[74] Goodell issued the suspensions as part of his power to sanction any "conduct detrimental to the integrity and public confidence in the NFL," a violation of Article 46 of the CBA. Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 seasonthe first time since Chuck Fairbanks in 1978 that a head coach had been suspended. A year later, former commissioner Paul Tagliabuewould vacate the suspensions of those Saints' players on appeal. "Everybody was sworn in under oath in front of a judge with the risk of perjury and jail time if we were lying, and categorically denied there was a bounty," Vilma said in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder. The league discovered that anywhere between 22 and 27 Saints players were involved, and that head coach Sean Payton was both aware and involved in the program's cover-up. "Seven people testified, 2 sworn affidavits all saying the same thing. [7][20], The NFL found that Payton and Loomis' misfeasance amounted to "conduct detrimental" to the league. The only difference in Seifert's mind was that he no longer believed the Saints were out of control. The NFL also previously announced the suspensions of Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis for the first eight regular-season games of the 2012 season and Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt for the first six regular-season games. Later, CBSSports.com NFL columnist Clark Judge said several Vikings assistants told him they believed McCray was acting on direct orders from Williams, with at least one being so outraged that he threatened to "punch [Williams] in the face" the next time they met. The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, colloquially known as "Bountygate," was an incident in which members of the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL) were accused of paying out bonuses, or "bounties," for injuring players on opposing teams.The pool was alleged to have been in operation from 2009 (the year in which the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV) to 2011. Cerullo also states in the article, "I was angry for being let go from the Saints". Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, though this would be overturned the following year. In that same email, Ornstein offered $5,000 to anyone who knocked Rodgers out of the 2011 season opener. The league also found that head coach Sean Payton was aware of the bounty system and, though not directly involved with it, hadn't done anything to shut it down. "Thank you for giving me this opportunity to be your head coach for 16 years," - Sean Payton to. EN RU CN DE ES. Freeman's sources also said that Payton's sanctions were likely to dwarf those handed down to the New England Patriots' Bill Belichick in the wake of the 2007 "Spygate" affair. "[87], Kevin Seifert, who blogs on the NFC North for ESPN.com, wrote that neither he nor most Vikings fans were surprised at the discovery of the bounty program. "Josh Freeman says Tampa Bay Buccaneers were warned about New Orleans Saints' 'cheap shots'". However, all appeals were denied. [59][60], The Saints were also fined $500,000the maximum fine permitted under the league constitution, and had to forfeit their second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 (their first-round pick in 2012 had already been traded to the New England Patriots, and therefore, could not be forfeited; after the penalty; the Saints' first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is a third-rounder). Vitt, who had been tabbed as a possible candidate to serve as interim coach in Payton's absence, was suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season. NFLPA files suit in Bountygate case July 5, 2012 foxsports The NFL Players Association filed a lawsuit against the NFL on behalf of three players suspended in connection with the bounty. [10] Favre took such a severe beating that Vikings punter Chris Kluwe and placekicker Ryan Longwell wondered during the game if someone had put a bounty on him. [7][18][20], The NFL sent a confidential and detailed memo to all 32 teams detailing its findings. The Saints organization was penalized with a $500,000 fine and forced to forfeit their second-round draft selections in 2012 and 2013. Kevin James stars in Netflix's 'Home Team', the movie inspired by Sean Payton and his "Bountygate" suspension. I ask that you and ESPN report the facts. No more bias or b.s. Saints GM Mickey Loomis had been ordered by owner Tom Benson to shut down the program, but failed to do so. However, Vitt failed to tell anyone about it. However, according to many former players, bounty systems of some sort have been around the NFL for decades, with the percentage of players participating speculated to be between 30 and 40 percent. [7] League officials, convinced that this information was irrefutable evidence a program was indeed in place, alerted Benson of their findings just before the Saints' first-round playoff game against the Detroit Lions. [88] Pereira, now an analyst for Fox Sports, wrote that based on his experience in the league office, he wasn't surprised that Goodell came down hard on the Saints. I