certainly want to make them watch the game on the bench.


Goodell is punishing Payton for something that every team has done in recent history. Meanwhile, he essentially let Bellicheck off for actually cheating on the field. Player safety is certainly important, but it should not be more important than the game itself. This commissioner is ruining the game by making changes fundamentally to the game itself.

 

[woolybug25]

I guess it's just me taking on the idea that someone would want more pay by actually coming through on a bounty by utilizing dirty practices. When I played football I was a wrecking ball, looking to decimate everyone I ran across. I wasn't out to end anyone's career but I was looking for that "crash".

I agree that if a player was paid to intentionally break a QB's hand or chop block a lineman with intent to destroy their knee would be inappropriate at the very least. That isnt what was happening. They were bounties to take players out of the game.

These bounties were said to be $5-10K bounties. A player isn't going to risk a Goodell fine for a dirty hit for $5k. Those fines are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. This whole thing has been blown completely out of proportion so Goodell can act like he is tough about safety. He he really gave a damn about player safety he would mandate mouth pieces or tell Riddell to go to hell because they make an inferior helmet from a safety standpoint.

 

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

No one was paid to injure, they were paid to hurt opposing QB's and take them out of the game. There is a difference between the two. As I said, the bounties weren't paying for anything that wasn't already their intent. If you dont think that pass rushers aim to take QB's out of games you are kidding yourself. They dont want to injure them long term or end their career, but they certainly want to make them watch the game on the bench.


Goodell is punishing Payton for something that every team has done in recent history. Meanwhile, he essentially let Bellicheck off for actually cheating on the field. Player safety is certainly important, but it should not be more important than the game itself. This commissioner is ruining the game by making changes fundamentally to the game itself.

What are you talking about? Hurt and injure are the same exact thing. They are synonyms.

 

[irishog77]

No one was paid to injure, they were paid to hurt opposing QB's and take them out of the game. There is a difference between the two. As I said, the bounties weren't paying for anything that wasn't already their intent. If you dont think that pass rushers aim to take QB's out of games you are kidding yourself. They dont want to injure them long term or end their career, but they certainly want to make them watch the game on the bench.


Goodell is punishing Payton for something that every team has done in recent history. Meanwhile, he essentially let Bellicheck off for actually cheating on the field. Player safety is certainly important, but it should not be more important than the game itself. This commissioner is ruining the game by making changes fundamentally to the game itself.

Then if you're Williams, any other coach, or any other player, why offer a bounty at all? If this is simply what all these guys are just doing anyway, why did coaches, etc. feel a need to offer up another incentive? Mangers don't offer their employees much in bonuses and extra benefits just to simply do what is entirely expected of them anyway. They offer bonuses and extra incentives to go above and beyond what is already expected of them, and in return, managers often get the extra result they desired.

 

[woolybug25]

Then if you're Williams, any other coach, or any other player, why offer a bounty at all? If this is simply what all these guys are just doing anyway, why did coaches, etc. feel a need to offer up another incentive? Mangers don't offer their employees much in bonuses and extra benefits just to simply do what is entirely expected of them anyway. They offer bonuses and extra incentives to go above and beyond what is already expected of them, and in return, managers often get the extra result they desired.

It wasn't just the coaches (btw, Payton never directly offered a bounty, he is being punished for not doing anything about it) it was also the players. It was about camaraderie, it gave them something to unite around. These guys are all millionaires, so why do they get to together and play cards? For the fun of it, that's why. It's the same reason every team has done it. None of these players gave a damn about the $5k, they wanted to win the bounty for the competition of it.

What are you talking about? Hurt and injure are the same exact thing. They are synonyms.

They absolutely are not. Have you played the game? Every football coach in history has asked a star player "are you hurt or are you injured?". Here is an example; Theisman was injured by LT, while Dayne Crist was hurt in the '10 Michigan game.

There absolutely is a difference.

 

[Grahambo]

It wasn't just the coaches (btw, Payton never directly offered a bounty, he is being punished for not doing anything about it) it was also the players. It was about camaraderie, it gave them something to unite around. These guys are all millionaires, so why do they get to together and play cards? For the fun of it, that's why. It's the same reason every team has done it. None of these players gave a damn about the $5k, they wanted to win the bounty for the competition of it.



They absolutely are not. Have you played the game? Every football coach in history has asked a star player "are you hurt or are you injured?". Here is an example; Theisman was injured by LT, while Dayne Crist was hurt in the '10 Michigan game.

There absolutely is a difference.

Exactly. As the leader of the team, you have to put a stop to it especially after the initial warning.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Agreed! I can see a game or two and a hefty fine but a whole year is a bit of overkill. I am all for keeping players safe but the NFL is getting softer and softer every year. It's a violent game and everyone knows the risks when playing.

Incorrect, how many opposing players hit the field on Sunday knowing that there is a bounty on their head? Not just any bounty, one that could INTENTIONALLY injure them.

 

[woolybug25]

[/B]


Incorrect, how many opposing players hit the field on Sunday knowing that there is a bounty on their head? Not just any bounty, one that could INTENTIONALLY injure them.

Every QB that steps onto an NFL field knows that if the other team gets an opportunity to take them out of the game with a clean hit, they will do it. There weren't bounties for illegal hits, there were bounties for hitting the QB enough or hard enough to put him on the sidelines. Something that every pass rusher in the league is trying to accomplish.

Sounds like Favre is really pissed about it too.

“Now the truth comes out. That’s good. But that’s football. The only thing that really [ticks] me off about the whole thing is we lost the game. That’s the thing about that day that still bothers me. And that’s the way it goes. If they wanted me to testify in court about this, they’d be calling the wrong guy.”

and Kurt Warner was caught completely off guard. He couldn't believe it happened to him...

“I think that’s part of the game, and I think that’s part of the mindset,” Warner said. “And I’m not going to tell you that I haven’t believed that there was probably defensive players that got together and said, ‘Hey, you know, a thousand bucks for the first guy to knock Kurt out of a football game.’ I’m sure that’s been a part of our league for a long time.”

They both sound like guys that want Payton's head on a stick for targeting them.

 

[no.1IrishFan]

Every QB that steps onto an NFL field knows that if the other team gets an opportunity to take them out of the game with a clean hit, they will do it. There weren't bounties for illegal hits, there were bounties for hitting the QB enough or hard enough to put him on the sidelines. Something that every pass rusher in the league is trying to accomplish.

Sounds like Favre is really pissed about it too.



and Kurt Warner was caught completely off guard. He couldn't believe it happened to him...



They both sound like guys that want Payton's head on a stick for targeting them.

I agree with what you're saying, my problem however is in the intent of the players. The goal should be to win the football game because you're a better team, not because you've put the other teams star player on the bench with a concussion.

 

[NDinFL]

It's Dictator Goodell, the fact that he layed the hammer on these fools shouldn't surprise anyone.

I've said it before, just because it's been "a part of the league" for 20 years does NOT mean that it's right.

 

[gkIrish]

wooley this is one of the few things I disagree with you on. There's no place in any sport for bounties of any kind that involve trying to remove other players from the field of play.

There's a difference between targeting a preexisting injury (because the player chose to step on the field with that vulnerability) and purposely trying to injure or hurt another player, however you want to call it.

If coaches have to resort to bounties as an incentive to play hard then that's pretty embarrassing IMO. Outplay the other team, bottom line.

I do think the penalty may be a bit extreme for Sean Payton though, but he shouldn't have lied to Goodell