New Orleans Saints Hammered for Bountygate [NoeBrainer]

Roger Goodell and the NFL lowered the boom on the New Orleans Saints for rewarding defensive players who injured or knocked out opponents.

We knew it was coming; the New Orleans Saints were going to get hammered by commissioner Roger Goodell for their bounty system.  We just didn't know it was going to be quite this severe.  Head coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the entire 2012 season.  GM Mickey Loomis has been suspended for eight games.  Assistant head coach Joe Vitt has been suspended for six games.  The Saints have lost their 2nd-round picks in the 2012 & 2013 NFL Draft.  The Saints were also fined $500,000.  Ouch.

Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely.  Williams orchestrated the bounty system in New Orleans.  Players were paid $1,000 for "cartoffs" and received $1,500 if they knocked opposing players out of the game.  The Saints were warned by the NFL to stop their bounty system.  Not only did the Saints disobey, they lied about their involvement.  Not smart.  It all led to a very stiff penalty.  The NFL erred on the side of aggression instead of leniency.  It was the right move to make.

Brian Noe is the Program Director at 104.5 The Team, ESPN Radio in Albany, NY.  Brian also hosts “The Noe Show” each weekday from 1-3pm ET on WTMM.