am truly sorry. For instance, a special teamer who downed a kick returner inside the receiving team's 20-yard-line earned $100. On Tuesday, Sean Payton decided to step down as the New Orleans Saints head coach. While most will remember Sean Payton for his success with the Saints, his involvement with Bountygate won't be forgotten anytime soon either. [48], CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan tweeted that within hours of the NFL releasing its report, lawyers for several players were already telling him that their clients were considering legal action against the Saints and Williams. So common that several Vikings players from the 08 team admitted to having a pool to injure Nick Barnett in retaliation for him injuring Adrian Peterson. Vikings coach Brad Childress later said that there were at least 13 instances where he felt the Saints deliberately went after Favre. The plotline begins in 2012, when Payton is suspended for the season by commissioner Roger Goodell for the Saints' bounty scandal, which gives Payton the chance to re-assess his life and put it in . Go lay that motherfucker out." According to Wikipedia, members of the New Orleans Saints "were accused of paying out bonuses or bounties for injuring opposing team players." Get breaking NFL Football News, our in-depth expert analysis, latest rumors and follow your favorite sports, leagues and teams with our live updates. League commissioner Roger Goodell responded with some of the most severe sanctions in the league's 92-year history, and among the most severe punishments for in-game misconduct in North American professional sports history. [7] Williams and the players pooled their own money to pay out performance bonuses. Loomis was suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season. 2001-03:Buffalo Bills - Head Coach Audio of Williams' meeting with Saints defense, Last edited on 15 February 2023, at 09:07, 2007 National Football League videotaping controversy, "NFL needs to start cleaning up 'BountyGate' by going after Sean Payton and Gregg Williams for role in Saints' bounty system", "Did Rex's former team put out bounties? Commissioner Roger Goodell notified the New Orleans Saints today of the discipline that will be imposed on team management for violations of the NFL's long-standing "bounty" rule that endangered. Story , Roger Goodell and the NFL have made a scapegoat out of Jonathan Vilma with his one-year ban. Allen's decision to return to school for his senior season was a stroke of genius given his ridiculous production in 2018: 17 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and five forced fumbles. He led them to their first and only Super Bowl win in 2009 and took the Saints to 9 playoff appearances, more than any coach in Saints history. We have spoken with our players and their representatives and we will vigorously protect and pursue all options on their behalf.. Vilma was a captain of the defensive unit under Williams and assisted in creating and funding the bounty program, the NFL statement said. NEW: The NFL Players Association challenges the suspensions, Two of the suspended players are now with different teams, The suspensions are the latest by the NFL in the scandal over bounties, The league previously suspended a coach and a former defensive coordinator. Bountygate was alleged to have taken place from 2009 to 2011. [34] Chicago Tribune NFL analyst Matt Bowen, who played for the Redskins at the time, later wrote in one of his regular columns that the bounty pool was funded by fines for mistakes made during practice and in games, and insisted similar systems operated on other teams. "[41], Former NFL coach Tony Dungy later told Profootballtalk.com he was certain that Williams operated a similar bounty system while he was defensive coordinator of the Oilers/Titans from 1997 to 2000. Ive said this before, I take a look at all these high school programs, little league programs, college programs and you see the decals on the side of the helmet and you wonder, you get those decals because you shake hands and kiss after the game or you get those decals because you rushed for 100 and you threw 17 touchdown passes and you knocked the stuffing out of somebody? Directors Charles Kinnane Daniel Kinnane Writers Chris Titone Keith Blum Stars Kevin James Taylor Lautner Rob Schneider via The Things. [44] The Steelers released a statement on their official web site mentioning that the team does not condone any sort of bounty program. 1997-2000: Tennessee Oilers/Titans - Defensive Coordinator Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season, effective April 1. 1988-89: University of Houston - Graduate Assistant He cited a 1977 case in which Denver Broncos defensive back Dale Hackbart sued the Cincinnati Bengals for a late hit to the back by running back Boobie Clark that fractured three vertebrae four years earlier and ended his career. "They are on the field, so I don't think they are absolved from any responsibility because of that," he said. [6] Contents 1 Background 2 Findings revealed 3 Other allegations against Williams Several other stars, including quarterback Kurt Warner, were on the Saints' radar during a 'Bountygate' scandal between 2009-2011. Sullivan called the Saints' treatment of Favre "despicable" and "the exact opposite of sportsmanship," and even called for the league to take some sort of action against players involved in that game who had since retired, such as McCray.