NFL suspends four Saints players; Vilma out for one year

[Rusty Coupe]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

Pherein, what do you make of Payton moving to Dallas, is he through?

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

They got off light.

 

[jmt57]

Four players suspended in Saints bounty scandal - Extra Points - Boston.com

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell commented on the punishments he levied out.

“In assessing player discipline," he said, "I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation.

"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. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules.”​

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

I wonder what Hargrove, Fujita and Smith did to warrant punishment. We all know what Vilma did, but does anyone know for the rest of the guys?

I bet the Saints are actually breathing a sigh of relief right now. Roman Harper getting off without a suspension is big for them.

 

[Bill Lee]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

They got off light.

Way too light. Every player who took a penny from the pool should be given two games without pay this season. Rumor has it there are 27 such players. It seems 23 of 27 are getting off scot-free.

 

[Deus Irae]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

I wonder what Hargrove, Fujita and Smith did to warrant punishment. We all know what Vilma did, but does anyone know for the rest of the guys?

I bet the Saints are actually breathing a sigh of relief right now. Roman Harper getting off without a suspension is big for them.

“In assessing player discipline,” Goodell said, “I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation.”

“No bounty program can exist without active player participation,” Goodell added. “The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules.”

Saints' Jonathan Vilma suspended for 2012 season - NFL.com

NFL.com news: No surprise that Roger Goodell punished Saints severely

 

[Joker]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

They got off light.

Perhaps...the one thing that is clear, though, is the Hypocrisy Of Roger Goodell continues unabated...

The Hypocrisy That Is Roger Goodell and the NFL Player Conduct Policy | Bleacher Report

The Hypocrisy of Roger Goodell and the NFL on Tampa Bay Blackout | Sports Fans Coalition

Saints' Bounty Program: Roger Goodell's Crackdown for Safety Reeks of Hypocrisy | Bleacher Report

James Harrison, Cedric Benson and NFL's line of hypocrisy - Paul Daugherty - SI.com

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Is A Hypocrite | We Got This Covered

Roger Goodell Is A Clown – Bruce’s Thought Of The Day

"I attended Roger Goodell’s state of the league address and asked him afterward if he had ever investigated allegations that the Patriots had filmed the Rams’ walkthrough. He said it was the first he’d heard of it, though a day later he’d release a statement saying the league investigated the rumor months ago and believed it to be unfounded.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

It's all in the report. Contributors, captains, union rep... Hargrove also lied back in 2010 and when they were given a chance to interview with counsel the other three declined while he submitted a written statement apparently admitting what he did and knew.

? The record established that Fujita, a linebacker, pledged a significant
amount of money to the prohibited pay-for-performance/bounty pool during the 2009 NFL Playoffs
when he played for the Saints. The pool to which he pledged paid large cash rewards for “cart-offs”
and “knockouts,” plays during which an opposing player was injured.
? Hargrove signed declaration to the league that established not only the existence of the program at the Saints, but also that he knew about and participated in it. The evidence showed that Hargrove told at least one player on another team that Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was a target of a large bounty during the NFC Championship Game in January of 2010. Hargrove also actively obstructed the league’s 2010 investigation into the program by being untruthful to investigators.
? Smith, a defensive end, assisted Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in
establishing and funding the program during a period in which he was a captain and leader of the
defensive unit. Multiple independent sources also confirmed that Smith pledged significant sums to
the program pool for “cart-offs” and “knockouts” of opposing players.
? The investigation concluded that while a captain of the defensive unit Vilma assisted Coach Williams in establishing and funding the program. Multiple independent sources also confirmed that Vilma offered a specific bounty -- $10,000 in cash – to any player who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of the 2009 Divisional Playoff Game and later pledged the same amount to anyone who knocked Minnesota quarterback Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game the following week (played onJanuary 24, 2010).

http://nfllabor.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/5-2-12-saints-players1.pdf

Goodell also had a former NY states attorney review all the evidence and advise on it's merit...

 

[pherein]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

Pherein, what do you make of Payton moving to Dallas, is he through?

Not really. Im no Jeanie but he has a house in NO, and one in the land that football forgot His contract is until the 2015 season. He likes the Dallas area, though.

 

[BradyFTW!]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

Saints' Jonathan Vilma suspended for 2012 season - NFL.com

NFL.com news: No surprise that Roger Goodell punished Saints severely

Based on that, I'm surprised that it was only four players. I suppose that, if every such player got suspended, they would have trouble fielding a roster.

 

[Ron Sellers]

Best part about this is that all the gossip mongers on bspn and sports talk radio will now have a new subject to tsk, tsk and beat to death, and quickly move on from Harbaugh's comments.

 

[WhiZa]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

Based on that, I'm surprised that it was only four players. I suppose that, if every such player got suspended, they would have trouble fielding a roster.

Correct. Gooddell wanted to send a message, but not cripple an organization. Vilma was a leader on that team and received the bulk of the punishment probably for the other players as well.

 

[PATRIOTSFANINPA]

The Saints may be in line for a top 10 pick next year

No way do the Saints recover from an offseason of hell bestowed upon them,alot of talent on that team but about as big of a distraction off field as can be possible.

