Saints Defense maintained a Bounty Program

[Leftwich]

NFL security determined between 22 and 27 defensive players on the Saints, as well as at least one asst. coach, maintained a bounty program.

Per Adam Schefter

So i'm assuming this was Greg Williams' doing.

 

[EmpireWF]

Who couldn't keep their mouth shut?

 

[Colts44]

Somewhat surprised that it went all the way up to the GM. Benson telling them to quit and not doing so can't set well as well.

 

[steeljake]

and? who fucking cares. shits been going on since before women could vote. they took out the hits, now just leave this shit alone...

 

[KNUBB]

Guess no one collected the bounty on Vernon Davis :facepalm:

 

[jaxjaggywires]

Guess no one collected the bounty on Vernon Davis :facepalm:

:knubb:

 

[SHOGUN]

Well that certainly puts that Kurt Warner hit from the 2010 playoffs in perspective....

:smh:

 

[FirstTimer]

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/...ty-payments-for-injuring-opponents-NFL-030212

The New Orleans Saints face heavy punishment for implementing an illegal "bounty" system whereby players were offered cash incentives for injuring opponents, the NFL announced Friday.



The Saints' cash pool reportedly awarded $1,500 for knocking out an opposing player and $1,000 for inflicting an injury resulting in an opponent getting carted off the field.

As many as 27 players are said to have participated.

"The league's investigation determined that this improper 'Pay for Performance' program included 'bounty' payments to players for inflicting injuries on opposing players that would result in them being removed from a game," the NFL said in a statement.

"The players regularly contributed cash into a pool and received improper cash payments of two kinds from the pool based on their play in the previous week's game."

The league said commissioner Roger Goodell would determine the punishment for breaking rules prohibiting bounty payments. The penalty could include suspensions, fines or forfeiture of draft picks, according to multiple reports.



"The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for 'performance,' but also for injuring opposing players," Goodell said. "The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity."

The NFL began its investigation into the alleged payments in 2010 after the Saints were accused of targeting quarterbacks Kurt Warner and Brett Favre during New Orleans' run to Super Bowl XLIV.

According to the league, 22 to 27 defensive players on the Saints' roster participated in the payout program, which was implemented by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams with the knowledge of the rest of the defensive coaching staff.

Saints head coach Sean Payton was not a direct participant in the payouts, but was aware of the allegations and did not inquire about or attempt to stop the program, according to the NFL.



Williams left the Saints this offseason to join the St. Louis Rams' staff with new head coach Jeff Fisher.

Saints owner Tom Benson issued a statement Friday saying, "I have been made aware of the NFL's findings relative to the 'Bounty Rule' and how it relates to our club.

"I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans."

 

[MrBill]

Is anybody shocked by this? The hits on Warner and Favre in 2010 were obviously borderline if not blatantly illegal at times during the games. There was lots of chatter about a bounty program in place during the playoffs that year. Lazy investigation to take 2 years to prove what we already knew.

 

[RainboUnicorn]

Goodell is fining players $20,000 for spur of the moment in game hits. I wonder how bad his punishment will be for something like this.

 

[Bigpapa42]

Interested to see what kind of punishment the NFL has lined up here.

 

[EmpireWF]

They have to be losing multiple draft picks over this.

 

[Bigpapa42]

They have to be losing multiple draft picks over this.

If the NFL is serious about it, yeah, kinda what I was thinking too. Giving the team a monetary fine doesn't mean much, really. Not unless its massive. But draft picks mean more.

 

[Realist]

Guess no one collected the bounty on Vernon Davis :facepalm:

 

[Houston]

Kick em out of the league.



http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-game-highlights/09000d5d815f15c5/Favre-INT-and-injury

 

[Bigpapa42]

I'm thinking bowl ban and dock some scholarships for lack of institutional control?

...oh wait....

 

[EmpireWF]

Clayton on Twitter was talking about how if they take picks away, it will be worse than spygate because this lasted for 3 years. Plus, b/c NE has their 1st round pick this year, the Saints may be forced to give up a future first rounder plus whatever this year.

All conjecture at this point tho.

 

[Warner2BruceTD]

Well that certainly puts that Kurt Warner hit from the 2010 playoffs in perspective....

:smh:

Is anybody shocked by this? The hits on Warner and Favre in 2010 were obviously borderline if not blatantly illegal at times during the games. There was lots of chatter about a bounty program in place during the playoffs that year. Lazy investigation to take 2 years to prove what we already knew.

Yup.

The "legal" hit on Warner was dirty and something we've talked about here, and they've taken tons of cheap shots over the years on guys, from Favre in the NFCC game, to Steve Smith last year.

I've never like Greg Williams and did not want the Rams to hire that cretin to begin with, now we have to deal with this mess. He'll be suspended, along with Payton, and the Saints will lose picks and probably be fined an unreal amount.

 

[Epidemik]

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the NFL has determined that MLB Jonathan Vilma was one of the primary culprits in the Saints' "pay for performance" bounty program that will result in NFL discipline.
"In the week of the NFC Championship Game," Schefter said on NFL Live Friday, "Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma put $10,000 in cash on a table and said 'this goes to the guy that knocks out Brett Favre.'" Those weren't Vilma's exact words, but they were similar, according to Schefter, and he's sure to be atop the league's target list for impending discipline. It's worth nothing that Vilma is due $5.4 million in 2012 and has been discussed as a possible salary cap casualty. We wouldn't expect him back with the Saints. Mar 2 - 4:19 PM

.

 

[Epidemik]

speculation

BobGlauber: Saints bounty system: players paid $1,500 for "knockout," $1,000 for a “cart-off,” per NFL investigation. Payments increased in playoffs.