Saints caught running "bounty" program that awarded injuring players

[thegimp03]

I laughed at one of the ESPN comments earlier..."Who dat gonna coach dem Saints?"

 

[mugs]

I think the punishment wasn't quite severe enough. The Saints should have lost a first round draft pick in there somewhere as well. Sean Payton being suspended for a year is adequate to me, not too much and not too little. Maybe with Payton gone the Saints will learn to have some class ... but I doubt it.

For sure. They lost LESS value in draft picks than the Patriots. The other punishments will just hurt them this year, improving their draft position next year. Moving up in the first round could benefit them more than losing a second rounder hurts them.

Saints fans need to quit their bitching. In all likelihood they'll have one bad year as a result of this, and even that won't be too bad.

 

[KMFJD]

no

there is a difference between knocking him on his ass and knocking him out of the game. That is what has everyone upset.

that and the whole circumventing the salary cap thing

 

[Balt]

I think the punishment wasn't quite severe enough. The Saints should have lost a first round draft pick in there somewhere as well. Sean Payton being suspended for a year is adequate to me, not too much and not too little. Maybe with Payton gone the Saints will learn to have some class ... but I doubt it.

They are basically having the Saints forfeit an entire season, which is what the effect of banning a head coach will be. I disagree that that isn't "severe enough"

 

[Corporate Thug]

For sure. They lost LESS value in draft picks than the Patriots. The other punishments will just hurt them this year, improving their draft position next year. Moving up in the first round could benefit them more than losing a second rounder hurts them.

Saints fans need to quit their bitching. In all likelihood they'll have one bad year as a result of this, and even that won't be too bad.

if they sign Brees, they'll make it to playoffs this year. Brees knows that offense too well and can call plays...like Vilma does on D.

 

[Corporate Thug]

They are basically having the Saints forfeit an entire season, which is what the effect of banning a head coach will be. I disagree that that isn't "severe enough"

I don't think this season is lost at all.

 

[Fingolfin269]

They are basically having the Saints forfeit an entire season, which is what the effect of banning a head coach will be. I disagree that that isn't "severe enough"

I would agree with you if this were college football. Not so much in the pros.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

if they sign Brees, they'll make it to playoffs this year. Brees knows that offense too well and can call plays...like Vilma does on D.

Vilma is probably going to get hit with some penalties as well.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Huge and too harsh of a penalty. Everyone knew it was going on. Listening to the radio tonight, it was talked about how other coaches and teams knew about.

One example was when NE played the Saints a few years ago and the Saints were beating NE badly, Belichick pulled Brady early in the 3rd quarter. Belichick never pulls Brady early, especially when they're losing. The radio hosts talked about how Belichick must have known there was probably a bounty on Brady.

 

[Glitchny]

For sure. They lost LESS value in draft picks than the Patriots. The other punishments will just hurt them this year, improving their draft position next year. Moving up in the first round could benefit them more than losing a second rounder hurts them.

Saints fans need to quit their bitching. In all likelihood they'll have one bad year as a result of this, and even that won't be too bad.

Eh the reason they didn't lose a 1st rounder is because they don't have one this year, they traded it to the Pats. So now their 1st pick of the draft is in the 3rd round.

Losing the coach is a big deal, they also lost the GM for the first half of the season which could effect trades/signings.

 

[LegendKiller]

Not harsh enough. Peyton didn't just know, he participated. I think that family that is suing the NFL b/c brain injury is going to have a field day.

 

[Gibson486]

Huge and too harsh of a penalty. Everyone knew it was going on. Listening to the radio tonight, it was talked about how other coaches and teams knew about.

One example was when NE played the Saints a few years ago and the Saints were beating NE badly, Belichick pulled Brady early in the 3rd quarter. Belichick never pulls Brady early, especially when they're losing. The radio hosts talked about how Belichick must have known there was probably a bounty on Brady.

I remember that game...it will forever be known as the game that fullly exposed how bad that defense was.....

 

[Dedpuhl]

I'm sure many (if not most) teams have some sort of "bounty" program. The sAints deserve every bit of punishment they have coming their way. They were dumb enough to organize it, keep records of it, hide it, lie about it and get caught. Fuck 'em all.

It amazes me what people are willing to do to one another in order to win a game...

 

[Imported]

Should have been first round instead of the second for next year IMO.

 

[SillyOReilly]

They are basically having the Saints forfeit an entire season, which is what the effect of banning a head coach will be. I disagree that that isn't "severe enough"

Really?

How irrational are you?

 

[Tim]

Should have been first round instead of the second for next year IMO.

It's a good thing your opinion doesn't count for shit then.

The punishment was way too harsh. Had it been New England, or some other high profile team in the north east, it would have been a little tiny slap on the wrist instead of what the Saints just got.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

It's a good thing your opinion doesn't count for shit then.

Well, as I told you earlier, none of our opinions matter and only Goodell's opinion matters since he is the one that actually does have the power to do something. I think you kind of laughed it off when I said it, but I guess I was right, eh?

The punishment was way too harsh. Had it been New England, or some other high profile team in the north east, it would have been a little tiny slap on the wrist instead of what the Saints just got.

