Saints Violated NFL’s ‘Bounty Rule’

March 2, 2012 3:38 PM

Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams of the New Orleans Saints during pregame before playing the Houston Texans at the Louisiana Superdome on August 21, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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NFL, Sports

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Bounty Rule, New Orleans Saints, NFL, Roger Goodell

NEW YORK (AP) — The NFL says that New Orleans Saints players maintained a bounty program over the last three seasons that targeted opponents with the intent to injure them.

The league disclosed the findings of an investigation Friday, saying between 22 and 27 defensive players and at least one assistant coach were involved. No punishments have been handed out yet, but they could include suspensions and fines.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says he is troubled because the system “involved not just payments for ‘performance,’ but also for injuring opposing players. The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity.”

The league’s investigation shows the pool for the bounty program may have surpassed $50,000 at its height during the 2009 playoffs. New Orleans won the Super Bowl that season.

Tom

While I am no fan of Brett Favre for his retirement antics for the last few years, I could see that the Saints were getting away with cheap hits on him in the NFC Title game. Good clean hits are what defense is about. However, there’s no place for trying to injure players and take them out of the game and jeopordize careers. Let’s see how Goodell punishes NO. Gotta feel for Drew Brees though.
robert

Does this really surprise anyone? After all, this is the NFL – the National Felony League.
Louie

I KNEW THOSE FRIKIN NEW ORLEANS AINTS WERE NO GOOD!!!