Saints Defense Ran “Bounty” Program

Just in time for the NFL's slow season, here comes "Bountygate" to dominate the headlines and overshadow baseball...

The NFL has just announced that between 22 and 27 defensive players on the New Orleans Saints, allegedly led by coordinator Gregg Williams, participated in a "bounty" program against players on opposing teams during the last three seasons. The program, which is against NFL rules, paid $1,500 for a "knockout" and $1,000 for a "cart-off," with prices increasing substantially in the playoffs. In response to this story, Saints owner Tom Benson released the following statement:

"I have been made aware of the NFL's findings relative to the 'Bounty Rule' and how it relates to our club. I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans."

If these allegations are proven true the Saints could face serious consequences that may include fines, suspensions and the loss of future draft picks. The Saints opted to part ways with Gregg Williams after the season; he is currently the Defensive Coordinator of the St. Louis Rams. It is unclear as to if the Saints were aware of this upcoming report when they let Williams walk, or if the Rams plan to take any action of their own.