Goodell sends right message, slamming Saints, Payton
It was Gregg Williams' (right) bounty program, but Sean Payton allowed him to do it. (AP photo)
(Last updated: 2:20 p.m.)
Roger Goodell got it right Wednesday – not just for coming down hard on the New Orleans Saints in general and coach Sean Payton in particular, but for slamming somebody who doesn’t wear a uniform.
The NFL commissioner suspended Payton, the Saints’ head coach, for the entire 2012 season for his role in the team’s bounty program. He also suspended former New Orleans defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (now with St. Louis) for at least one year, assistant head coach Joe Vitt for six games and general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games. The Saints also will lose two second-round draft picks (2012 and 2013) and must pay a $500,000 fine.
The Saints will be allowed to keep their shoes.
Player discipline will be forthcoming. But the punishment against Payton and the team, while harsh, is justified. The Saints not only implemented a bounty program that “endangered player safety over a three-year period,” quoting from the NFL’s official news release (or jury verdict), but they lied about it. Allegations regarding the 2009 Super Bowl season initially were investigated in 2010, but couldn’t be proved. Team officials denied it then, and again this past season when new evidence surfaced.
The league referenced, “a deliberate effort to conceal the program’s existence from league investigators, and a clear determination to maintain the program despite express direction from Saints ownership that it stop as well as ongoing inquiries from the league office.”
If we know one thing about Roger Goodell, it’s that he doesn’t like being lied to.
“We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” he said. “We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities.”
Don’t confuse the NFL’s licensed violence with premeditated assault. As former Chicago Bears safety Doug Plank said two weeks ago, “I can’t believe a coach, a team or an organization would stand behind that [bounty] policy. For a coach to even address something like that with players, like, ‘This is a person we can remove from the game,’ that puts you on pretty thin ice.”
Given the backdrop, it's safe to assume this photo was taken back when Goodell was welcome at the Saints' facility. (AP photo)
The investigation revealed the Saints placed bounties on four opposing quarterbacks: Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner. It said the Saints’ Jonathan Vilma “offered $10,000 to any player who knocked Brett Favre out of the [2009] NFC championship game.”
Was it Goodell’s objective to make an example of the Saints? Absolutely. His mission is to “protect the shield.” The ripple effect of this punishment will be felt in 31 other front offices.
But this particularly sends a great message to players. Goodell has been known as “the discipline” commissioner. For the past several seasons, he has come down hard on players for on- and off-the-field actions that he believes casts the league in a negative light. There has been a perception he is not equally tough on coaches or team officials. (An exception: “Spygate.” Goodell disciplined the New England Patriots for videotaping the New York Jets’ defensive hand signals in 2007 and took a first-round draft pick away from the team.)
Goodell largely is viewed as the owners’ guy. Of course, he is. He works for the 32 NFL owners, not the 1,700 players. That was reaffirmed with several comments he made during collective-bargaining talks and the lockout before last season.
But there is no dispute here. If Goodell didn’t wreck the Saints, he certainly left them doubled-over.
A recent Super Bowl winner – and the Falcons’ primary competition in the NFC South – just lost its head coach (Payton), his top assistant (Vitt) and its general manager (Loomis). The $500,000 fine means little. The two second-round picks mean significantly more.
Saints owner Tom Benson will not invite Goodell to dinner at Commander’s Palace any time soon.
Goodell said the involvement of players is still being reviewed and punishment will be decided at a future time. But coming down on those not wearing the uniforms is significant. He made the right call.
By Jeff Schultz
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
562 comments Add your comment
Tea Party Meber
March 21st, 2012
9:00 pm
Be easy on the Saints fans. They are still excited about the invention of the wheel.
Loperty Knoll
March 21st, 2012
9:03 pm
Is there anyway Obamainians can blame this on Bush?
Bayou Bird
March 21st, 2012
9:04 pm
Too bad Falcons are basking in Saints disater. Stop the hating and beat them on field. Ironically your quarterback was not on hit list. Same old story next year Saints sweep Falcons win South and a possible second trip for Super Bowl Win ! Who Dat !!! Forever.