...they dug their grave and are going to be a 6-10 team at best this year.

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

Way too light. Every player who took a penny from the pool should be given two games without pay this season. Rumor has it there are 27 such players. It seems 23 of 27 are getting off scot-free.

OK, and then he could call in players from all 31 other teams and ask them whether or not they had a play for pay pool in their locker rooms and just cancel the first two weeks of the season...:bricks:

There is a difference between participating in a pay for play pool (which is in and of itself against the rules) and being an active participant in and contributor to a bounty program. Not to mention if you are also a team captain, NFLPA player rep and Executive Committee member, or you lied about it when asked in 2010...

 

[pherein]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

I wonder what Hargrove, Fujita and Smith did to warrant punishment. We all know what Vilma did, but does anyone know for the rest of the guys?

I bet the Saints are actually breathing a sigh of relief right now. Roman Harper getting off without a suspension is big for them.

All those players were vocal in the media. Hardgrove makes the least sense. But Im sure him saying "Farve is done" made him a fan favorite to get punished. Vilma makes all the sense in the world. What he said was just stupid.
But as some have said :

Players that have been spended for an entire season by Godell

Johnathan Vilma - Bounty program

Donté Stallworth - Manslaughter - DWI

Makes perfect sense.

Their is no payment to players on or off the books. So, Im guessing team captains and those that were vocal against the charges are taking the hits.

 

[pherein]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

OK, and then he could call in players from all 31 other teams and ask them whether or not they had a play for pay pool in their locker rooms and just cancel the first two weeks of the season...:bricks:

True, but would have been nice if godell and the NFL talked or interviewed even one of the Saints players. They never did.

 

[pherein]

...they dug their grave and are going to be a 6-10 team at best this year.

wow, I really don't see this happening. Offense is better, if not the same as last year, and our defense kind of sucked anyway.lol.
I can see the defense being better with Srags as coach. Except Smith being gone, but we have dealt with losing smith for 4 games before. Vilma was never better after the knee surgeries. LB core is better. We are thin at CB, and OL though.


Note: Retainer or Acquisition in Bold; Needs indicated in Italics

WR Marques Colston, Adrian Arrington, Joe Morgan
TE Jimmy Graham, David Thomas
LT Jermon Bushrod, Marcel Jones
LG Ben Grubbs, Eric Olsen
C Brian De La Puente, Matt Tennant
RG Jahri Evans, Andrew Tiller
RT Zach Strief, Charles Brown
WR Lance Moore, Devery Henderson, Nick Toon
QB Drew Brees, Chase Daniel
FB Jed Collins, Korey Hall
RB Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Darren Sproles, Chris Ivory

RDE Will Smith, Turk McBride, Greg Romeus
RDT Sedrick Ellis, Mitch King
LDT Brodrick Bunkley, Tom Johnson, Akiem Hicks
LDE Cam Jordan, Junior Galette
SLB Scott Shanle, Martez Wilson, Jonathan Casillas
MLB Curtis Lofton, Jon Vilma, Ramon Humber
WLB David Hawthorne, Chris Chamberlain, Will Herring
LCB Jabari Greer
SS Roman Harper; Jonathon Amaya, Corey White
FS Malcolm Jenkins; Isa Abdul-Quddus
RCB Patrick Robinson, Johnny Patrick

P Thomas Morstead
K John Kasay, Garrett Hartley
LS Justin Drescher

If these players are our projected roster after training camp, we stand at a count 51, 52 if we keep two kickers which is not likely...

 

[MoLewisrocks]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

True, but would have been nice if godell and the NFL talked or interviewed even one of the Saints players. They never did.

How do you know? They interviewed Hargrove back in 2010 and he lied. We know that now because he has admitted it. When he didn't agree to be interviewed this time but submitted a statement admitting to the facts. The other three had their chance to interview with counsel and declined. I'm willing to bet the league has interviewed a number of players who came clean and verified information. I suppose it would make you happier if they handed out that information or gave it to Dee so that some moron talking head former player could out one or more of them as snitches...

Think pherein...use your head. Goodell may be a prick but in this case as with all the in game fining he's trying to change a culture before the day arrives when the number of former players suing the league for not sufficiently protecting them from injury outnumbers the number of current players playing for the league while incessantly whining about suits trying to turn it into flag football.

PS - don't quote me Dee either because he has access to all the information he wants provided he unclogs the fax machine where all the HgH testing data validation is jammed.

 

[JMarr]

1. Loomis, 6 game suspension........................................................Check
2. Jonathan Vilma, 1 year suspension............................................. Check
3. Gregg Williams, 1 year, probably turning into lifetime ban eventually. Check

4. Now the only question is what to do about the Ravens and Bernard Pollard.

 

[pherein]

Re: Huge suspension for Saints players

FWIW, NFL fines are actually mandatory charitable contributions by the player/coach/etc. That avoids the double whammy of paying taxes on money not actually being paid.

All I could find sorry.
New Orleans Saints should gain about $2 million in salary-cap space from Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith suspensions
New Orleans Saints should gain about $2 million in salary-cap space from Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith suspensions - New Orleans Saints Football NFL News - NOLA.com