Goodell hammers Saints

[j2k4]

Sean Payton suspended one year w/o pay.

Gregg Williams suspended indefinitely

Loomis (GM) suspended 8 games

Saints lose second-round picks next two years

Saints fined 500K


Works for me.

[DocWalt]

pwnt.

[green-lantern]

WOW that's the hardest punishment I think I’ve ever heard of.

[green-lantern]

Honestly deserved though

[onebadmollafolla]

:lol:

That'll do Saints, that'll do.

[FeaRpb]

So what caused this?

[onebadmollafolla]

So what caused this?

The Saints offering bounties (monetary incentives) to knock players out of the game on opposing teams.

[j2k4]

The Saints offering bounties (monetary incentives) to knock players out of the game on opposing teams.

Over the last three years...

[HilbillyHomeboy]

I knew Goodell would destroy them on this. Good.

Jeremy

[IPD]

so THAT explains their win over indy.

[green-lantern]

so THAT explains their win over indy.

Interesting, should they be stripped of the trophy? What they were doing was against the rules so…..did they cheat?

[IPD]

Interesting, should they be stripped of the trophy? What they were doing was against the rules so…..did they cheat?

no, the fans would scream bloody murder. and if you did it to nawlins, you'd have to do it to foxborough.

[bluefox1081]

So why were the Patriots basically let off with a slap on the wrist in comparison? I'd say that with consideration to the competition of the game, the Pats' offense was worse than what the Saints did, so they should've been punished at least just as bad.

[green-lantern]

So why were the Patriots basically let off with a slap on the wrist in comparison? I'd say that with consideration to the competition of the game, the Pats' offense was worse than what the Saints did, so they should've been punished at least just as bad.

No way, IMO anyway, paying players to possibly cripple people is way worse than reading lips. Call me crazy though.

[93STLTH]

So why were the Patriots basically let off with a slap on the wrist in comparison? I'd say that with consideration to the competition of the game, the Pats' offense was worse than what the Saints did, so they should've been punished at least just as bad.

What the Patriots did was just cheating, the Saints are being punished because the intent was to injure other players by offering bounties for the severity of the injuries. Goodell is trying to be a hard ass on this one to prevent it from ever becoming an issue in the future.

[JasonY]

Thor wants his hammer back...

Jason

[wingnut]

Thor wants his hammer back...

Jason

LoL...win :rofl:

[tabasco122]

I think it's bullshit. Way harsher than anything done to plaxico, Vick, the guy that was involved in murdering someone, the pats who actually cheated, etc.

What happened was fucked up ang definitely against the rules, but the punishment is worse than that of other players who have committed felonies and harmed people. Nobody knows but the players, but I can't see the majority of the payouts being for injuries. Big plays, hits, forced fumbles, and interceptions yes, but I highly doubt they were just paying for injuries. I would like to know the percent of payouts for injuries vs other hard hits or fumbles/ints.

[j2k4]

I think it's bullshit. Way harsher than anything done to plaxico, Vick, the guy that was involved in murdering someone, the pats who actually cheated, etc.

What happened was fucked up ang definitely against the rules, but the punishment is worse than that of other players who have committed felonies and harmed people. Nobody knows but the players, but I can't see the majority of the payouts being for injuries. Big plays, hits, forced fumbles, and interceptions yes, but I highly doubt they were just paying for injuries. I would like to know the percent of payouts for injuries vs other hard hits or fumbles/ints.

Oh, the best may be yet to come - He's let it to DeMaurice Smith to consider in-house before he himself decides, and it sure sounds like he's willing to play some more big cards.

I'm betting he's willing to smack some more asses for lying. :)

I hope Smith realizes how much is riding on his union's determination...

[93STLTH]

I think it's bullshit. Way harsher than anything done to plaxico, Vick, the guy that was involved in murdering someone, the pats who actually cheated, etc.

What happened was fucked up ang definitely against the rules, but the punishment is worse than that of other players who have committed felonies and harmed people. Nobody knows but the players, but I can't see the majority of the payouts being for injuries. Big plays, hits, forced fumbles, and interceptions yes, but I highly doubt they were just paying for injuries. I would like to know the percent of payouts for injuries vs other hard hits or fumbles/ints.

When it's been proven that Johnathan Vilma slapped $10,000 down on a table for anyone who knocked Favre out of the playoff game, and the team didn't do anything about it, it becomes a pay for injuries situation.

[bluefox1081]

No way, IMO anyway, paying players to possibly cripple people is way worse than reading lips. Call me crazy though.

Bellichek wasn't reading lips, he was recording (with sound) signals. There's rules that say you're not allowed to do that. It gave his team an unfair competitive advantage. Paying players to knock someone out of the game doesn't give you an edge...in fact, it could hurt your chance to win. He was basically offering payment for doing what the players try to do anyway.

[bluefox1081]

When it's been proven that Johnathan Vilma slapped $10,000 down on a table for anyone who knocked Favre out of the playoff game, and the team didn't do anything about it, it becomes a pay for injuries situation.
Do you really think the defense wasn't already trying to knock Favre out of the game? Professional athletes play at 100% all the time...so do you think a $10,000 incentive would somehow give them the ability to play faster and hit harder? Do you think they'd be willing to sacrafice losing the game because of a late or illegal hit that could penalize them, just so they could make $10,000? Let alone the possibility of getting slapped with a fine that would eat up the bounty plus some of their paycheck?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make it sound as if what they did wasn't wrong...because it was. But I think that when it comes down to the integrity of the game, what the Patriots did had a far greater impact. Because in essence, the players were getting bounties for doing what they're going to do anyway. And injuries happen in football all the time, so it'd be next to impossible to associate injuries with bounties.

