Goodell Drops The Hammer!

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The New Orleans Saints received the equivalent of what the NCAA calls the death penalty yesterday when Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, unleashed the penalties for what has become known as Bountygate.  For the last three years, the Saints have placed bounties on opposing team players funded by voluntary contributions of team members.  The bounty program was directed by the Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams, who has since moved on to join the staff of the St. Louis Rams.  His penalty has followed him.

Williams was suspended indefinitely from the NFL, effective immediately.  Saints Head Coach Sean Payton has been suspended without pay for the 2012 NFL season, effective April 1.  Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season.  Additionally, Assistant Head Coach, Joe Vitt has been suspended for the first six regular-season games of the 2012 season without pay.  The organization has been fined $500,000 and will forfeit their selections in the second round of the 2012 and 2013 NFL drafts.

By all accounts, these are the stiffest NFL penalties ever assessed an NFL team.   The suspension of Head Coach Sean Payton is a first in NFL history.  No coach has even been suspended for even one game.  Gregg Williams who was suspended indefinitely will receive a review of his suspension at the conclusion of the 2012 NFL season.  All of these penalties are specific to the organization and management of the NFL Club.  The other shoe which will surely drop soon is player penalties and suspensions. 

John Vilma will certainly be one of the players receiving significant penalties.  Vilma, the Saints defensive captain, offered $10,000 to any player who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010.  Similar bounties were placed on quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton and Kurt Warner.  The front office and coaching staff were informed by the NFL to stop the bounty program on several occasions as early as the 2010 season and yet the program continued. 

Commissioner Goodell stated in his report, "We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game.  We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities.  No one is above the game or the rules that govern it.  Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised."

Goodell further stated, "A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious.  When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game."

I believe Roger Goodell's stern and forceful action in penalizing the team, management and coaches was appropriate.  Severe for sure but I really believe the penalties are in the best interest of the game.  Most folks have always respected the NFL for maintaining higher standards than other professional sports.  Significantly better than Major League Baseball and much stronger than the NBA.  The penalties crush the Saints and will damage them significantly for at least two-three years going forward.  I believe as the commissioner stated, these actions by the Saints and their coaches were egregious.   They should be severely punished.

The penalties coming to the players who were involved will seal the deal.  Look for fines and game suspensions.  The message the commissioner is sending is a clear one.  Bounties in the NFL will disappear and the game that has come to be the favorite of most Americans will continue forward in a positive light.  Congratulations to Roger Goodell for doing the hard but right thing.