Sean Payton suspended 1 year (1 Viewer)

[Sinn Fein]

The excessive penalties against the Saints now put them at a competitive disadvantage for infractions that did not result in a competitive advantage.

This is how Goodell rolls. He's been suspending players for off field stuff for years. Whether anyone gets an advantage is irrelevant. How it impacts on image is all that really matters.

I think he had to do this to keep credibility with the players. Vilma should be well-rested for the 2nd half of the season (or OTAs next year )

 

[Tom Hagen]

The suspension of Payton for 1 year is excessive. The other penalties (Loomis - 8 games; Vitt - 6 games; Williams - indefinite; loss of 2 #2 draft picks) seem reasonable, but the sanction against Sean Payton is really heavy.

New Orleans Times-Picayune

It feels to me like Payton is taking some of the 'hit' for Williams.. since williams isn't on the NO coaching staff anymore, his suspension isn't one that will hurt the franchise..I think that if Williams was still on staff..Payton would have gotten off a bit easier..

As the details of the evidence against the Saints becomes public, I predict that the relationship between Payton and Mike Ornstein will be one of the main reasons for the severity of the penalty against Sean Payton. I think there is a good chance that Williams is done as an NFL coach, which is also a pretty harsh sanction.

I agree with the bolded. I think the involvement of a convicted felon like Ornstein and the fact the team lied to the NFL in 2010 and continued the bounty program has a lot to do with the severity of the punishment.

 

[cr8f]

Wow....wow....just wow.Goodell is a god (so he thinks).This has been going on for decades.

Not according to their investigation. Some goes on but handled by the coaching staff?Trying to hurt other players is over the top.

 

[rail]

Absolutely absurd.

 

[Todem]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players. Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated. By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

It has been for 50 years.Seriously...LOL.No doubt they should be punished....but 1 year, and a ban for life. Wow. A tad excessive IMO. You can nip it by giving 4-6 game suspensions, huge fines, draft picks taken away. But a lifetime ban is excessive for something that is widely known to have been going on for decades.

 

[Black Box]

Poor Rams.

 

[Abspara]

Good call by the NFL

This kind of behavior needs to stop in this day and age.

Saints got caught doing something that was against the rules. Now they have to deal with the consequences.

 

[Truman]

I thought I was going to be in the minority in thinking that this is excessive, but it looks like I'm not. This strikes me as being way too much considering how lightly NE got off when they were caught blatantly cheating.

This is beyond cheating, the NFL is trying to promote player safety to implement the 18 game season and this needed to be done to show that they're in the camp of player safety.

Also the fact they were told to stop on multiple occasions and kept doing it seems like it really pissed off the headmaster.

 

[LarryAllen'sJockstrap]

Wow....wow....just wow.

Goodell is a god (so he thinks).

This has been going on for decades.

I don't think it's so much about what the players did, as much as it was the participation/lack of action to prevent it by management.For the overall organization, I think they got off okay. Losing Payton for 2012 hurts, but losing a couple of 1st round picks, as opposed to the 2nds they did would have had a far greater long term impact. I think suspending Payton for an entire season really could be a good deterrant for team management staying clean on this in the future. Coaches are going to think twice now before allowing/promoting bounties if they are afraid for their own jobs. They would have been a lot more likely to continue if the team had just lost a couple of picks and gottena fine.

 

[cr8f]

The excessive penalties against the Saints now put them at a competitive disadvantage for infractions that did not result in a competitive advantage.

I dont know about this. I think they way they went after Brett Favre was the reason they won that game and gave them a Super Bowl. They played over the edge and it showed with some results. There O was still potent though

Sure they went after Favre, but the bounties did not give them a competitive advantage over the Vikings in that game. Most of the hits on Favre were perfectly legal.

Seriously? I think knocking him on his #### over and over did affect competition in that game.

 

[duaneok66]

Good call by the NFLThis kind of behavior needs to stop in this day and age.Saints got caught doing something that was against the rules. Now they have to deal with the consequences.

"consequences, consequences, as long as I'm rich . . ."

 

[Sebowski]

Watching the coverage on The Network. They're showing a montage of big hits by the Saints D, and ALL THE HITS ARE CLEAN!

