Senator d**k Durbin meets with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, pleased with steps taken to curtail bounties
On Wednesday, Illinois Senator, d**k Durbin met with National Football League (NFL) commissioner, Roger Goodell, and discussed bounties in football.
After the meetings the Senator seemed satisfied with the steps taken by the league to curtail bounties in the sport and called off the need for a congressional hearing on the matter.
Durbin had three months prior stated his intention to hold a congressional hearing on the matter of bounties where it would have considered making a law that would have made giving bounties in sport a federal crime.
However, after meeting with Goodell, the Senator was completely satisfied with the steps taken by the NFL with regard to the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal and said that the steps taken by the league are enough and nothing more can be accomplished with
a federal law.
Goodell had told the Senator about his plans to setup an anonymous hotline for players to contact the league with any information regarding a bounty programme while also putting up posters in the players’ locker rooms.
The commissioner will also add a new section related to bounties in the players handbooks and will write a letter to all stakeholders.
Speaking after his meeting with Goodell, Senator Durbin told the media.
"What I hear from them now is, it's going to be clear: The actions that have been taken against some are going to be taken against others if they violate these basic rules that are being established. What more could I accomplish with a law? This is better."
He also said that actions taken by the NFL and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) will ensure that bounties such as the one run at the New Orleans Saints are a thing of the past in football.
"Today's announcement by the NFL, and further activities with the NCAA and other leagues in the future, will help ensure that bounties are finished in football. The NFL's players are protected, and its audiences can know the game will be played fairly, honestly
and safely."
Durbin has taken a keen interest in bounties in sports and he seems to be happy with the steps taken by the league to punish those players involved in the Saints bounty scandal.
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