I don't really think that's true. I think the first team caught doing something like this would've been crucified as well in order to make a very clear example of what happens when you have an illegal program like this one. Keep in mind, the severity of the penalty was also directly related to the fact that the Saints lied to the NFL about the existence of this program. Had they come clean, there would've been suspensions and fines but probably nothing like the penalties that were eventually levied against them.

 

[Tim]

Whatever man... it's becoming a pussified version of the sport I grew up watching, and it makes me sick. The nanny-state mentality, now on the grid iron! Goodell really is a man of the times.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

Whatever man... it's becoming a pussified version of the sport I grew up watching, and it makes me sick. The nanny-state mentality, now on the grid iron! Goodell really is a man of the times.

Whether or not that's true or we agree/disagree, I would think that if the owners were really against Goodell's policies, they'd move to replace him. I don't see that happening since the NFL is rolling in money right now. Of course, I think a chimpanzee could probably run the league and it would still make money by the truckload.

 

[Tim]

the NFL is rolling in money right now. Of course, I think a chimpanzee could probably run the league and it would still make money by the truckload.

You're probably right. Oh well, at least I'm not a Jets fan... what a joke those guys are.

 

[Phokus]

It's a good thing your opinion doesn't count for shit then.

The punishment was way too harsh. Had it been New England, or some other high profile team in the north east, it would have been a little tiny slap on the wrist instead of what the Saints just got.

Yes, the superbowl winning, feel good story after katrina Saints are not a 'high profile' team.

The reason why they got such a harsh penalty isn't really because of the Bounty system... and it's not even really because they continued to do it even after Goodell told them to stop back in 2010, it's because Payton lied/covered it up afterwards.

Edit: I bet having a convicted felon who isn't even an employee of the team putting money in the pot had a lot to do with the 'extra' punishment as well.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I don't really think that's true. I think the first team caught doing something like this would've been crucified as well in order to make a very clear example of what happens when you have an illegal program like this one. Keep in mind, the severity of the penalty was also directly related to the fact that the Saints lied to the NFL about the existence of this program. Had they come clean, there would've been suspensions and fines but probably nothing like the penalties that were eventually levied against them.

Serious? The only issue is that they were warned to stop and they didn't, just like NE. But just like NE, this has been going on for a long time by many teams, as well as college and high school. Other teams and coaches know it, it's just an issue now b/c a snitch decided to leak it to the public and everyone is OMG.

If people only knew half of what really goes in between coaches, GMs, players, etc in regards to showmanship and ways to gain an edge.

Like I said, looking back, it was pretty obvious in the NE/NO game that Belichick knew about the bounty on TB or he wouldn't have pulled him so early in the game. If you remember, Buddy Ryan also used to have such a program but nobody cared back then.

If people want to cry, here's a google search on Buddy Ryan Bounty System - https://www.google.com/search?q=bud...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

From this link, include the Packers and Ravens. Oh noes!
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ty-system-probe-is-wellworn-territory-for-nfl

"Every team does it," Billick said on "The Dan Patrick Show." "Now, to go out and talk publicly about it is about as foolish a thing as I've ever heard."

 

[Tim]

Serious? The only issue is that they were warned to stop and they didn't, just like NE. But just like NE, this has been going on for a long time by many teams, as well as college and high school. Other teams and coaches know it, it's just an issue now b/c a snitch decided to leak it to the public and everyone is OMG.

If people only knew half of what really goes in between coaches, GMs, players, etc in regards to showmanship and ways to gain an edge.

Like I said, looking back, it was pretty obvious in the NE/NO game that Belichick knew about the bounty on TB or he wouldn't have pulled him so early in the game. If you remember, Buddy Ryan also used to have such a program but nobody cared back then.

If people want to cry, here's a google search on Buddy Ryan Bounty System - https://www.google.com/search?q=bud...s=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a

From this link, include the Packers and Ravens. Oh noes!
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000...ty-system-probe-is-wellworn-territory-for-nfl

Capt Caveman... You are THE man.

 

[rchiu]

The Saint actually did not got hit that hard. 2 second rounder, could be recovered in free agent market. Lost of Sean Payton for a year, well the system is in place, players pretty much know what to do already, and you always have other coaches on the side line. Plus I am sure Drew Brees knows a thing or two about football without the head coach telling him exactly what to do.

Payton got hit the worst. 1 year of salary, like 7 million, ouch.....

I agree with NFL's action. They had to hand out tough punishment, no if and buts. This is not simply bending rules, this putting other player's health, body and life as well as livelihood at risk. NFL gotta send a message, this cannot go on, period.

 

[Phokus]

The Saint actually did not got hit that hard. 2 second rounder, could be recovered in free agent market. Lost of Sean Payton for a year, well the system is in place, players pretty much know what to do already, and you always have other coaches on the side line. Plus I am sure Drew Brees knows a thing or two about football without the head coach telling him exactly what to do.

Payton got hit the worst. 1 year of salary, like 7 million, ouch.....

I agree with NFL's action. They had to hand out tough punishment, no if and buts. This is not simply bending rules, this putting other player's health, body and life as well as livelihood at risk. NFL gotta send a message, this cannot go on, period.

Actually losing Payton is really bad for the Saints, i think he's the offensive playcaller for them... not too many HC's also do play calling.