 

[GroveDiesel]

People seem to forget that this isn't the first go around between the Saints and the league office on this. They told them to knock it off a couple of years and ago and the Saints said they took care of it. Then the league finds out that it's still going on 2 years later.

THAT'S one of the major reasons the penalty is so harsh. As bad as New England was and as much as I thought they got off lightly (especially BB), the Patriots weren't specifically warned by the league about it before. If the Patriots got busted for illegally taping opponents this year, you can bet we'd see the same types of penalties. So in that regard, you could actually argue that the Saints got off lightly compared to the Pats since they didn't get punished at all the first time around.

And again, you have to remember that former players are currently suing the NFL because they claim the NFL didn't do enough to protect their safety while they played. If the NFL stood by and did nothing or gave a slap on the wrist for this, how much bigger would the lawsuits against the NFL be from Favre and other guys hurt while playing against the Saints?

 

[rizzler]

Didn't Payton just sign with the Broncos?

 

[Stinkin Ref]

in the past....not neccessarily under this regime.....many suspensions get reduced after appeal...I wonder if that will be the case here....

16 games down to 10 or something.....?

 

[B-Deep]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players. Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated. By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

It has been for 50 years.Seriously...LOL.No doubt they should be punished....but 1 year, and a ban for life. Wow. A tad excessive IMO. You can nip it by giving 4-6 game suspensions, huge fines, draft picks taken away. But a lifetime ban is excessive for something that is widely known to have been going on for decades.

how much will go on now?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Wow....wow....just wow.

Goodell is a god (so he thinks).

This has been going on for decades.

I don't think it's so much about what the players did, as much as it was the participation/lack of action to prevent it by management.For the overall organization, I think they got off okay. Losing Payton for 2012 hurts, but losing a couple of 1st round picks, as opposed to the 2nds they did would have had a far greater long term impact. I think suspending Payton for an entire season really could be a good deterrant for team management staying clean on this in the future. Coaches are going to think twice now before allowing/promoting bounties if they are afraid for their own jobs. They would have been a lot more likely to continue if the team had just lost a couple of picks and gottena fine.

Excellent post Larry, only thing I would add is that those 2nd round picks might sting a little less than the 1st but they still hurt plenty. Anyone want to weigh in if this helps or hurts the Brees negotiations? He will essentially be running the offense mostly on his own...seems critical to make him happy and let him concentrate on the season now.

 

[Deamon]

Is this excessive? Yes. Did it NEED to be excessive? Yes.

I can't see this continuing to happen after these came down like this. If the penalties were lighter, maybe 2 best friends on a team might have had their own bounty going. But now, with this, with SO MUCH to lose if you're caught, you can't even trust ANYONE to keep it under wraps and a secret. I bet all players and coaches will be so terrified of this that there won't be any of it at all going on behind the scenes. I feel bad for the Saints taking the hit for what a lot of other teams probably do, but the message was sent and this behaviour is likely done now.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

Saints coach Sean Payton was shocked to find out today that he has been banished from the NFL for the entire 2012 season for his team’s bounty scandal.

Jay Glazer said on NFL Network that he interviewed Payton immediately after the news came down, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell’s punishment is far more severe than Payton was expecting.

“I did talk to him and he’s stunned to say the least,” Glazer said. “I think the entire team thought maybe there’d be a four-game suspension, but not a year. I said, ‘Are you OK?’ And he said, ‘No, I’m not OK.’ He is stunned. He’s going to lose about $8 million. He is beside himself here.”

Glazer reports that Payton’s plan for the four-game suspension he had braced himself for was to have assistant head coach/linebackers coach Joe Vitt take over as interim head coach while Payton served the suspension. But that plan is now out the window because Vitt has been suspended six games for his own role in the bounty scandal.

The Saints may now have either offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael or former Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo, who was slated to replace Gregg Williams as defensive coordinator, step in as the head coach.

Whoa. $8 million?

 

[massraider]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players. Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated. By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

It has been for 50 years.Seriously...LOL.No doubt they should be punished....but 1 year, and a ban for life. Wow. A tad excessive IMO. You can nip it by giving 4-6 game suspensions, huge fines, draft picks taken away. But a lifetime ban is excessive for something that is widely known to have been going on for decades.

