Saints violate "bounty rule"

[Bulldogs]

Apparently from 2009-11 the Saints had players put money in a cash pool, and were paid for hurting players or knocking them out of games. I'm sure they aren't the only team, but there was a huge investigation by the NFL and they were caught. They will now probably be penalized. Thoughts?

I'll get a link in a second.

[vidae]

It's all over NFLN now. They're screwed.

[Bulldogs]

Here's the link.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/76...ogram-nfl-says

[FlyingElvis]

Oh yay, a "scandal" to which the media will immediately attach the word "gate."


Que the idealist fools who will feel like this is some atrocity that their organization Would never do.

[njx9]

Originally Posted by FlyingElvis

Oh yay, a "scandal" to which the media will immediately attach the word "gate."


Que the idealist fools who will feel like this is some atrocity that their organization Would never do.

still bitter?

:P

[FlyingElvis]

Originally Posted by njx9

still bitter?

:P

I'm sure I have no idea what you mean.


Also,

[Jimmy]

Originally Posted by FlyingElvis

Oh yay, a "scandal" to which the media will immediately attach the word "gate."


Que the idealist fools who will feel like this is some atrocity that their organization Would never do.

Slaughtergate!

[SuperPacker]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Slaughtergate!

Injurygate?

[FlyingElvis]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Slaughtergate!

Originally Posted by SuperPacker

Injurygate?

You both give the media too much credit. It's a lock to be BountyGate.

[StickSkills]

Originally Posted by Jimmy

Slaughtergate!

[Matthew Jones]

And now Williams is playing for Jeff Fisher, whose Titans teams were consistently regarded as extremely dirty by opposing players. What a surprise.

[Crazy_Chris]

Yea I have been seeing this all over twitter... I am not shocked, it was fairly obvious that the Saints defense were trying to hit Brett even if it was late in the '09 NFCCG.

Edit:Adam Schefter tweeted that Gregg Williams administered the bounty program

[Ravens1991]

I cant believe they got caught honestly. One year Suggs said on first take talked about how they dont like rookie RBs talking **** so the bounty was out on Mendenhall and the bounty is out on Ward. When they said bounties were illegal he said he thought a bounty was people just looking for people with no $ involved and we werent caught.

[Bulldogs]

They are saying it was the reason Kurt Warner and Brett Favre got hurt against them. I remember that Warner hit being huge, he got jacked up by some defensive end after throwing a pick. They for sure weren't the only team doing this, hell, I'd guess the majority of the teams have something like this.

[NOLAFan]

sounds like Greg Williams to me

[mightytitan9]

After all that and they still couldn't stop anyone on D

[Saints-Tigers]

Maybe they should start a new pool, where players get money for being good on defense.

[BmoreBlackByrdz]

I mean, with all the rules built up to help the offenses these days, I guess this is what defenses are forced to do. lol

[Giantsfan1080]

This is so dumb. I hope the penalty isn't anything crazy.

[njx9]

Originally Posted by Giantsfan1080

This is so dumb. I hope the penalty isn't anything crazy.

you know it will be. i mean, ignore the bounty, they were thinking about hitting offensive players. the league can't let **** like that stand.

[Crazy_Chris]

The program runs in violation of league rules, and the investigation showed that Saints players received $1,500 for a “knockout” hit and $1,000 for a “cart-off” hit with payouts doubling or tripling during the team's three playoffs appearance.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...itter_breaking

[bigbluedefense]

Good. I like bounties. **** offense.

They can go after defenders knees, cheap shot them (Looking at you Hines), pull on their face masks, etc.

But god forbid you hit an offensive player. All these damn diva WRs who can't get touched and then dance and celebrate after every first down like they're hot ****.

**** that. Hit em in the mouth. More teams should do this, if not already. Bring back real defense. Intimidation is a big part of defense. Stop wuffisying the league.

[boknows34]

Statement from Tom Benson.

"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."

[boknows34]

@rotoworld

The Saints' 2010-2011 "bounty" program under ex-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is being characterized by the NFL as a "pay for performance" plan that awarded defenders $1,500 for "knockouts" and $1,000" for offensive players the opposing team was forced to cart off the field.
The Saints would often target a particular player, which reminds of Williams' comments to inflict "remember-me shots" on Brett Favre and Peyton Manning in 2010. Players "regularly" put money into a cash pool and received payments when they successfully injured opponents. New Orleans is already without a 2012 first-round pick, so the NFL could begin taking away additional draft choices this year and a first-rounder in 2013. Expect discipline to be harsh. It will be discussed further at the league's meetings in March.

[njx9]

Originally Posted by bigbluedefense

Good. I like bounties.

i don't like anything that actively encourages injury. big hits? knocking a guy out for a couple plays? whatever. but causing an actual injury? would you have applauded the chiefs if they'd paid out pollard for hitting brady, for instance? or if the titans had paid out haynesworth for giving gurode stitches? there's a fine line, and from what i can read before hitting filters, this crossed all over it.