Saints

[barrett]

It doesn't suprise me at all since Williams is a Fisher guy. I know many in Houston still love Fisher, but his teams are dirty and undisciplined. Fisher teams had 167 personal fouls in his 10 years with the Titans, the next highest in the league in that span was 136.

Other teams may have bounties, but I would hope it is unique that a coach as high up as a coordinator was running it and they have documentation that allowed them to be caught. This was not "the game of football." Football is a profession played by professionals. This is organized, sanctioned, approved, and rewarded dirty play. One of the hits that payed out literally ended Kurt Warner's career (last play he ever played they leveled him on the back side of an INT return).

I hope the punishment is severe. I think this is far worse than spygate. Though probably similar in that the Patriots were the worst cheaters (everyone steals signs, just without video), and the Saints are just the worst of those with a bounty system.

1st round pick sounds about right for the franchise. Player fines for all involved. Lengthy suspension for Williams and the unnamed position coach.

[Keith]

I'm all for docking a team a 1st round pick as a penalty... that sends a message to the top of the organization... but I don't think that would sit well with the players' union.

[barrett]

Originally Posted by Keith

I'm all for docking a team a 1st round pick as a penalty... that sends a message to the top of the organization... but I don't think that would sit well with the players' union.

I'm not really sure how the Union sees it. On the one hand they lose the first rounder and the 1st round contact. But player injuries have to be a serious priority for the Union. What kind of money do guys like Warner and Favre get paid if they aren't getting cheap shotted by Roman Harper and the like.

If I'm the union, I want to see the organization and the coaches hit hard (to protect players going forward) and the players slapped on the wrist.

[painekiller]

Forget the union, there is talk that this will be looked at as a capital offense. It is outside the rules of the game and as such falls under a criminal act. Williams and players could be looking at criminal charges.

And I am fine with Williams being suspended for life.

[edo783]

Originally Posted by Keith

I'm all for docking a team a 1st round pick as a penalty... that sends a message to the top of the organization... but I don't think that would sit well with the players' union.

True they may or may not care, but to come down in anyway seen as supporting it would be a MAJOR PR blunder, so I doubt they do.

[NBT]

Well, Greg Williams trained under Fisher, and he is going back to be with Daddy. Expect St. Louis to be the next bully.

[barrett]

Wow....

Saints coach Sean Payton has been suspended for one year, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, general manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight regular-season games, the team was fined $500,000 and lost two second-round draft picks (one in 2012 and '13) as a result of a bounty program conducted by the team during the 2009-11 seasons.

There was a lot of talk that the Saints have played fast and loose the past 5 years under Payton and disregarded numerous NFL rules. Then they were explicitly told by the NFL before last season to stop the bounty program and they completely blew the league off. Then the NFL ends up dealing with brain/concussion questions all year. Add it all up and the NFL just murdered the Saints, the same team that was sold to America as heroes for the previous 5 years.

[WMH]

Hammered!!!!!

[HPF Bob]

I think it was the Katrina comeback that inspired New Orleans' "Good Guy" reputation, the feel-good story of the vagabond team of a devastated city rising from the rubble to NFL titledom.

The next question is "what do the Saints do with their coaching staff and front office"?