NFL vows punishing players involved in New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, criticises NFLPA's role
The National Football League (NFL) is still mulling over the punishments it will hand down to New Orleans Saints’ players involved in the bounty scandal.
On Friday, league spokesman, Jeff Pash told the Associated Press that the league will take tough action on players involved in the scandal as they severely violated the rules and put player safety in danger with their participation in the bounty scheme.
"I do think there will be player discipline that is appropriate based on the facts. That's important because it reinforces our shared accountability here. What our investigators uncovered is a serious violation of the rules and our player safety policies."
The NFL in early March revealed in a report that the Saints defensive unit led by former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams was involved in running a bounty program which paid players to injure targeted opponents.
The revelations shocked the whole football fandom and the league came down hard on the franchise with commissioner, Roger Goodell handing down the severest punishments in his tenure.
New Orleans were fined $ 500,000 plus had their second round draft picks revoked for two years. Goodell also suspended head coach, Sean Payton for a year while general manager, Mickey Loomis and assistant coach, Joe Vitt are suspended for eight and six games
respectively.
Williams has been suspended indefinitely for running the scheme and it seems unlikely if he will ever be allowed to coach again.
The NFL has dealt with the team’s management and has now turned its eyes on the players who took money from Williams for making the hits.
Pash in his talk with the media took a swipe at the NFL Players Association, who he criticised for trying to protect players involved in the scandal.
"They were protective of the players who could be disciplined in the next phase of this. That was their focus, on defending or excusing the conduct of players involved in this program. That's unfortunate; the players who could have been or even were injured
are also members of the union.”
Goodell will likely decide on the punishments to be handed down to the players by next week.
Things do not look so good for the New Orleans Saints entering into the new 2012-13 season.
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