Loperty Knoll
March 21st, 2012
9:05 pm
Saints stink anyway, no biggy.
T. Bartirome
March 21st, 2012
9:05 pm
Blame it on Bush.
ghj
March 21st, 2012
9:06 pm
Cry me a river ain’ts.
Seattle Sean
March 21st, 2012
9:07 pm
One and done Saints as usual.
blane f.
March 21st, 2012
9:09 pm
congrats to falcons! 2012 nfc south champs.
Yorker
March 21st, 2012
9:10 pm
The Roger Flood has hit this time. That place stinks of vomit and pee just as the team does.
Mister.Earl
March 21st, 2012
9:12 pm
The Saints still have superior talent
The players will respond with passion
HarryDawg
March 21st, 2012
9:13 pm
ALERT !!! Saints lose again, this time not to 49eers, Seahawks or Falcons.
Texas2steps
March 21st, 2012
9:18 pm
They should have just made them play the Falcons 4 times a year for their punishment.
Orleansdude
March 21st, 2012
9:21 pm
I am proud to be a Saint fan. We do whatever it take to win. Every one be haten on a brother.
Harvin
March 21st, 2012
9:24 pm
Bayu terd, we are laughing at ya’ll. Cheat to try to win. Who dat?, Ole Roger Who dat!!!!
49ers
March 21st, 2012
9:29 pm
Saints will probably be a better team cause the coach was terrible. He let the Falcons walk all over them in his home stadium and lost to San Fran in the first round.
Buford Pusser
March 21st, 2012
9:31 pm
It’s now safe to proclaim an asterisk by the Saints super bowl win.
Falconwings
March 21st, 2012
9:34 pm
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WHO DAT? Roger is dat.
mol
March 21st, 2012
9:45 pm
Sean Payton has applied for a bag-boy at the Piggly Wiggly.
Pink Pony
March 21st, 2012
10:16 pm
He should be banned from wearing that stupid visor.
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
10:19 pm
The “Pound Of Flesh ” was due for the Voodoo Queen of New Orleans. When you dance with the Devil…
chris
March 21st, 2012
10:21 pm
Good article Jeff, agreed and I think Goodell did exactly what needed to be done..ESPN is trying to push the idea its a bit harsh but when you start paying players to take out other players and possibly cause career or even life threatening injuries that is NO CLASS..but then of course we’re talking about the New Orleans Saints. My question is will Benson pay Peyton and the other two despite the suspensions under the table? Just curious.
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
10:36 pm
N.O. fans, this is what you get for being obnoxious tools all the time. You win a game and want to rub it in everyone’s face. You get caught red-handed in one of the worst Scandals in Football History and then you look for sympathy from the same people you try to make fun of.LOL! It’s called Karma Baby…
NCDawg
March 21st, 2012
10:38 pm
The saddest portion of this story is the overlooked fact that the severity of these penalties is directly because of the lying. The contempt the coaches showed for the investigative process is unbelievable.
Lying about what was happening and about individual knowledge of the system was why the penalties are so severe. The attitude was “F-you”! Now, as it always does, a bad situation is multiplied several times by simply not telling the truth. So sad.
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
10:57 pm
Even under these embarrassing times for N.O. fans, they have the audacity to already claim victory over the Falcons in football this year. This is the reason why you are the worst fans in football history. Hope you didn’t throw your Paperbags with the eyeholes in them away. You’re gonna need them again. LOL!!!
Bud
March 21st, 2012
11:13 pm
Schultz, over the years I have agreed with you on some things and disagreed with you on some things. This time I have to say you are utterly and completely wrong. Goodell has overstepped his authority on this one. Of course, all of this will be appealed, and I say he better re-think the suspension. I agree suspension is in order, but not the whole season. If he doesn’t reduce the suspension, I see the owners (or players union may try something) reducing his authority.
JSS
March 21st, 2012
11:30 pm
“Appeal?”