[71]. "I don't think you can be too hard on people that put at risk our players' health and safety," Goodell told Eisen. [45], Williams, who left after the season to become defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, was summoned to NFL headquarters after the investigation concluded in mid-February. On March 2, 2012, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the NFL had indeed found evidence of a bounty program. Jonathan Vilma placed a $10,000 bounty on Brett Favre in the 2009 NFC title game. [13], In the 2010 offseason, an anonymous player told NFL officials that the Saints had targeted Favre and Warner as part of a bounty program administered by Williams; the NFL's security department found the allegations credible enough to open an investigation. Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is suspended for the entire 2012 season after offering $10,000 in cash to any player who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of the 2009 Divisional playoff . [52] Three days later, Drew Brees, the starting quarterback for the Saints, issued a statement denying any knowledge of or involvement in the program. The league announced that Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma were suspended without pay for varying lengths of time. He is beloved by the city of New Orleans and will probably be a folk hero in that area for the rest of his life. Nonetheless, it found the Saints organization as a whole guilty of conduct detrimental to the league as well due to Williams and the players' maintenance of the bounty pool, as well as Loomis and Payton's failure to act "in a responsible manner" to stop it. I gave you facts that you can report if so choose. There is already speculation that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants Payton to be his next head coach, if not this year, then next year, which means Mike McCarthy may be on the clock, if the Cowboys don't make it to the NFC Championship game next year. However, linebacker Eddie Robinson, who played for Williams in Houston and Tennessee as well as in Buffalo, acknowledged an incentive pool but said he never heard Williams favor deliberately injuring other players. "[30][31], However, on July 26, 2012, Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints testified in front of a federal judge in New Orleans that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell got his facts wrong in the bounty scandal. [15] Cerullo was released after the 2009 postseason for poor performance and lying about personal leave according to the New Orleans Saints. Back in 2012, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a year. McCray hit Favre below the knees, briefly knocking Favre out of the game with an ankle injury. [18] Freeman wrote that his sources in the league office had told him that the players, Williams, Payton and Loomis would all face suspensions of at least six games, as well as heavy fines. Two of those players were reportedly Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has reduced the bounty-related suspensions of two New Orleans Saints players while upholding the punishments of two others. "[27] In an article written for the March 12 edition of SI, King wrote that league officials were so outraged that they were likely to hand down penalties similar to the season-long bans Paul Hornung and Alex Karras received in 1963 for gambling. The Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. On May 2, the league announced the suspension of four players for their leadership roles in the bounty system. No, the Saints didn't want him to play for them. However, Woodson felt that several parts of Williams' speechparticularly his calls to go after Crabtree's ACL and target Williams specifically because he had concussions in the pastwent too far. Before Monday's appeals hearings on the Saints bounty punishments, the NFL was required to provide the NFLPA and the suspended players ( Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony. NEW YORK -- New Orleans Saints players and at least one assistant coach maintained a bounty pool of up to $50,000 the last three seasons to reward game-ending injuries inflicted on opposing . Ornstein contributed $10,000 to the pot in 2009, and an undisclosed amount in 2011. 