New Orleans Saints and bounty Scandal – NFL Special
The investigation of New Orleans Saints' Bounty Scandal was started in 2010 when the players were accused of deliberately hitting their opponents during the National Football League’s (NFL) 2009-2010 season.
The NFL’s investigation team found that a bounty pool had been started in 2009 by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Along with other 22-27 players, Williams contributed his money in a secret fund through which they could pay performance bonuses.
These performance bonuses were paid to those players who knocked the opposing players out of the game.
The investigation ended in 2011 when the officials collected the evidences against the players and other staff members. Williams had started such activities long before joining the Saints.
On March 2, 2012, the NFL released the report of the scandal. Subsequently, Williams admitted and apologized on what he did and said:
"It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it."
NFL Chairman Roger Goodell charged the involved staff and players with severe punishments. Williams was suspended indefinitely, head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season because he knew about the bounty pool and had covered the issue
instead of informing the NFL about it.
Later on, Sean Payton apologised and took full responsibility for the bounty system in a statement released after the announcement of report.
Interim coach John Vitt was suspended for six games and general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games of this season because he did not stop the system on the orders of owner Tom Benson.
Saints were fined $500,000 and forfeited their second-round draft selection in 2012 and 2013. Some of the Saints players were also suspended and questioned about the hits.
Most of the players claimed that bounty system was a part of game but intentionally injuring the players meant violating the rules.
NFL released a statement:
“A number of current and former players, including each player disciplined today, were offered the opportunity to be interviewed with counsel present.”
Seven players took an oath in front of the federal judge with the risk of perjury and denied their involvement in the scandal.
Even after taking the oath, Saints linebacker Jon Vilma was suspended for the entire 2012 season. He was shocked and disappointed on this decision of Goodell.
He said:
“I never set out to intentionally hurt any player and never enticed any teammate to intentionally hurt another player."
Saints defensive end William Smith was suspended for four games. Two ex-Saints were also suspended. They include free agent defensive end Anthony Hargrove and Scott Fujita, who is now playing for Cleveland Browns.
Goodell said:
"The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity. No bounty program can exist without active player participation. The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and
enthusiastically embraced the bounty program.”
NFL sent a memo to all 32 teams in which it was emphasized that if any of the players got non-contract bonuses, it would be violation of the league’s rules.
2009 was a superb season for Saints as they won 13 games and lost only three. They headed towards National Football Conference’s (NFC) divisional round and championship game, defeated Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings respectively. Then advanced to
the Super Bowl XLIV and defeated Indianapolis Colts.
In the 2010 season, they qualified for the playoffs and repeated the same heroics in the 2011 season.
In the 2012, Saints were unable to make a good start, apparently still dealing with the trauma of these suspensions. Some of their officials and players have now returned after serving their respective bans and the team is now also looking good. Saints have
got a good lesson and they might not get involved in any such action in future.
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