[j2k4]

...injuries happen in football all the time, so it'd be next to impossible to associate injuries with bounties.

Which makes what the Saints did particularly stupid.

[HilbillyHomeboy]

If you've ever listened to anything Goodell has said, you would know this kind of shit is at the top of his list. He has zero tolerance for illegal hits. Throw in the franchise/players offering up money for injuries, and you get this.

Jeremy

[VR-4 0wnz j00]

Thats what they get for taking out numerous Panther players...

[zelstin]

If you've ever listened to anything Goodell has said, you would know this kind of shit is at the top of his list. He has zero tolerance for illegal hits. Throw in the franchise/players offering up money for injuries, and you get this.

Jeremy

The Saints should have been punished but Goodell's sentence was too severe for something that didn't change the outcome of games.

I don't like dirty hits, but Goodell's definition of "illegal" has gotten way too broad. He's a damn tyrant that never played football past high school.

Good (biased) Article
NFL Fans Can't Fight Tammany Hall: Commissioner Roger Goodell Running a Monopoly | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1114868-nfl-fans-cant-fight-tammany-hall-commissioner-roger-goodell-running-a-monopoly)

[tabasco122]

Also, how many of the hits that were paid out for we're actually flagged illegal hits? I'd be willing to bet hardly any of them. I mean I'm not blindly defending my team, I realize what was done is wrong and I'm kinda ashamed of it, but at the same time the punishment is way too harsh. I mean from other punishments in the past, it seems like the team could have gotten off easier if the entire dline gangraped a minor...

[HilbillyHomeboy]

The Saints should have been punished but Goodell's sentence was too severe for something that didn't change the outcome of games.

I don't like dirty hits, but Goodell's definition of "illegal" has gotten way too broad. He's a damn tyrant that never played football past high school.

Good (biased) Article
NFL Fans Can't Fight Tammany Hall: Commissioner Roger Goodell Running a Monopoly | Bleacher Report (http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1114868-nfl-fans-cant-fight-tammany-hall-commissioner-roger-goodell-running-a-monopoly)


Also, how many of the hits that were paid out for we're actually flagged illegal hits? I'd be willing to bet hardly any of them. I mean I'm not blindly defending my team, I realize what was done is wrong and I'm kinda ashamed of it, but at the same time the punishment is way too harsh. I mean from other punishments in the past, it seems like the team could have gotten off easier if the entire dline gangraped a minor...

THIS IS HOW GOODELL ROLLS. There shouldn't be anyone surprised by the punishment. Good luck Saints, looks like you'll be his new pet project now, rather than the Steelers(i'm not a steelers fan, but he sure has had them in his sights for quite a while). If he had his way, the game would be reduced to less than flag football.

Jeremy

[HilbillyHomeboy]

http://couchfiresports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/efa2dfbaa648749706881e0db6261b42.jpg

[onebadmollafolla]

http://couchfiresports.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/efa2dfbaa648749706881e0db6261b42.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/06hE1.gif

[stealthee]

Do you really think the defense wasn't already trying to knock Favre out of the game? Professional athletes play at 100% all the time...so do you think a $10,000 incentive would somehow give them the ability to play faster and hit harder? Do you think they'd be willing to sacrafice losing the game because of a late or illegal hit that could penalize them, just so they could make $10,000? Let alone the possibility of getting slapped with a fine that would eat up the bounty plus some of their paycheck?

Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to make it sound as if what they did wasn't wrong...because it was. But I think that when it comes down to the integrity of the game, what the Patriots did had a far greater impact. Because in essence, the players were getting bounties for doing what they're going to do anyway. And injuries happen in football all the time, so it'd be next to impossible to associate injuries with bounties.

There is a HUGE difference between trying to hit someone hard, and trying to take them out of the game. I've seen several times where a Linebacker absolutely blew a QB up, then turned around and helped him up.

To try to actually say what they were doing okay, because people get tackled every play is beyond retarded

[zelstin]

There is a HUGE difference between trying to hit someone hard, and trying to take them out of the game.

No, its a lot smaller than you think. From high school on, most defensive players think putting someone on the sideline is a positive play. From when the ball snaps to the whistle, its war.

[JasonY]

Its not even that imo. Its the fact that Goodell told them to stop 3 years ago but didnt have enough evidence to do anything about it at the time. They continued to do it for 3 more years...Goodell layeth the smackdown...

Jason

[j2k4]

Its not even that imo. Its the fact that Goodell told them to stop 3 years ago but didnt have enough evidence to do anything about it at the time. They continued to do it for 3 more years...Goodell layeth the smackdown...

Jason

Bingo.

And he hasn't started on the players yet.

DeMaurice Smith had better be awfully circumspect - and honest - with Goodell.

[j2k4]

Audiotape captures NFL coach urging players to injure opponents | Fox News (http://www.foxnews.com/sports/2012/04/05/audio-tape-captures-nfl-coach-urging-players-to-injure-opponents/?intcmp=features)