LOL doesn't constitute proof, or even a coherent argument. And if you are telling me that cash incentives for injuries has been going on for 50 years, I would say that it isn't true. You believe this, you must have proof. If it was as common as you say, then the fact that all the coaches lied has me confused as well. For such a common occurrence, why would they lie?

 

[Silver & Black]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players. Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated. By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

He was the coach of a team that has admitted having a team sanctioned policy of trying to injure an opponent's players. He admitted knowing about it. I can't think of a more deserving infraction for this harsh penalty. Is it harsh, yes. But IMO, totally deserved.And I think the arguments that everyone else does it or this is much worse than what Bellicheck got for cheating are folly. What Payton and the Saints did stands alone and shouldn't be compared to what other teams or coaches have done.I applaud Goodell for doing what needed to be done knowing full well it would outrage people. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. I have a strong feeling teams won't be doing this particular crime any more.

 

[Todem]

Wow....wow....just wow.

Goodell is a god (so he thinks).

This has been going on for decades.

I don't think it's so much about what the players did, as much as it was the participation/lack of action to prevent it by management.For the overall organization, I think they got off okay. Losing Payton for 2012 hurts, but losing a couple of 1st round picks, as opposed to the 2nds they did would have had a far greater long term impact. I think suspending Payton for an entire season really could be a good deterrant for team management staying clean on this in the future. Coaches are going to think twice now before allowing/promoting bounties if they are afraid for their own jobs. They would have been a lot more likely to continue if the team had just lost a couple of picks and gottena fine.

Well it will make every team make sure this is not going on. So in that regard the message is loud and clear. There is no place in sports for this kind of crap. I still think it was excessive. I think we know Payton was just caught in a situation that was under his leadership....but he may not have known about the extent of what was going on. I don't know to be honest. Williams...a year suspension to me would have been just. A lifetime ban is very harsh.

Unfortunately it's a culture thing in the NFL. This type of culture has been in the game for so long it became the norm among players. When coaches are involved....yeah then your really getting hairy. But among players....these guys..most of them are insane when they play football. Normal off the field...but on the field? Total nut bars. They are out to hurt you and hurt you badly.

It's a shame. The game has become more violent than ever. Goodell is trying to water the game down. And he has with all the new rules, fines, excessive flags.

It's a fine balance. People claim they want the violence and injuries toned down....yet most love it when they see that nice clean monster hit of a FS bearing down on a crossing WR.

And how can the league expect a full speed defensive back or LB to all of a sudden hold up on hittng a guy crossing the middle? They get paid to hit them...and hit them hard and seperate them from the ball. It's taught at the pop warner level.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Didn't Payton just sign with the Broncos?

That story is old for today...we got the Saints getting the death penalty, Tebow to New York, it's the end of the World.

 

[wadegarrett]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players. Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated. By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

He was the coach of a team that has admitted having a team sanctioned policy of trying to injure an opponent's players. He admitted knowing about it. I can't think of a more deserving infraction for this harsh penalty. Is it harsh, yes. But IMO, totally deserved.And I think the arguments that everyone else does it or this is much worse than what Bellicheck got for cheating are folly. What Payton and the Saints did stands alone and shouldn't be compared to what other teams or coaches have done.I applaud Goodell for doing what needed to be done knowing full well it would outrage people. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. I have a strong feeling teams won't be doing this particular crime any more.

On board here.

 

[GregR]

The amount the team was fined and the draft picks lost aren't surprising. I was expecting $500-$750k range, and loss of a 1st and a middle pick like a 3 or 4. Two 2nd round picks pretty close in value, especially as they don't have a 1st to give this year so that wasn't an option.

With past punishments as a guide I was thinking no more than 2 games for Payton, around 6-8 games for Williams. These suspensions are surprising to me, but mostly because they signal that the NFL has maybe realized that fines are not viewed by the players and staff as a very big penalty... that what they really want to avoid is missing games. So if they want a punishment with teeth, suspensions make much more sense as a deterrent.

