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
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562 comments Add your comment
put me in coach
March 21st, 2012
1:59 pm
They should all be banned for life.
ha ha
March 21st, 2012
2:00 pm
This seems to be the right punishment and im saying that as a falcon fan haahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahhhhhhhhhhahahahahahahaahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaahahahahahahhahahahahhahahahahaahahhahahahahahahahahhah aints
dean
March 21st, 2012
2:02 pm
And another thing, there is no way shape or form that any reasonable person would believe that Drew Brees, “The Team Leader of All Team Leaders”, did not know what was going on. No way.
TJ
March 21st, 2012
2:02 pm
While many other teams may have similar systems in place with this bounty program or similar programs it was time for the NFL to do something about it and unfortunatly the SAINTS will and are the poster child for this action. The NFL is currently being sued by former players for knowingly not doing anything against or to prevent concussions after years of research….so just imagine the fallout years from now if this came to light…so rather than sit back on idle I am pleased they are doing something about it and even MORE PLEASED THE SAINTS are taking the FALL. You ask “WHO DAT”…you dat who gonna be sittin out the season!!!
Jason
March 21st, 2012
2:02 pm
Dissolve the team and drain the swamp.
Jay
March 21st, 2012
2:03 pm
Falcons fan here, but football fan as well. Does every team do it? Who knows. The blantant ones were caught. Its like spygate or NCAA infractions. You do the crime and get caught, do the time and stop complaining.
At the core of this though is the thought that putting someone else possibly out of a job gets you a little more money. Or seriously injuring them.
Bourbon Street Dancer, wtf are you talking about? Pats paid for spygate. Vick went to prison and was suspended. Ray Lewis did not commit murder, his buddies did, and he did get suspended and did take a charge. Get over yourself. Your team got caught in a fairly sinister scheme. Live with it. Falcons did with Vick getting busted.
Seen (scandal) This (Taint the Saints) B4
March 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
Painkillers!!!! Someone get Coach Payton his PAINKILLERS!!!!! LOL LOL LOL
Coach Ralph Fontaine
March 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
Now if the NCAA would announce they are investigating UF, it would be the perfect day.
Too funny
March 21st, 2012
2:04 pm
Good to see the Aints return to their rightful place as NFL whipping boys
The Big Fat Blogger
March 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
HAHHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!! Aints Fans are mighty quiet, but oh well, you still get your (rigged) superbowl trophy to sit and brag about….. Who dat said they going to get away with yet another handout? Who dat? Who dat?
Nola
March 21st, 2012
2:06 pm
We will…we will beat The Falcons..in ATL and anywhere else.
FalconsFan
March 21st, 2012
2:07 pm
I love how all the Saints fans are complaining and whining instead of accepting the punishment!!! Saints beating Falcons? How about you worry about your own team. BUNCH OF THUGS!
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
2:08 pm
I hear that Payton has accepted a bagboy job at the local Kroger whilst he awaits to be reinstated as HC, if he is rehired by the saints.
ugabam
March 21st, 2012
2:09 pm
how can we blame auburn for this
AAA Athens Bail Bonds
March 21st, 2012
2:09 pm
Mark Richt has already phoned Payton and Williams, offering them jobs for the same pay that Grantham is getting.
Kevin
March 21st, 2012
2:09 pm
But..but..but we are the Saints. We had this big storm come through our town and well you see…we are the Saints. Did I mention we are the Saints????
ATL Teams = CHOKE
March 21st, 2012
2:10 pm
Is this gonna help the Falcons not choke?
atltiger
March 21st, 2012
2:11 pm
what will be funny is when the Saints still beat the failcons twice next year….and that will be what? 12 of the last 14 games? this isn’t even a rivalry anymore lol.
extremus
March 21st, 2012
2:13 pm
Couldn’t have happened to a better bunch of guys, lol!
Hurricane Roger
March 21st, 2012
2:14 pm
Yeah……I went there.
Skeezix
March 21st, 2012
2:15 pm
They got off light. He should have come down harder on the criminals.
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:15 pm
@ jay
Your just jealous of the Saints success and the NFL wants to even the playing field for the other losers in the league.
This smells so bad of a conspiracy.
papa rider
March 21st, 2012
2:16 pm
I agree that the commissioner got it right. the NFL has enough injuries without paying players to inflict injury. There could have been crippling and carreer ending injuries as a result of the bounties. I only other thing the commissioner could have done was to make the suspensions longer or for life. As much as I love the Falcon’s, I would feel the same way if their coaches were involved in such a pratice.
MoGA
March 21st, 2012
2:16 pm
The beginning of the end for the Aints!
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:17 pm
At Hurricane Roger
Low…Real low. I lost my home to Katrina and am forced to live here in Atlanta. Jerks like you make me want to go back.
Jeff B
March 21st, 2012
2:17 pm
I couldn’t agree more, this is a nice start to the BountyGate punishments.
dbird1
March 21st, 2012
2:18 pm
@Bourbon Street dancer
here’s a tissue.
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
2:19 pm
I don’t think that Goodell went far enough.
Payton should have recieved a $1million fine along with his 1yr. suspension(a 2yr. suspension might have been warranted).
Loomis the GM should have gotten the same as Payton.
Williams, the dirty sob, should be kicked out of the NFL, forever.
The saints organization should lose their 1st round draft choices for the next 4yrs., at the very least.
The organization should be fined at least $5million.
The organization should have their salary cap lowered, by at least $20million a year, for the next 3 consecutive yrs.