2:34 pm ET, would vacate the suspensions of those Saints' players on appeal, Agent's Take: Rodgers' trade value, logistics, best fit, McCarthy discusses taking over Cowboys' play-calling, Brett Favre welfare funds scandal explained, Reich says Carr 'checks a lot of boxes' after meeting, Gregg Williams on Bountygate: It was 'nothing that hadn't been done before', Mock: Carter falls amid warrant, Ravens take QB, Rodgers' trade value, logistics and best fit, Best team fits for top FAs at each position, Ex-NFL GM on ramifications of Carter's legal issue, NFLPA issues team report cards: Commanders fail, 49ers GM says he contacted Brady as team seeks QB help, Jalen Carter issues statement amid charges. Your login session has expired. A Warner Bros. Yes, Bountygate is a real scandal that emerged in 2012. [19] Later that day, the NFL announced it had obtained irrefutable proof of a bounty pool dating back to the 2009 season, based on a review of 18,000 documents. In NFL, non-contract bonuses are known as "bounties.". From Playmakers, a look at how close Sean Payton came to becoming the Cowboys coach in 2019 -- and how Anthony Davis (yes, Anthony Davis) kept it from happening. It determined that Williams had initiated the fund soon after he arrived in New Orleans in 2009, in hopes of making the defense more aggressive. It is the obligation of everyone, including the players on the field, to ensure that rules designed to promote player safety, fair play, and the integrity of the game are adhered to and effectively and consistently enforced, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the suspensions. The Saints appealed the suspensions of Payton, Loomis and Vitt, but the NFL upheld the suspensions. Brighton: Midfielder Adam Lallana was replaced at half-time against Aston Villa on 21 November because of a groin injury. [20][25] He also gave the league's clubs until March 30, 2012 to certify in writing that they do not have bounty programs. He was reinstated a year later, worked for the Titans in 2013 and returned to St. Louis last season. "[28] Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman reported that the Saints tendency toward illegal hits was common knowledge among the Tampa Bay coaching staff. [20][27], Several Chicago Bears players and fans believe that the Bears were targets of this program during the second game of the 2011 season, a 3013 loss to the Saints. . After finishing 133 and reaching the Divisional round of the playoffs a year earlier, they finished 79 and missed the playoffs. April 15 - Payton holds his first team meeting at . I never said a word. [78], On October 27, 2012, former league commissioner Paul Tagliabue postponed the bounty appeals hearing,[79] expecting to set a new schedule on October 29, 2012. The behavior detailed in the report was almost universally condemned in the press. [58], On March 21, 2012, the NFL issued sanctions to Saints coaches and front-office personnel for their roles in the scandal. The league constitution specifically forbids payment of bonuses based on performances against an individual player or team, as well as bonuses for on-field misconduct; the NFL holds that such practices undermine the integrity of the game, and also would allow teams to use such payments to circumvent the salary cap. [39][40] Chidi Ahanotu, who played one year under Williams in Buffalo, indicated that such a program was not within his character at the time and that Williams was "the softest coach I've been around. Both Ray Rice and Adrian Peterson had sanctions imposed by the NFL overturned through the court system, and there's the belief that should Patriots quarterback Tom Brady face suspension for whatever role he had in Deflategate, he too will pursue legal action. Roger Goodell claimed the Saints had a system from 2009-2011 where they would pay to specifically injure other players. He played college football at the University of Miami, winning a National Championship in 2001.He went on to be drafted by the New York Jets in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft.Vilma won Super Bowl XLIV with the New Orleans Saints over the Indianapolis Colts. It did, but monetary incentives for big hits and even injuries were and probably still is common place. During the 2010 investigation, Payton told Williams and Vitt to "make sure our ducks are in a row" when the league interviewed them. [49] Former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Steve Young, who has a law degree from BYU, suggested that anyone who had been injured during a Saints game during the scheme's existence has grounds for a lawsuit. Fujita played the first four games of the season for the Browns before suffering a season-ending (and ultimately, career-ending) neck injury;[81] he would sign a ceremonial one-day contract with the Saints in the offseason and retire with the team. Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for one year without pay, effective April 1. Remember, Payton was suspended for 1 year after the NFL found Saints defensive players were getting cash payouts from 2009 to 2011 for targeting and injuring opponents during games. "[20] He was particularly upset that those involved had lied about the scheme on two separate investigations, and had denied that there was ever a bounty program in place. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. [50], Most of the players who were the targets of questionable hits by the Saints, including Favre and Warner, claimed the bounties were merely part of the game. We have made it clear that punishment without evidence is not fair. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, currently with the Rams, was suspended indefinitely, effective immediately. The Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. They wanted to hurt him, and he wasn't alone. . [5] The union lodged a formal grievance on May 4, contending that since the suspensions were for on-field misconduct, the players' appeals should be heard by Ted Cottrell and Art Shell, whom the collective bargaining agreement designates as the hearing officers for on-field sanctions. Goodell also implied that Payton would have faced significant punishment in any event, since his contractual obligation to supervise his assistants meant that he at least should have known about the scheme. Respect for the men that play the game starts with the way players conduct themselves with each other on the field., The statement said evidence reviewed by the league demonstrated that from 2009-11 Saints players of their own accord pledged significant amounts of their own money toward bounties, that players accepted payments for cart-offs and knockouts of injured opposing players, and that the payout amounts doubled and tripled for playoff games.. I remember over at Excelsior Springs when Im 16 years old I had a big hit in a ballgame and all of a sudden I got a movie certificate and it wasnt because I helped the guy up, its because I knocked the guy down. 'Of course, yesterday, the players were still enthusiastic, and they had to celebrate this momentum. Unsurprisingly, Walton was the top pick overall for the 1974 NBA draft, snagged by the Portland Trailblazers. [7][12], Benson issued a statement on the Saints' Website saying, "I have been made aware of the NFLs findings relative to the Bounty Rule and how it relates to our club. The numbers are striking."[94]. After the program was reported on, Payton and Loomis said they took full responsibility for the practice, which they said happened under our watch.. Lombardi argued that such a situation is "never fully sustainable," as it can easily lead to the head coach losing control. Of course, almost every detail of Bountygate is quickly dispensed or ignored, including the fact that it was reportedly taking place during that 2010 season. I. Kevin James is going to play Sean Payton in a Bountygate movie and we have so many questions Charles Curtis April 12, 2021 12:58 pm ET Kevin James yes, yes, I hear your Paul Blart, Mall Cop. Bountygate was alleged to have taken place from 2009 to 2011. The collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association also forbids this practice, as does the standard NFL player contract. Payments were known to double or even triple during the playoffs. According to Woodson, when Williams called for his men to "attack the head" of running back Frank Gore, he was saying that the 49ers' offense would be rendered ineffective if they managed to shut Gore down. "Knockouts" were worth. Players also received "bounties" for "cart-offs" (plays in which an opponent was removed from the field on a stretcher or cart) and "knockouts" (plays that resulted in a player being unable to return for the rest of the game). Since then, Williams has been accused of operating similar schemes during his tenure as defensive coordinator of the Tennessee Oilers/Titans and (since renamed) Washington Redskins and as head coach of the Buffalo Bills; the NFL briefly investigated these allegations but elected to focus on the Saints. Williams was the Browns' defensive coordinator at that time. General manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season. [26] The NFL found no club money had been used to fund the bounty pool, and praised Benson for doing what he could to shut down the slush fund. He even went as far as to call for Vilmathe only player specifically named as being involved in the scheme in the NFL's initial announcementsto be banned from the league for life. [53] On March 12, WWL-TV in New Orleans reported that Payton and Benson met with Goodell in New York for much of the morning to reiterate that the Saints would continue to cooperate fully with the NFL's investigation. "After a grand slam by Moses and injury, SEU . In an interview with NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Goodell said that the threat to player safety, as well as the fact the Saints lied about it, demanded significant punishment. PFF reports that former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy has zeroed in on the play that he believes caused the injury, and it involves a matchup against a defense led by Gregg Williams. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season. I gave you facts that you can report if so choose. The revelation of the bounty system also caused renewed speculation about a 2006 game between the Redskins and Colts, in which Manning was knocked down by a high-low hit from the Redskins' Phillip Daniels and Andre Carter and appeared to lose some feeling in his neck. Here's an explanation of "Bountygate," Payton's suspension and his brief youth football career that led to a Netflix biopic. This legendary status is probably why a team like the Dallas Cowboys would love to hire him sooner rather than later. Since the NFL unveiled its findings, Williams has been accused of running similar bounty programs during his coaching stints with the Titans, Redskins and Bills. With an early 7-3 lead in their week 2 matchup against the St. Louis Rams, two Giants players both fell to the ground with injuries at nearly the exact same time. He claimed to have several thousand pages of evidence of this, but refused to show it to anyone. [80] On December 11, with three games left in the regular season, Tagliabue vacated the players' suspensions, saying in his ruling, "I affirm Commissioner Goodell's factual findings as to the four players. [8], After the sanctions were announced, CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel wrote that the severity of the punishments handed down to Williams, Payton and Loomis proved that Goodell was truly sincere in his desire to "take the thuggishness out of the NFL." [85] (Seau would commit suicide less than two months after the interview was published; it was discovered after his death that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of the numerous head injuries Seau suffered during his 20-year NFL career. All Rights Reserved. After a lengthy. Speaking of significant injuries, Joe Musgrove dropped a weight on his left big toe, causing a fracture. "[33], All four players appealed their suspensions. "I. In the summer of 2017, the NFL hired Mike Cerullo as Director of Football Administration. This provision is normally used to sanction off-field conduct. Did the New Orleans Saints injure more players? However, the players and team officials interviewed all denied that any bounty program existed, and the player who made the initial report subsequently recanted his allegations.[7][14]. Given what he did for the Saints, Sean Payton may be worth the wait for the Cowboys. A college softball team showcased the ultimate act of sportsmanship on Saturday by helping an opponent who just hit a home run around the bases. The quick version is that the New Orleans Saints were paying bounties to defensive players for causing injuries to members of the other team. 2009-11: New Orleans Saints - Defensive Coordinator His status will be reevaluated by commissioner Roger Goodell following the 2012 season. After seeing the NFLs decision letters, the NFLPA has still not received any detailed or specific evidence from the league of these specific players involvement in an alleged pay-to-injure program, Smith said in a statement. He recalled that Goodell was always upset when officials didn't penalize hits on defenseless players. After re-starting the disciplinary process, Goodell upheld the suspensions for Vilma and Smith and reduced the suspensions for Fujita and Hargrove to one and seven games respectively. [93], Despite the media outcry, an independent study speculated that Saints' players may have pretended to participate off the field but not put the tactics into action on the field. [12] Goodell said in a statement that he found it "particularly disturbing" that the Saints were deliberately trying to injure other players. However, of all coaches to have serious scandals tarnish their . No player was taken out of the game and no outcomes were changed by the injury of a player. Clark added that he would have reported Williams or any coach that offered to run such a program. Nonetheless, the loss of Payton, combined with the distractions caused by the scandal, proved too much for the Saints to overcome. After the Saints defeated the Minnesota Vikings in the 2009 NFC Championship Game in what has become a heated rivalry, several Vikings players and coaches claimed that the Saints were deliberately trying to hurt Vikings quarterback Brett Favre. [76], On July 26, 2012, Jonathan Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints testified in front of a federal judge in New Orleans that Goodell got his facts wrong in the bounty scandal. 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Enthusiastic, and he wasn & # x27 ; of course, yesterday, the NFL upheld suspensions... As does the standard NFL player contract him to play for them 2012 and.! To be your head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for the 1974 NBA draft players injured in bountygate snagged by the injury a... Saints ' players on appeal assistant head coach for 16 years, '' - Payton. Nfl have made it clear that punishment without evidence is not fair without is... Undisclosed amount in 2011 was angry for being let go from the Saints, Payton. Have taken place from 2009 to 2011 2009 postseason for poor performance and lying about personal leave to... Coach Sean Payton was suspended for the Titans in 2013 and returned to St. Louis last.! Roles in the article, `` i was angry for being let go from the Saints were paying bounties defensive... Tennessee Oilers/Titans - defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended for the Saints, his involvement with Bountygate n't... From the NFL have made it clear that punishment without evidence is fair! Goodell claimed the Saints had a system from 2009-2011 where they would pay to specifically injure players... The NFL have made it clear that punishment without evidence is not fair were!
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