Saints in trouble

I've said for a while I think they are a dirty team, especailly the secondary an o-line who are rarely called for some reason

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/03/sports/football/nfl-says-saints-had-bounty-program-to-injure-opponents.html?_r=1

AD wasn't lying then

Wasn't just the Saints, not sure why they're the only ones in the dirt here.

It appears to be anecdotal evidence for other teams being involved (i.e. Skins and Bills) at this stage. Saints current and ex players have come forward and stated it was done on the record, which puts the Saints in the spotlight. Daresay others will be formally implicated as the investigation continues. It can't just be Williams' teams/defences involved.

I can see a loss of a number of draft picks and a huge fine, this years 2nd and 3rd, next years 1st, 2014 2nd and 4th. $1million fine.

Punishment has to be proportional and applied after the investigation is complete. Not sure that it will be done before his years draft and probably won't be as harsh as you are suggesting. Especially if the Saints then claim they have been victimised over other teams.

Yeah, will be interesting to see what punishment is meted out to the Saints. Saw something the other day that said they could know in 2 weeks time what that punishment will be. I don't see it being quite as harsh as Leedscowboys reckons but like some in the game have pointed out, if the NFL really are serious about patient safety, then they have to make an example here of the Saints. I think the loss of draft picks will be part of the punishment as that really does hurt a franchise but I think it's more likely to be just one or two that they lose - maybe a 1st and a mid-round pick. I think the worst of the punishment will be handed out to Williams himself.

As a Skins fan, I hope they go easy on us!!! Williams is long-gone from Washington as is the HC of the time Joe Gibbs, who says he knew nothing of it anyway. Williams' successor binned the system straight away so hopefully that and the passage of time will lessen the impact on us. The last thing we need is to lose any draft picks at any point in the next 5 years or so while we're trying to rebuild!

Number-25 wrote:if the NFL really are serious about patient safety,

You confusing the NHS and NFL?

skins4ever wrote:

Number-25 wrote:if the NFL really are serious about patient safety,

You confusing the NHS and NFL?

Damn predictive text!! How it came up with that one I don't know!! Really need to stop posting from my phone!

Patient safety

skins4ever wrote:

Number-25 wrote:if the NFL really are serious about patient safety,

You confusing the NHS and NFL?

Hammer time;

Sean Payton suspended one year. Mickey Loomis 8 game and $500,000 fine. Saints fined $500,000 and a second round pick in 2012 and 2012.

Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely, per league source.

Saints lost two second-round picks, one in 12 one in 13.

Players facing potential discipline still under review

Assistant coach Joe Vitt is suspended six games

The Saints are screwed!!!!!

Will Brees want away or stick there one year? Looks like next season could be a bust and he won't stay if they aren't contenders.

Sean payton has been suspended for the 2012 season
Defensive Co-ordinater Greg Williams banned indefinatly
Also the GM banned for first 8 games of regualr season
Assistant Coach banned for 6 games
Fined 500,000 Dollars
and forfiets 2nd round draft picks in 2012 and 2013!

Wow, Goodell the Hammerer

k

Williams is with the Rams now, so that part doesn't really affect them, but the rest is pretty heavy.

imagine manning and brees moving in same offseason, would be very crazy

poor rams
whe i tlooks like its going well for them...

brees to south beach!?!??!?!

Spagnuolo probably the head coach now? Crazy punishments but understandable

A few rumours that individual players will get punished too, Jonathan Vilma seems to be commonly mentioned

A just and fair punishment for what was a horrid scheme.

Good job Goodell.

I feel that this now taints our super bowl win badly, and to be fair can't really complain about the punishments.

But will the NFL now stop looking into other clubs? or if they carry on will there punishments be the same, having set a standard they have to be to stamp this out.

Not sure wether other clubs players will help, when they see the punishments handed out, so it would seem that this is going to hit a brick wall.

hopefully they don't stop looking, the Saints are a great team but their team has made very dirty plays for a while, i'd imagine there are others out there who will be investigated at some point

Pr4wn wrote:A just and fair punishment for what was a horrid scheme.

Good job Goodell.

Amen to that

When compared to what happened to the Pats for cheating it seems very harsh, but when based on its own and considering the leagues drive to improve player safety i think it sends a message. It will not be tolerated on any level, and good on Goodell for handing out such heavy penalties. (If only the Pats were fined as hard)

Cherries - The Rams will be fine. It is a blow, i was excited for Williams D, but we have Dave McGinnis who can step right into his role, Fisher also used to be a D co-ordinator so we'll manage this season and see what happens in 2013.