Coaches, GMs, and League personnel have no recourse other than suing the League in Court. They do not have legal protection of a labor union. Louisiana is a right to work state, they only have rudimentary labor protections such as workplace discrimination (which is a joke in the South and most of the West)! Go get an instudio analyst job with one of the college networks. Shot, he ought to start a QB and offensive coordinating consulting company while he’s on the shelf… There should be folks ringing his phone off the hook!
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
11:35 pm
Bud
Sorry but you’re wrong about the suppensions. This WILL DETER similar behavior from other teams in the future. The problem has been, loose rules and lax penalties. This was a dispicable orginazation who lied under investigation repeatedly. This is not Goodell’s fault. If you are a N.O. fan, please blame your COACHES …
rugburn
March 21st, 2012
11:38 pm
we better wait and see if the saints get rick hendricks to wine and dine goodell. he may be able to get this overturned also. maybe the IRS should look in to whether or not taxes were paid on this “extra” income.
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
11:42 pm
Why did you eat my 11:36 or 11:37 post? Nothing dirty or hateful. What’s going on tonight?
Kingdaddy
March 21st, 2012
11:49 pm
The Saints lied under investigation again. They got what they deserve. Their fans should blame their coaches instead of Goodell. Why would you flag that?
Z-Ro
March 22nd, 2012
12:05 am
Karma is a muhfudgeah the Saints got away with murder during the Katrina aftermath up until now….Saints fans even had the audacity to become arrogant This is Christmas 9 months early Geaux saints as in Geaux AWAY!!!
FalconJim
March 22nd, 2012
1:10 am
Greg Williams needs to lay off the Mary-ju-wanna”…..it’s given him “man boobs”. Haha!
I sort of hate to see a fellow-NFC South team go down like this…………..NOT!!! LOL!
But hey, “if you do the crime, you do the time”. That’s the way to dole it out, Mr. Goodell…
Edgar Godfrey
March 22nd, 2012
7:02 am
Sends the right message? He’s covering his rear end and that’s all. Get real Jeff. With over 20 injury law suits representing hundreds of former players in the courts now and many more coming, “Pete Rosell Jr.” aka Roger Goodell, doesn’t have an Al Davis in his midst to keep him in check.
dan
March 22nd, 2012
7:18 am
Jeff question for you. I know teams sign contract and some are incentive based but are those incentives part of a teams’ salary cap. Inquiring by paying players bounties would a team be going over their salary cap?
david dietzel
March 22nd, 2012
7:45 am
From Saints to Sinners
Skram30082
March 22nd, 2012
8:04 am
@Bud
You’re kidding, right?
I’m thinking he should’ve suspended him for a long enough period to make the Saints realize they need to fire Peyton…like maybe 3 years (the same amount of time this mess was going on & the same length of time the Saints were lying about it).
This is a disgraceful episode in the history of the NFL, and the punishment needs to be tough enough to discourage any team from ever doing anything like this again.
Mister.Earl
March 22nd, 2012
8:09 am
Will Roger Goodell enjoy touch football when defenses stop tackling?
Mister.Earl
March 22nd, 2012
8:11 am
The Saints have superior talent and will STILL beat the Falcons.
Be motivated boys. This ain’t ballet. The guys who hits hardest, wins. Right?
Falcons fans would be wise to score more than 2 points in a playoff game, before they start puffing up their chests.
Samuel L. Jackson
March 22nd, 2012
8:17 am
Are you kidding me? lol, you guys act like the Saints are the only one hahahah. Gregg Williams has coached for what like 6 teams the last 12 years and in the NFL for 23 yrs? Do you honestly believe that he just imagined these types of programs when he got to the Saints?!?!?!?!
The bottom line is the Saints got caught, and they have to pay for not cooperating with the investigation. That’s the reason for the penalty being sever, because they lied repeatedly about this. but ask yourself this for all this talk about this program how many guys were carted off the field after playing the Saints with career ending injury? The answer, NONE.
This is not a positive outcome by any means, but honestly this is something that could serve as a rallying cry for the 2012 season. I think losing the draft picks will hurt more in 2013 and beyond more than this upcoming season. The Saints are still going to spank Atlanta.