 

[Shutout]

I thought I was going to be in the minority in thinking that this is excessive, but it looks like I'm not. This strikes me as being way too much considering how lightly NE got off when they were caught blatantly cheating.

Not really. Cheating in sports happens in lots of ways and has punishments to rebalance the field (you hold, you lose yards). But this is under the microscope of long-term and potentially deadly health risks and I think anyone who has folloewd the NFl the past few years knew this was going to be MAJOR. I thought Williams would catch it hard and thought Payton would be suspended 4 games and the organization would lose more draft picks. But they punished the Organization less and the people more and that's fair to me because if you hit the team with dire sanctions, then the fans ultimately live with that while the offending people go to other cities. A ton of lost draft picks would set the Saints back forever but the people , not so much. In this instance, he went to the heads of the offenders and cut it off and stuck it on a stake.That is deterence 101. He let every coach in the land know "you do this and we aren't talking about your team losing picks; we are talking about YOU sitting home. I think the commish got it right.

 

[Sabertooth]

I've lost a lot of respect for Payton. I used to feel he was a great motivator and a great coach. Seemed like a really good guy. Turns out he's just a pig.

 

[Rooster]

It's way overboard, but I think that was intended. One of the biggest threats to the game as a whole is the concussions/head trauma angle that keeps coming up and bounty programs just encourage more of those type of injuries (not to mention other injuries that could impact the NFL product negatively). Goodell couldn't tolerate it and the punishment had to be so over the top that it got the attention of any other teams that might doing something similar, especially if it was as widespread as all the fans seem to think it was. There's no doubt that this will not be tolerated by anyone in the future and everyone is on notice about how the NFL feels about this, nobody wants to test how much more over the top Goodell will go against a team that does this in the future.

So I guess I think it's excessively punishing the organization, but I can see why the NFL would handle it that way.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

People might not think much of Spags but this will be an excellent chance for him to prove himself with a good team and talent around him...no reason they shouldn't win 10 games. Hard to judge him just based on the Rams.

 

[saintfool]

meh. the message has been sent loud and clear. fine, let's move on...

 

[GregR]

Adding on to my last post, the suspensions might still be a little harsh even accounting for the punishment being in that form rather than as fines.

But that harshness isn't totally devoid of reason. The NFL is trying to change the culture from "win at any cost including by injuring your opponent" to "hit hard, play hard, and don't amp up the injury risk needlessly beyond what already exists in a violent game".

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I've lost a lot of respect for Payton. I used to feel he was a great motivator and a great coach. Seemed like a really good guy. Turns out he's just a pig.

He is and a his ability to bring a Lombardi Trophy home to a city that had been thru so much with Katrina, very little expectations but they won the Super Bowl. Payton is a great coach, just got caught up in a bad situation. Maybe he should have put a stop to it...maybe. Just out of curiosity as we go along with this...any chance Joe Paterno turning a blind eye in many folks eyes...any chance that event might have led Goodell to wanting to make sure coaches do not turn a blind eye to certain things on their football team or programs? I'm reaching here, I know but it just seems so excessive. i don't think he deserved a year off...we have seen far worse in the NFL.

 

[Sabertooth]

It's way overboard, but I think that was intended. One of the biggest threats to the game as a whole is the concussions/head trauma angle that keeps coming up and bounty programs just encourage more of those type of injuries (not to mention other injuries that could impact the NFL product negatively). Goodell couldn't tolerate it and the punishment had to be so over the top that it got the attention of any other teams that might doing something similar, especially if it was as widespread as all the fans seem to think it was. There's no doubt that this will not be tolerated by anyone in the future and everyone is on notice about how the NFL feels about this, nobody wants to test how much more over the top Goodell will go against a team that does this in the future. So I guess I think it's excessively punishing the organization, but I can see why the NFL would handle it that way.

I don't think its overboard at all. Here you had coaches that were actively seeking to undermine the competitive balance of the league. This bounty program goes against the very fabric of competitive sport. I'm glad Goodell did it.

 

[Sabertooth]

I've lost a lot of respect for Payton. I used to feel he was a great motivator and a great coach. Seemed like a really good guy. Turns out he's just a pig.