The saints are going to have an awful time of it, they might have a meltdown....

Does anyone know if this ban includes the draft day, ie. not having Payton, the gm, and Paytons assistant in the war room?...

The ban starts on April 1st so I assume that none of the banned men will be allowed into the hall.

New Orleans Times-Picayune headlines:

"Don't blame the NFL Commissioner for today's punishment, it all belongs with the New Orleans Saints."

"New Orleans Saints' attitude contributed to the punishment handed down by the NFL."

MockingJay33 wrote:The ban starts on April 1st so I assume that none of the banned men will be allowed into the hall.

Correct, Payton wont be allowed in and I believe the GM \ Head of Personnel has been banned inclusive of preseason as well so basically a couple of the guys that make the draft decisions are banned from being with team on draft day... not sure about phone usage!

Sean Payton is so angry that he's offered £10,000 for one of his defense to take out Roger Goodell.

crazy_dave23 wrote:

MockingJay33 wrote:The ban starts on April 1st so I assume that none of the banned men will be allowed into the hall.

Correct, Payton wont be allowed in and I believe the GM \ Head of Personnel has been banned inclusive of preseason as well so basically a couple of the guys that make the draft decisions are banned from being with team on draft day... not sure about phone usage!

I think phone usage will be a big no. Payton has been suspended and isn't allowed to enter team facilities, I would think the NFL will be monitoring any calls made or received by the Saints personnel on draft weekend.

Then again, we all know what a smart guy Payton is. He could spend the next 10 days drawing up every scenario the Saints could face and who they could pick in the first 3-4 rounds and have whoever is representing them study it and make calls that Payton thinks he would make himself.

MockingJay33 wrote:

crazy_dave23 wrote:

MockingJay33 wrote:The ban starts on April 1st so I assume that none of the banned men will be allowed into the hall.

Correct, Payton wont be allowed in and I believe the GM \ Head of Personnel has been banned inclusive of preseason as well so basically a couple of the guys that make the draft decisions are banned from being with team on draft day... not sure about phone usage!

I think phone usage will be a big no. Payton has been suspended and isn't allowed to enter team facilities, I would think the NFL will be monitoring any calls made or received by the Saints personnel on draft weekend.

Then again, we all know what a smart guy Payton is. He could spend the next 10 days drawing up every scenario the Saints could face and who they could pick in the first 3-4 rounds and have whoever is representing them study it and make calls that Payton thinks he would make himself.

Id put my money on it that the Saints are doing that, but there will scenarios that could play out that no-one could possibly predict. At the end of the day his staff will know what kind of players he wants for the team and will draft accordingly anyway....

Sam_Bradford_8 wrote:When compared to what happened to the Pats for cheating it seems very harsh, but when based on its own and considering the leagues drive to improve player safety i think it sends a message. It will not be tolerated on any level, and good on Goodell for handing out such heavy penalties. (If only the Pats were fined as hard)

The NFL's facing lawsuits over concussions. They couldn't help but read Payton the riot act.

just saw a video online where shanle forces his leg down on gore on top of his stomach and ribs for absolutely no reason at all, was he one of the suspected players that could face a ban

One question - Why did it take the NFL so long to come to this conclusion. Apparently they investigated the Saints in 2010 which of course was the year they were Superbowl champs. Couldn't have been much of an investigation if it didn't uncover what seems to have been a very prevalent culture within the organisation. Wonder why that was? Perhaps because it wouldn't do the league's image much good for the Superbowl champs to have this levelled at them? Maybe because it would raise awkward issues about the validity of their Superbowl win?

All this wringing of the hands from Goodell and his chums about player safety is much too late. It's only surfacing now because it's more convenient for them now instead of on the back of the Saints Superbowl win. If they were really serious about player safety then they would have dealt with this properly back in 2010 instead of at a time when it was more convenient for them and didn't bring them so much hassle.

The punishment fits but it's two years too late and that's all on the league officials who are now getting lauded for being tough on this.

New Saints uniforms leaked

Nice pic.

Word is Parcells is being talked to by Payton to take over for a year. Smart move by Payton if it comes off as Parcells won't be interested in a multi-year deal so unlikely to take over from him.