10-2 over the last 6 yrs and there was NO bounty on Matt Ryan lol hahahahaha
Samuel L. Jackson
March 22nd, 2012
8:24 am
I also have a news flash for everyone… it’s everyone outside New Orleans who can’t let Katrina go. The people who live there roll their eyes everytime an announcer still brings that up. People have moved on with their lives.
Falcons fans are ridiculous.. yea that’s it, the NFL has let the Saints win the Superbowl 4 yrs after the storm, it was a conspiracy! Dont you idiots think that if there was a conspiracy it would have been in 06 when the Saints went to the NFC title game?
The only thing that has changed since Katrina is that the Saints win games now and are clearly better ON THE FIELD. This has been proven every way possible. 10-2 head to head, 5 playoff wins, and 3 division titles. You still better get used to looking up at the Saints in the NFC South, because if you’ll remember when the Pats were slapped in 07 all they did was go 18-0 and make the Superbowl.
Gator Mike
March 22nd, 2012
8:57 am
Goodell had to slam the coaches and organization before he slams some of the players involved or the players union would cry foul. This closes the door on the union when the hammer falls on the players. Good move by him; hoever, this has probably been going on in most locker rooms for many years.
Freddie Blassie
March 22nd, 2012
8:58 am
What a bunch of two faced parasites! Goodell is just trying to protect the cash cow that is the NFL by this over reaction.
Soon, the NFL will only allow very sweet people to coach and play in the league. I am going to throw up.
Statick
March 22nd, 2012
9:02 am
Still laughing at the Aints and their fanbase.
Mister.Earl
March 22nd, 2012
9:03 am
Football fans cheer big hits and chant “kill him” every day of the week.
The National Football League markets legalize violence. Any fan who has watched a game up close knows this.
Goodell is posturing to play to his base.
The Saints were wrong to lie but please, NEVER think that the seven figure salaries paid to defenders are for the most polite.
Touch football anyone?
Dee
March 22nd, 2012
9:04 am
@ Samuel L. Jackson
Difference is, you b*tches aren’t the Pats. Never have and never will be. The Pats have actual class.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
March 22nd, 2012
9:21 am
Don’t gloat Falcant fans because Dirty Smitty is on the Commissioner’s radar:
2010 Dunta Robinson head hunting Desean Jackson (Major Fine)
2011 Dunta Robinson head hunting Jeremy Maclin (Major Fine)
Smitty attacking D Hall (Major Fine)
Don’t worry your time is coming
Mister.Earl
March 22nd, 2012
9:28 am
Dee – the Patriots cheated. Period.
The National Football League rewards violence yet it treats James Harrison like an ATM.
How many people want the Falcons to be less physical?
Raise your hands.
Supes
March 22nd, 2012
9:38 am
Saints fans…you guys are a pathetic bunch…TAKE IT like a man (or woman) instead all I hear is biatching and moaning and groaning about this and that. ACCEPT your daym FATE and deal with it. Kind of like when Mike Vick gave us (FALCONS FANS) the finger while going to jail and ruining our team for years to come…
Ga Wins
March 22nd, 2012
10:09 am
I think we should be offended….why didn’t Matt Ryan make the hit list. The Saints don’t see him as important enough?
DawgNole
March 22nd, 2012
10:14 am
Way back on page 1 of this blog I predicted that the Saints fans on here would be in full denial. I also expressed the hope that their number would be reduced. Well, they’re in full denial, no question. They’re also rationalizing, blame-shifting, finger-pointing, boasting (still), taking potshots at the Falcons, etc. What’s amazing to me is that the Saints’ violators have largely owned up to this, apologized, and accepted their punishment; it’s mostly the incredibly ignorant fans, including those visiting this Falcons blog, who continue to defend (and even brag about) their team’s criminal activities. They’re already wildly predicting victory over the Falcons and guaranteeing another SB win in ‘12. Of course, when they start losing next year–especially to the Falcons–you can count on them blaming the unprecedented punishment justifiably handed to them.
As far as my prediction and hope, one was accurate and other was dashed.