The NFL announced the punishments for the New Orleans Saints stemming from the bounty allegations that rocked the league this month.
The penalties are as follows…
- Saints head coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the entire 2012 season
- GM Mickey Loomis is suspended for 8 games and fined $500,000
- Saints assistant Joe Vitt is suspended 6 games and fined $100,000
- Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely and will have his case reviewed once again in 2013. Williams is currently the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams.
- The Saints organization was fined $500,000, and loses a second round pick in 2012 as well and another second round pick in 2013. The second round pick this season was their first pick this upcoming draft which is a result of the Mark Ingram trade.
The Saints reportedly had bounties on four different quarterbacks under Williams. These quarterbacks were Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre and Kurt Warner.
Of course questions began to emerge as to whether or not the same punishment would’ve happened to Rex Ryan in New York or Bill Belichick of the New England Patriots. What’s clear though is the League has set a precedent on player safety and bounty programs like this simply do not belong in the NFL. Sure it’s a rough game, sure it’s probably something that multiple teams partake in BUT with players suing the NFL over concussions it’s something that had to be done and the Saints were made an example of.
Ref: The Big Lead, ESPN.com, SI.com