Saints Punished for Bounty System That Injured Players
Thursday, March 22nd, 2012March 22, 2012
National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell announced severe disciplinary actions against the management and coaching staff of the New Orleans Saints for running a program that rewarded members with cash bonuses for injuring opposing players. From 2009 through the 2011 football season, New Orleans coaches operated a “bounty system” that targeted specific players for injury. The cash bounty was increased if a key player on the opposing team was injured and had to leave a game. The NFL investigation found that bounties up to $10,000 were placed on opposing teams’ quarterbacks in key games during that time. Targeted quarterbacks included Cam Newton (Carolina Panthers), Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers), Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals), and Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings).
New Orleans head coach Sean Payton was suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season. Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams, who was found primarily responsible for operating the bounty program, was suspended indefinitely. Williams joined the St. Louis Rams in 2012. The Saints’ general manager also received an eight-game suspension, and the team will have to pay a substantial fine. Commissioner Goodell stated that their actions were a severe violation of league rules and constituted conduct detrimental to the league and players.
Members of the Saints team were paid a bounty if they injured such players as quarterback Brett Favre (holding ball) during a game. (Courtesy of Icon Sports Media Inc.)
The unprecedented penalties were announced at a time when the NFL is facing increasing criticism over its commitment to player health and safety. In December 2011, 21 former NFL players claimed in a lawsuit that they had suffered severe and permanent brain damage from concussions received in games. The players claim the NFL misrepresented the long-term health consequences of head injuries to players. They also claim the NFL promoted a more violent style of play to attract fans. In recent years, nearly two dozen former NFL players have been diagnosed after death with a progressive brain disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Many had struggled with depression, memory loss, mental confusion, and other symptoms. Many medical experts believe that the CTE in these players resulted from brain trauma received during their NFL careers.
Additional World Book articles:
