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
Bobby
March 21st, 2012
2:57 pm
@saw Saints will still beat your sorry Falcants. WHO DAT! GEAUX SAINTS!
BRAD
March 21st, 2012
2:58 pm
I knew about trying to take-out Farve and Warner, but Rogers and Cam too?!? Damn!!
David
March 21st, 2012
2:58 pm
All I know is we will go through an entire season and not have to see Payton’s ugly face with his ugly snide smirk on the TV screen. YES. Life is good in football land. Oh, and for all you classless Saints fans posting on here—BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
meh
March 21st, 2012
2:58 pm
what exactly does a GM get suspended from? is he just not allowed to go to work?
David
March 21st, 2012
2:58 pm
WHO DAT? Nobody-that’s who.
BREAKING NEWS !!!!!!!!
March 21st, 2012
2:59 pm
BREES QUESTIONING ACTIONS OF COMMISSIONER ON NFL NETWORK AND NOW HE’S BEEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY !!!!!!!
Casey Stinkle
March 21st, 2012
2:59 pm
What Aints hater said. Go back to NO and swing out the windows on Bourbon ST. Well, I guess this gives Mr Peyton plenty of time to heal his wounded leg.
Boo
March 21st, 2012
3:00 pm
@ Raymar
That doesn’t mean they won’t, does it Raymar?
Riceman61
March 21st, 2012
3:00 pm
“oh when the Saints, Oh when the Sean goes marching out, no one wants to be in the number when the Sean goes marching out!”
doc
March 21st, 2012
3:01 pm
should have been first round draft picks instead.
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
3:01 pm
Benson should fire Brees and Loomis, and move the Saints to San Antonio.
Raymar
March 21st, 2012
3:02 pm
@ David
You might not have to look at Payton’s face this year but you know what you will have to look at? You’ll have to look at Smitty’s perpetual crybaby face as the Saints sweep the Falcants yet again. I wonder what excuses you Falcant fans are going to use this year when you get swept by a depleted Saints team. Fortunatley, you have several months to come up with some. Start working on them now.
Sly Ty
March 21st, 2012
3:02 pm
SawThat1nce, I am a die hard falcon fan, but you have to admit that the punishments were a bit excessive. Hurricane Roger may has indefinetly suspended the Saints chances of being a legit contender.
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
3:05 pm
saints won’t beat the Falcons this year, or not very many other teams, the saint’s opponents will only have to go against the saints players, and not the NFL game officials as they have in the last 6 yrs.
Jimmy Crack
March 21st, 2012
3:06 pm
WHO DAT RACK?
Also, I wonder what Droopy Dog will do with all his free time? I’ll bet he won’t be allowed on the NFL Network set. The NFL may have a problem with ANYONE giving him money to be an analyst.
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
3:06 pm
Raymer what’s up with you obsession with the Falcons.
If you aren’t,, why are you stinking up this blog? Dimwit.
Bourbon Street dancer
March 21st, 2012
3:07 pm
Top 5 NFL scandals still has Vick and the Falcants number 1! HAHAHAHAHA Loser hillbiliies
David
March 21st, 2012
3:07 pm
Hey Raymar, dream the dream. The Saints little run is over. They will now implode. By the way, the name of the NFL team in Atlanta is the Falcons. Try and grow up, OK? Note please that I referred to the team in NO as the Saints.
C
March 21st, 2012
3:08 pm
Suck it Saints.
DePort
March 21st, 2012
3:08 pm
Panthers really? Last time I checked Cammy averaged like 4 INTs a game… He has a few years before he is the next chosen one! … and it sounds like some Saints fans are desperate on here… but all I hear is middle school banter… I guess we will see who will when the South this year…
Parson Brownlow
March 21st, 2012
3:10 pm
Anybody who wants to learn about the lifestyle and mindset of a typical Aint fan can watch the movie “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” starring Burl Ives as “Big Daddy”.
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:10 pm
SawThat1nce
March 21st, 2012
3:05 pm
saints won’t beat the Falcons this year, or not very many other teams, the saint’s opponents will only have to go against the saints players, and not the NFL game officials as they have in the last 6 yrs.
Oh, so you won’t miss your head coach? Good for you Jack! Way to keep on a stupid, I mean smiley, face during this ordeal. You don’t have to know football to be a saints fan. You just have to be a moron. As many of you on here are proving.
26belly
March 21st, 2012
3:11 pm
A few years from now it will be soothing solace to see Goodell when he capitulates from the NFL. Instead of tears it will probably be met with great fanfare. Once again a person in Goodell’s postion WILL eventually remember that this is the United States of America and no one man is an island, note even unto himself. He WILL have to answer for his dictatorship!
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:11 pm
Parson, I think a better movie to prove your point would be Dumb & Dumber.
Sly Ty
March 21st, 2012
3:11 pm
Sawthat1nce, Im a Falcon fan, but please admit that Hurricane Roger was a bit excessive. He hasn’t even gotten to the player suspensions yet. This will set their Franchise back to the days of them wearing the bags over their heads.
Indeed
March 21st, 2012
3:12 pm
More proof them aints are classless.
P.S.-Gregg Williams needs a bra.
Phil Lunney
March 21st, 2012
3:12 pm
I think that Roger should now punish Bill Belichick with a 1 year suspension based on his cheating case a few years ago. But, those tapes were destroyed to save the Commissioner from himself.
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:13 pm
Good call 26belly! So if you are employed and break a company rule the dictator boss should not have the authority to suspend or fire you? Yeah, another shining example of a saints fan. Keep it coming people. You proving so many theory’s on here today.
saintsation777
March 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
Doesn’t matter, you all couldn’t beat us when he was on crutches so doesn’t matter!!!
Sean Payton
March 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
I still got that SB ring
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:15 pm
saintsation777
March 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
Doesn’t matter, you all couldn’t beat us when he was on crutches so doesn’t matter!!!
That’s it baby, keep the faith! Being stupid during these times will get you saints fans through this mess.
Raymar
March 21st, 2012
3:16 pm
Ok, David, here’s one for you. The “Falcons” are 2-10 against Drew Brees. That constitutes total domination the last SIX seasons. That’s hardly a “little” run. Talk smack when your head coach and QB win just ONE playoff game. The Saints record the last three seasons is 13-3, 11-5 and 13-3. Hopefully, you or not like these other nitwits who think the refs “gave” them everything. That is not possible but yet lots of “genuises” think it’s so. I truly believe the Saints will go to the playoffs yet again and anything can happen once you make it there. Yes, I’ve been having fun talking smack but this is real. It won’t be nearly as bad as all you doomsayers are predicting.
Indeed
March 21st, 2012
3:16 pm
So true saintsation, your coach doesn’t matter.
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:17 pm
Sean Payton
March 21st, 2012
3:14 pm
I still got that SB ring
And that is a good thing becuase you may have to hock this year to pay your bills.
saintsation777
March 21st, 2012
3:17 pm
You all sound like a bunch of jealous hacks along your with your newspaper writers. Saints pathetic defense didn’t hurt not one player or had them limp off the field in that 3 year time as far as i remember like your team did like desean jackson of philly hit and Mike Vick last year!!!
Sid
March 21st, 2012
3:17 pm
Sad to say it
March 21st, 2012
1:42 pm
Sad thing is they’ll still win the South
****************************************************
ROFLMAO…………welcome to the AJC blogs first time user. Wonder who you might be?
Sean Payton-
March 21st, 2012
3:17 pm
I still have access to the trainers medicine cabinet….
Seen dis befo
March 21st, 2012
3:18 pm
Shatup up awl you dumm falcans loosers. Sanets ar gawing too the supperbowl dis seesin.
Frank Wren
March 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Raymar: Losing to the Seahawks negates the SB victory
David
March 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Raymar, Raymar, you are living in the past my man. Soon to be the very distant past….
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
Good point Raymar. The good thing is that you probably have the saints super bowl on tape and you can watch that every Sunday as your season is going down in flames. You can live in the past all you want. The fact is tomorrow is going to suck for you saints fans as reality creeps in.
keepinitreal
March 21st, 2012
3:19 pm
I can’t wait to see the Saints go 7-9 this year. If one of their players so much as breathes on an opponent, expect a flag to be thrown. The Saints have a lot more punishment coming from the league once the season starts, believe me.
So glad to see this insufferably arrogant franchise crumbling. Good riddance.
David
March 21st, 2012
3:20 pm
Head Coach out for the Year…Williams out for minimum 1 year maybe for life…what about the players who took part? Should they also be punished. If you can punish the coaches you must know who took payments and if you know who took payments you must take action correct?
Sean Payton
March 21st, 2012
3:22 pm
Chu fool dun knuw nathing a bout wining
Cheu hav one SB Win
Sean Payton
March 21st, 2012
3:22 pm
Aw schucks at least I can hang with buddies down by the Bayou and do some crocodile hunting.
Kramer
March 21st, 2012
3:22 pm
David, leave the players alone. They were doing what coaches told them and paid them to do. Besides, they will be taking the field with a coach that is probably a USFL reject. Gonna be fun.
Boo
March 21st, 2012
3:23 pm
When will the IRS go after the recipients of the “bounty” money? Do you think they claimed it as income?
Hey
March 21st, 2012
3:25 pm
The IRS will not waste their time with petty money. They go after the BIG BOYS
Raymar
March 21st, 2012
3:26 pm
Actually, Kramer, I have the Saints SB on Blu-Ray and I may put it on if things get real bad. The thing is, you guys are hoping and praying it’s going to be bad for the Saints and I get that. You all hate the Saints. Wow, what a shocking revelation! And no, I’m not living in the past. Do you expect all Saints fans to give up and throw in the towel? Not happening. They will make the playoffs.
John in Suwanee
March 21st, 2012
3:27 pm
Wait…you hit a player on one play, no penalties called, and he gets knocked out and you get $10K and then the coach gets banned for a year.
You do this an entire season you are named Defensive Player of the Year. What would guys like Butkus, Nitzke, LT, Joe Greene, Reggie along with Coach Lombardi and Ditka think.