NFL drops hammer on Saints

[MusicMan]

Payton suspended for all of 2012, Gregg Williams suspended "indefinitely", GM Loomis suspended and fined, team loses 2nd round picks in 2012, 2013.

[austro]

Payton suspended for all of 2012, Gregg Williams suspended "indefinitely", GM Loomis suspended and fined, team loses 2nd round picks in 2012, 2013.

That ought to send a message.

[Jacksonian]

Payton suspended for all of 2012, Gregg Williams suspended "indefinitely", GM Loomis suspended and fined, team loses 2nd round picks in 2012, 2013.

If appeals are possible I'd guess only the Payton suspension would be shortened.

Specific player punishments yet to come.  Based on the Payton punishment and what I've read, their MLB Vilma will get a 1 year ban.

[jbm]

Wow.  

I haven't read about this much, and therefore have no sense if the punishment fits the crime, but it is kind of fascinating how seriously the NFL enforces its code.  They are kind of an outlier in our society.

[Mr. Happy]

Aa head coach, Payton should have known about the system, which I blame totally on Williams. What's funny about it is that the porous Saints defense really didn't hit too many players hard and gave up a lot of points and yards. However, the league really can't condone this behavior, and I agree that punishments were necessary. And this is coming from a die-hard Saints fan.

[austro]

the porous Saints defense really didn't hit too many players hard and gave up a lot of points and yards.

One wonders if they gave up the yards because they were trying to blow people up rather than trying to simply tackle them.

[Jacksonian]

One wonders if they gave up the yards because they were trying to blow people up rather than trying to simply tackle them.

This.

[Mr. Happy]

One wonders if they gave up the yards because they were trying to blow people up rather than trying to simply tackle them.

In the games that I was able to watch this season (five of them), I didn't notice anything untoward or any basic tackling problems, but I'm no authority on football (or anything else for that matter).

[Jacksonian]

Wow.  

I haven't read about this much, and therefore have no sense if the punishment fits the crime, but it is kind of fascinating how seriously the NFL enforces its code.  They are kind of an outlier in our society.

Out of control.

[juliogotay]

Goodell doesn't mess around. I respect him for it.

[NeilT]

Goodell doesn't mess around. I respect him for it.

Selig doesn't mess around either.

[MusicMan]

Selig doesn't mess around either.

No, Selig just doesn't give reacharound.

[Bench]

Out of control.

•    Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended without pay for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season.

How do you suspend a GM for 8 games?  Is he not allowed to look at the waiver wire on Sundays? 

[HudsonHawk]

•    Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended without pay for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season.

How do you suspend a GM for 8 games?  Is he not allowed to look at the waiver wire on Sundays? 

I suspect it means he's not allowed at the team's facilities, in meetings etc.

[Col. Sphinx Drummond]

Some time down the road, are the Saints and/or the NFL going to libel for any long term effects of injuries caused injuries caused by the Saint's bounty program? Also, I don't think this was an isolated incident, they're just the one that got caught.

[Jacksonian]

Some time down the road, are the Saints and/or the NFL going to libel for any long term effects of injuries caused injuries caused by the Saint's bounty program? Also, I don't think this was an isolated incident, they're just the one that got caught.

Good luck proving the connection between a bounty and injury.  All defensive players are looking to knockout all offensive players.

[Bench]

All defensive players are looking to knockout all offensive players.

Which is why making an "example" of the Saints is asinine. 

[Fredia]

all  my friends in louisiana are in total disagreement with this ruling..they act almost like it is the second coming and they have been left behind

[Limey]

Which is why making an "example" of the Saints is asinine. 

The league specifically outlaws (get it?) bounty schemes.  They are being punished for the scheme, not for the tackling.

[austro]

They are being punished for the scheme, not for the tackling.

And the coverup.

[Bench]

And the coverup.

I think it's a lot more of that and a lot less of the bounty scheme itself, which appears to be fairly widespread and quietly ignored by the league. 

Having said that, if they are going to punish all management, why wasn't the owner suspended for half the season? 

[Limey]

I think it's a lot more of that and a lot less of the bounty scheme itself, which appears to be fairly widespread and quietly ignored by the league. 

Having said that, if they are going to punish all management, why wasn't the owner suspended for half the season? 

Because the owners don't do shit other than drink champagne and eat lobster in their suites?

[Bench]

Because the owners don't do shit other than drink champagne and eat lobster in their suites?

Just remember that in Houston it's Aramark lobster. 

[Limey]

Just remember that in Houston it's Aramark lobster. 

IJTUIMMALB

[Gizzmonic]

So, paying players millions of dollars per year to knock guys out is OK, but giving them a grand extra when they do is a no-no?  Hmm.

