2009–2011 bounty scandal New Orleans Saints

after lengthy investigation conducted national football league s security department, league alleged on march 2, 2012, 22 27 defensive players on new orleans saints maintained pay performance program included bounty payments administered defensive coordinator gregg williams during 2009, 2010 , 2011 seasons. nfl commissioner roger goodell stated, payments here particularly troubling because involved not payments performance, injuring opposing players. report found head coach sean payton aware of allegations failed stop program. league said mickey loomis, saints general manager, directed end program owner tom benson, didn t. memo released nfl teams found payton , loomis guilty of conduct detrimental league.

on march 3, 2012, benson addressed bounty payments controversy on saints website, stating, have been made aware of nfl s findings relative bounty rule , how relates our club. have offered , nfl has received our full cooperation in investigation. while findings may troubling, forward putting behind , winning more championships in future our fans.

on march 21, 2012, commissioner goodell announced that, result of bounty scandal , nfl s investigation, sean payton has been suspended 1 year, gregg williams indefinitely, , mickey loomis first 8 regular season games. team fined $500,000 , docked second round draft picks in 2012 , 2013. saints assistant coach joe vitt suspended 6 games , fined $100,000. payton s suspension started on april 1, 2012, , suspensions without pay. goodell meet williams again after 2012 season determine coach s status.

on may 2, 2012, announced 4 players played team between 2009 , 2011 receive suspensions alleged participation in bountygate : saints linebacker jonathan vilma (16 games), saints defensive lineman smith (4 games), former saints/retired linebacker scott fujita (3 games), , former saints/current packers defensive lineman anthony hargrove (8 games).

most of players targets of questionable hits saints, including favre , warner, claimed bounties merely part of game. however, several former players interviewed sports illustrated said while payments hits , sacks indeed considered part of game, bounties intentionally injuring opponents violated unwritten code.

however, on july 26, 2012, jonathan vilma , 7 witnesses saints testified in front of federal judge in new orleans nfl commissioner roger goodell got facts wrong in bounty scandal. sworn in under oath in front of judge risk of perjury , jail time if lying, , categorically denied there bounty , vilma said in text message espn s ed werder. 7 people testified, 2 sworn affidavits (one drew brees) saying same thing. ask , espn report facts. no more bias or b.s. or hearsay. gave facts can report if choose.

tulane university sports law program director gabe feldman (who attended hearing in court) said, judge, questions, indicated thinks goodell overstepped authority, , case going if executed power fairly... nfl s retort due deference, don t second guess (commissioner roger goodell). judges have limited jurisdiction on arbitration issues.

saints all-pro quarterback drew brees made controversial tweet on june 20, 2012, stating, if nfl fans told there weapons of mass destruction enough times, d believe it. happens when don t find any???? brees issued statement clarify, wmd comment has nothing politics or our brave military. merely analogy show how media influences public perception. went on say, apologize if wmd comment offended anyone. our military. there no 1 respect more our service men , women.