He is and a his ability to bring a Lombardi Trophy home to a city that had been thru so much with Katrina, very little expectations but they won the Super Bowl. Payton is a great coach, just got caught up in a bad situation. Maybe he should have put a stop to it...maybe. Just out of curiosity as we go along with this...any chance Joe Paterno turning a blind eye in many folks eyes...any chance that event might have led Goodell to wanting to make sure coaches do not turn a blind eye to certain things on their football team or programs? I'm reaching here, I know but it just seems so excessive. i don't think he deserved a year off...we have seen far worse in the NFL.

When you lie and cheat to do it, I can't give respect for that. He's shamed himself and his team. Just what exactly did we see that was far worse in the NFL?

 

[pollardsvision]

I figured it'd be a very harsh penalty.

I don't really think the bounties were a big deal, personally, but laying the hammer makes sense.

As I mentioned in the other thread, I hope Saints fans take time to appreciate the final year of the Brees era.

 

[GregR]

how do you suspend a coach, is it just not allowing him to attend games?

With a player, they are not allowed in the facilities at all, with the possible exception of for medical treatment/rehab. I expect it will be the same with the coach. He won't be allowed any contact with the team during the suspension.

 

[DiStefano]

Lawsuits, baby, lawsuits. The NFL wants to be able to point out in court that they do not tolerate this and that they have harshly punished the evildoers. If you look down the road, with the ongoing concussion lawsuits, and the possible future injury lawsuits, they are covering their butt.

 

[Stinkin Ref]

haven't read anything....any chance the suspension gets reduced on appeal..?

 

[E_Smith]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players.

Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated.

By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

He was the coach of a team that has admitted having a team sanctioned policy of trying to injure an opponent's players. He admitted knowing about it. I can't think of a more deserving infraction for this harsh penalty. Is it harsh, yes. But IMO, totally deserved.

And I think the arguments that everyone else does it or this is much worse than what Bellicheck got for cheating are folly. What Payton and the Saints did stands alone and shouldn't be compared to what other teams or coaches have done.

I applaud Goodell for doing what needed to be done knowing full well it would outrage people. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. I have a strong feeling teams won't be doing this particular crime any more.

Problem with this is that there isn't a set punishment for the crime. This might have been a good move from a policy perspective, but from a fairness perspective its highly suspect, given what current and former players have said about bounty systems.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

I've lost a lot of respect for Payton. I used to feel he was a great motivator and a great coach. Seemed like a really good guy. Turns out he's just a pig.

He is and a his ability to bring a Lombardi Trophy home to a city that had been thru so much with Katrina, very little expectations but they won the Super Bowl. Payton is a great coach, just got caught up in a bad situation. Maybe he should have put a stop to it...maybe. Just out of curiosity as we go along with this...any chance Joe Paterno turning a blind eye in many folks eyes...any chance that event might have led Goodell to wanting to make sure coaches do not turn a blind eye to certain things on their football team or programs? I'm reaching here, I know but it just seems so excessive. i don't think he deserved a year off...we have seen far worse in the NFL.

When you lie and cheat to do it, I can't give respect for that. He's shamed himself and his team. Just what exactly did we see that was far worse in the NFL?

The Giants Linebackers in the 80s including Taylor and Carson used to have bounties...you might want to watch the Theismann leg break a few times, that's always pleasant. Saber, you seem to really dislike the Saints right now. We all know that teams have been doing this, Saints got caught, they are paying the penalty, why do we need to rub it in or act like the team should be disolved?

 

[Disc Shark]

Payton might be forced to file suit against the NFL because of the extreme penalty against him.

 

[David Yudkin]

It makes me wonder if this is a combination punishment for other infractions/issues.

 

[pollardsvision]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players.

Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated.

By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

He was the coach of a team that has admitted having a team sanctioned policy of trying to injure an opponent's players. He admitted knowing about it. I can't think of a more deserving infraction for this harsh penalty. Is it harsh, yes. But IMO, totally deserved.

And I think the arguments that everyone else does it or this is much worse than what Bellicheck got for cheating are folly. What Payton and the Saints did stands alone and shouldn't be compared to what other teams or coaches have done.

I applaud Goodell for doing what needed to be done knowing full well it would outrage people. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. I have a strong feeling teams won't be doing this particular crime any more.

Problem with this is that there isn't a set punishment for the crime. This might have been a good move from a policy perspective, but from a fairness perspective its highly suspect, given what current and former players have said about bounty systems.

There is now.

 

[ArcticEdge]

Reap the whirlwind Saints!!!!!!! REAP IT!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Ministry of Pain]

The 1 year starts April 1st and runs thru march 31st, 2013...that is just brutal because it really screws up the 2012 and part of the 2013 season, both off seasons in disarray, this is really serious stuff. You have to honestly think about a coaching change for now. I wouldn't be shocked if Payton were released. His salary is still paid by Tom Benson IIRC, but it will end up in the hands of charities unless others have different facts.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

 

[GregR]

...

Well it will make every team make sure this is not going on. So in that regard the message is loud and clear. There is no place in sports for this kind of crap. I still think it was excessive. I think we know Payton was just caught in a situation that was under his leadership....but he may not have known about the extent of what was going on. I don't know to be honest. Williams...a year suspension to me would have been just. A lifetime ban is very harsh.

I'd been giving Payton some benefit of the doubt early on. But IIRC, then we heard that Payton's good friend, the convicted felon who was involved in Reggie Bush's NCAA violations at USC, had funded as an outsider some of the bounties and Payton knew about it and the league had confirmation of it in Payton's emails. At that point I think he lost most of that benefit of the doubt for me.

Unfortunately it's a culture thing in the NFL. This type of culture has been in the game for so long it became the norm among players. When coaches are involved....yeah then your really getting hairy. But among players....these guys..most of them are insane when they play football. Normal off the field...but on the field? Total nut bars. They are out to hurt you and hurt you badly.

Combating that kind of win-at-any-costs culture is definitely a big part of this. During the investigation, as the league began to hear it might be more widespread and found evidence of Williams doing the same with other clubs in the past, a comment came out from a league source close to Goodell along the lines of, we realized at that point the whole culture of this needed to change. I posted the exact quote in the other thread, don't feel like digging for it right now.

And how can the league expect a full speed defensive back or LB to all of a sudden hold up on hittng a guy crossing the middle? They get paid to hit them...and hit them hard and seperate them from the ball. It's taught at the pop warner level.

But please don't say this. This is just plain incorrect and a falsehood. The rules don't require a DB or LB to hold off hitting a guy. They require he not aim for the guy's head or neck, and not lead with his helmet. Every week we see dozens of huge hits on defenseless receivers that are perfectly legal under the new rules, and the physics of the hit is just as likely to separate him from the ball... apart from not being as likely to knock him unconscious and give him a concussion.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

haven't read anything....any chance the suspension gets reduced on appeal..?

I doubt it...Goodell doesn't usually do an about face.

 

[E_Smith]

Brutal punishment. Almost as brutal as the practice of offering monetary bonuses for injuring players.

Goodell made an example of Payton, and that sucks, but this needs to be nipped in the bud. The NFL cannot give the impression that this is remotely tolerated.

By the way, for the conspiracy theorists without a shred of proof, if this had been "going on for years", and "everyone was doing it", we would have heard about it, and there would be more investigations. We haven't, there aren't, and that's because everyone is NOT doing this.

He was the coach of a team that has admitted having a team sanctioned policy of trying to injure an opponent's players. He admitted knowing about it. I can't think of a more deserving infraction for this harsh penalty. Is it harsh, yes. But IMO, totally deserved.

And I think the arguments that everyone else does it or this is much worse than what Bellicheck got for cheating are folly. What Payton and the Saints did stands alone and shouldn't be compared to what other teams or coaches have done.

I applaud Goodell for doing what needed to be done knowing full well it would outrage people. If you can't do the time, don't do the crime. I have a strong feeling teams won't be doing this particular crime any more.

Problem with this is that there isn't a set punishment for the crime. This might have been a good move from a policy perspective, but from a fairness perspective its highly suspect, given what current and former players have said about bounty systems.

There is now.

yes, but wouldn't fly in the criminal justice system. ex post facto laws are unconstitutional.

 

[thedudesdude]

Thanks God the Pats lost the superbowl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!