[Bench]

So, paying players millions of dollars per year to knock guys out is OK, but giving them a grand extra when they do is a no-no?  Hmm.

The only no-no is running afoul of the all powerful Goodell. 

[austro]

Having said that, if they are going to punish all management, why wasn't the owner suspended for half the season? 

I think it's been established that Benson didn't know about it until the league started its initial investigations, and when he found out he immediately insisted that it be stopped. And then when he inquired again, he was actively lied to (by Vitt/Witt/whatever his name is). Benson really did seem to be in the clear on this.

[Bench]

I think it's been established that Benson didn't know about it until the league started its initial investigations, and when he found out he immediately insisted that it be stopped. And then when he inquired again, he was actively lied to (by Vitt/Witt/whatever his name is). Benson really did seem to be in the clear on this.

That's what I read as well. 

[Uncle Charlie]

Goodell doesn't mess around. I respect him for it.

He's just making an example of them.  My guess is that most, if not all, teams have some form of this going on.  The NFL could not impose a "death penalty" as the NCAA did to SMU but this is the closest thing an NFL team has ever seen to it.  They haven't even gotten to point of suspending players yet....which will happen.

I don't like the saints, but I really feel for their fans right now.  This will be a "lost" season.  Rams also getting some collateral damage here...

[Jacksonian]

He's just making an example of them.  My guess is that most, if not all, teams have some form of this going on.  The NFL could not impose a "death penalty" as the NCAA did to SMU but this is the closest thing an NFL team has ever seen to it.  They haven't even gotten to point of suspending players yet....which will happen.

I don't like the saints, but I really feel for their fans right now.  This will be a "lost" season.  Rams also getting some collateral damage here...

Their offense will be untouched.  They came within 1 minute of the NFC championship game with a crappy defense last year.  We'll see which defensive players get hit and how hard.  I'm having trouble seeing how this is going to matter much to their team.

[Bench]

Their offense will be untouched.  They came within 1 minute of the NFC championship game with a crappy defense last year.  We'll see which defensive players get hit and how hard.  I'm having trouble seeing how this is going to matter much to their team.

Losing their head coach for the season should be pretty significant, unlike the Texans who would probably be better off if Kubiak were suspended for a year.

[astrosfan76]

Their offense will be untouched.  They came within 1 minute of the NFC championship game with a crappy defense last year.  We'll see which defensive players get hit and how hard.  I'm having trouble seeing how this is going to matter much to their team.

Really? Losing Guys like Vilma, Will Smith, or Sedrick Ellis wouldn't make a difference? They gave up Lots of passing yards (30th in the league), were better than average against the run (12th in yards allowed), and were 13th in points allowed. Losing any of those guys would be a huge blow to the defense and team.

[Jacksonian]

Really? Losing Guys like Vilma, Will Smith, or Sedrick Ellis wouldn't make a difference? They gave up Lots of passing yards (30th in the league), were better than average against the run (12th in yards allowed), and were 13th in points allowed. Losing any of those guys would be a huge blow to the defense and team.

Suspending players is an entirely different animal than suspending management.  Vilma will likely take the biggest hit.  Everyone else will be less than that if at all.  Ellis is replaceable.  Smith would be tough, but he was suspended for part of last year too and they survived.

They have already replaced one defensive tackle.  They've been shopping for all kinds of linebackers.  I'm expecting them to cut Vilma and sign a different middle linebacker.

[astrosfan76]

Suspending players is an entirely different animal than suspending management.  Vilma will likely take the biggest hit.  Everyone else will be less than that if at all.  Ellis is replaceable.  Smith would be tough, but he was suspended for part of last year too and they survived.

They have already replaced one defensive tackle.  They've been shopping for all kinds of linebackers.  I'm expecting them to cut Vilma and sign a different middle linebacker.

I agree that Payton is harder to replace than almost any player; it's no coincidence that they struggled when Payton went down.  It could depend on the severity of the suspension, but I doubt they are looking to replace Vilma.  As far as leadership and directing on the field, he's what Brees is to the offense.  As much as they blitzed, it wouldn't be a shock if there are corners who are disciplined, as well.  Porter is already gone, but he wasn't the only one with value.  My main concern isn't that one or two guys are suspended; it's when I think that there could be several guys out that I start to worry.  Sadly, that could be the case.

[D.H.]

all  my friends in louisiana are in total disagreement with this ruling..they act almost like it is the second coming and they have been left behind

have they already started blaming Obama?

[D.H.]

I think it's a lot more of that and a lot less of the bounty scheme itself, which appears to be fairly widespread and quietly ignored by the league. 

Having said that, if they are going to punish all management, why wasn't the owner suspended for half the season? 

In your company, can you discipline your boss?

[Bench]

In your company, can you discipline your boss?

I can't, but the entity established for industry regulatory oversight certainly can.