Roger Goodell should fine himself $5million, for allowing this Dirty team, to play so dirty of a brand of football, as it has, ever since Payton has taken over running the team.
I only hope that Goodell will not back off of any of the light punishments he has given out, in this matter.
ls1z28chris
March 21st, 2012
2:19 pm
This is only about one thing: litigation. Goodell passed down this excessively harsh punishment in order to pretend that the NFL actually cares about player safety when they’re standing in a courtroom in the coming months and years. So please don’t pretend this has anything to do with the bounty program Williams ran or any lies during the subsequent investigations.
I understand why Falcons fans are excited, and I hope y’all enjoy this day. You’ll be crying soon enough when your team fails to score any points in their next playoff game. Which won’t be soon, as you’ll probably be last in the NFC South this year.
WhatsTheWord?
March 21st, 2012
2:20 pm
We will be discussing this as well as the Tim Tebow trade tonight at 9:00 PM EDT on Blogtalkradio.com. Please join us.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/cpstylin/2012/03/22/march-madness-and-nba-action
Raymar
March 21st, 2012
2:21 pm
I think it’s hilarious that you loser Falcant fans gauge your team’s possible success by whatever happens to the Saints. You are 10-2 against Drew Brees. That won’t change. Regardless of what happens to the Saints the Falcants are still crybaby LOSERS. We’ll still win the division and maybe get another Super Bowl trophy right here in N.O. while the Atlanta Pigeons sit home and watch. And the best part is you all know it’s true. Hahahaha!
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:21 pm
Typical loser Falcant fans. Your only source of glee is the unfair demise of another team.
How classy.
Damage Inc.
March 21st, 2012
2:22 pm
street dancer- what conspiracy? How could you in any way make an argument that it was a conspiracy? Let me guess, George Bush blew up the twin towers too? extremely naive….
dbird1
March 21st, 2012
2:22 pm
@Bourbon Street dancer
remember 07. i’m sure you were real upset seeing vick go.oh and by the way. ha ha
Raymar
March 21st, 2012
2:23 pm
Sorry for the typo, you are 2-10 against Drew Brees but you already knew that.
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:24 pm
At Raymar
Well said my friend.
ls1z28chris
March 21st, 2012
2:24 pm
Anyone who thinks this punishment is light is pretty ignorant of NFL history. The last time a head coach got suspended for a season was 49 years ago and it involved betting on NFL games.
After decades of showing us highlight reels of players getting “lit up,” former players are pursuing litigation against the NFL because of their declining health. Under no ordinary circumstances would any intelligent individual pretend that paying a player a bonus of 0.001% of their salary for a big hit is the same as calling into question the integrity of the game itself by betting on the game. The Saints are patsies and martyrs in this.
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
2:24 pm
Lets see, Payton gone for a year. Brees under contract for a year and pi**ed off about it. Lose your top two draft picks for a year. Your planned interim coach suspended for 6 games so now you have to find a head coach. Yep, it is starting to look like the Aints might become that loveable team of losers we all knew them as not long ago. I have a tear coming down my cheek.
Damage Inc.
March 21st, 2012
2:25 pm
BSD- you want me to buy you a bus ticket?
Ueeediot
March 21st, 2012
2:25 pm
“boo hoo youre breaking my heart”
Whahahahahahahahahaha
Whaahahahahahahaahhhahaha
gotta catch my breath and get a tissue for these tears
Whaahahahahahahahahahha
wahhahahahahahahahahaha
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:25 pm
It’s a conspiracy
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
2:26 pm
Bourbon Street@ 2:17………Are they forcing people to live in Atlanta now?
Last time I checked, there were Interstate Highways running out of Atlanta, in all directions.
Ueeediot
March 21st, 2012
2:28 pm
another thing to remember is when the NFL says suspended, they effin mean it. Its not like MLB where you just go to a back room and run the show and still hang around at practices and travel with the team.
In the NFL, suspended means, go on home (to Dallas, Sean Peyton wont live in that dump town) and watch on TV with everyone else. I doubt he would be allowed (by the team) to even be present at the games for fear of the appearance of impropriety.
Buckeye
March 21st, 2012
2:28 pm
Hey Saints, would you rather have traded for Tebow?
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
2:28 pm
Borban street, if the roles were reversed you would be dancing naked in the streets. Don’t play wimpy on here. It was wrong and they got what they deserved. It is an NFL field, not the streets of inner city new orleans. You don’t ruin somebody’s career for a bounty becuase you feel like your chances of winning are better if he is out of the game. Thugs, thy name is the saints.
Ueeediot
March 21st, 2012
2:30 pm
The aints are not patsies, and they are not martyrs.
The NFL has made an example out of them. Example is….screw up and we can slap you down much harder than you thought.
You cannot be so arrogant as to think that you can do things and get away with slap on the wrist.
The aints are guilty. The aints received due punishment. You may think its harsh. It is. Message sent to 31 other teams….dont screw with us.
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
2:31 pm
So what do the Falcants have going for them? A QB that can’t throw it more than 20 yards? AN againg DL with a DE that is married to a gold digger skank? A WR that runs his mouth as much as he drops balls? Shall I go on?
Even with out Payton, the Saits will still dominate you loser Falcants!
Damage Inc.
March 21st, 2012
2:32 pm
Kinda looks like karma watching Peyton’s leg getting taken out now huh?
Bilbo
March 21st, 2012
2:32 pm
No. Rozelle would have gotten it right by banning all involved for life. This is weak punishment other than the 500K.
FalcyFan77
March 21st, 2012
2:33 pm
I think Sean Payton would fit perfectly on the Madden game cover.