New Orleans Saints Had $50,000 ‘Bounty Pool’ for Injuring Opponents
- Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:04am by
Madeleine Morgenstern
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The New Orleans Saints maintained a bounty pool worth up to $50,000 to pay players injuring opponents, the National Football League said Friday. (AP File Photo)
The New Orleans Saints’ defense had a bounty program to pay players for injuring their opponents worth up to $50,000, the National Football League said Friday following an extensive investigation.
The program was financed by players and at least one assistant coach, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, over the last three seasons with payment amounts reaching their height in 2009, the year the Saints won the Super Bowl. According to the Associated Press, payouts included $1,500 for knocking an opposing player out of the game and $1,000 when an opponent was carted off the field. Payments doubled or tripled during playoffs, with Brett Favre and Kurt Warner among the targets.
“It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it,” said Williams, now the defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams.
According to the New York Times, the NFL’s investigation began in 2010 when an unnamed player accused the Saints of targeting opponents. Between 22 and 27 defensive players were involved, and neither Coach Sean Payton nor General Manager Mickey Loomis did anything to stop it once they learned about the program or the investigation.
The NFL investigation’s findings were corroborated by multiple independent sources, the AP reported. Individual players contributed cash to the pool, reportedly up to $10,000 in one case, and sometimes earmarked for specific players.
“The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for `performance,’ but also for injuring opposing players,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said, according to the AP. “The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity.”
Payouts for specific game performances are against NFL rules. As punishment, Williams, the organization, and specific players involved could face heavy fines and suspensions, as well as lose draft picks.
“It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated,” Goodell said. “We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not going to relent. We have more work to do and we will do it.”
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Comments (107)
Daniel4
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:35pmI like the idea that they be made to play the next season with no protective padding. :-)
Actually, this is something that demands that those involved be banned from football for life.
The next question is should any of them face felony assault charges and civil charges from the players targeted and injured? I say YES.
Report Post »stheide1
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 2:24pmAlso along with that Daniel4 they should strip them of the Superbowl trophy from 2009 for all the cheap shots on Farve in the championship game.
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 2:29pmFelony assault charges? good grief. Let me guess, you like soccer?
Report Post »db321
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 3:06pmIf they can prove it in an investigation – it should result in the Death Penalty for the team for 5 years. And throw Benson and the Administration out!!!
Unbelievable!
Report Post »Stoic one
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 3:31pmI thought ALL the teams did this…..
(tongue in cheek)
Report Post »FreedomPurveyor
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:09pmI distinctly remember thinking that they were actively trying to injure Brett Favre in the 2009 championship game; this clearly confirms it
Report Post »DoubleThrowDown
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 6:15pmWhen I played football in high school we always had weekly awards for big hit of the game, and if someone got hurt then so be it. I’m sure if we had any money at the time we would have made bets on who got the big hit of the game. It’s just the nature of the sport, lots of testosterone on a football field.
Report Post »BetterInformed
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 7:56pmSo here is Johnathan Vilma bearing down on Brett Farve in the NFC Championship and you think he’s thinking about $1500 bucks? Maybe Darren Sharper with a $25,000.00 Neck Tie in the locker room trying to stop Adrian Peterson from scoring a touchdown hoping for a thousand dollar payday. $50,000 isn’t a good poker pot for those guys let alone $1500.
Report Post »Back in the day guys used to fold there helmet up and put in their back pocket back.
Stick with marbles. Go Saints
gambit5555
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 12:01amThis story ignores the fact that the accusations of injury bounties have been denied by multiple former players
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:13amLike the announcer said, all the teams are doing it. The fact is the Saints have all the other teams running scared so they will do whatever they can to level the playing field….lol Go Saints
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:18amDB321 that is what they want is to get rid of the Saints…bunch of Bi$#%*s running scared …like you
Report Post »hauschild
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:34pmThat Williams dude is pure evil. $20 says he votes democrat.
Report Post »MEANS2RESIST
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:59pmI said it from back when the Saints began their ascend to the playoffs in 09…that Williams is a dirty SOB. I could tell by the way the D was playing that something dirty was going on. Ban that bast*rd from coaching the game altogether.
Report Post »BetterInformed
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:18pmFYI
Report Post »The NFL has these things they call “officials”. Not just one but seven,referee, umpire, head linesman, line judge, side judge, field judge and back judge.
To help you understand we’ll call them the “football cops” The “football cops” are on the lookout for “football bad guys ” who break the “football laws” (we call them rules). When the “football cops” catch a “football bad guy” breaking a serious “football law” like stomping another players arm like Ndamukong Suh, A DETRIOT LION, they get really mad and scold the “football bas guy” and kick his@ss out of the game. How many Saints were ejected by the officials “football cops” in the last three years. ZERO
proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:15amSour Grapes
Report Post »ColoradoMaverick
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:31pmEvery one of the players and coaches involved should be banned from the NFL for life.
Report Post »rdk
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:39pmAgree!!!
Report Post »ImChiquita
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:43pmDitto!
Report Post »aggiebrewer
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 2:31pmright. and every player that celebrates a big hit on the field should be sent to time out.
Report Post »C’mon. fine them, suspend them for a game, even a season if that is deemed to be warranted. But banned? get real, its a violent sport played by grown men who make gobs of money…get over it.
Mrtoohappy
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 4:15pmThey won’t do sh%t. The it’s all talk.
Report Post »BetterInformed
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:46pmYears ago Howard Cosell asked Dick Butkus, “Mr. Butkus ( he called him mister for obvious reasons) how do you get up for a football game?” Butkus replied, “ Did you ever see that movie”Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte?” Cosell said, “Yes I did.“ Butkus the asked ”Do you remember the part where the head came rolling down the stairs?” Cosell again replied yes. “Well”, said Butkus, “I think about that all when I‘m geatin’ ready to play”.
Report Post »Based on the whining here we should kick one of footballs greatest linebackers out of the hall of fame for being such a “mean and hateful” guy.
In the first century AD these guys would be called gladiators. We anonymous commenter would be call , at best “scribes” but in all likelihood bait.
proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:21ammaybe they should just play flag football, then all you crybabies would be happy, better yet, you should switch to baseball….lol
Report Post »gbfreak
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:26pmhmmmm…isn’t this roughly gambling? Pete Rose was forever banned from MLB for a lesser violation…just saying. I guess they would have to ban most of the defense. That’s not gonna happen.
Report Post »lukerw
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:16pmThe Old Pro’s… did it for FUN!
Report Post »hipconservative
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:12pmA guy loses his job at ESPN for writing an innocuous phrase and this Williams, who pays people to injure others, faces “heavy fines and suspensions, as well as lose draft picks.” Sick.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:25amAfter Hank Williams lost his job for nothing, I knew football would be the bleeding heart liberals next witch hunt.
Report Post »SPOT_OF_TEA
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:08pmFootball is a hard game….The Refs handle the wrong doings during the game and the commissioner handles the wrong doings after the game….If the players did something outside the rules to injure any player then there were fines and suspensions handed out accordingly
Report Post »TxSon
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:03pmIt’s a tough sport and people will get injured. However, placing a bounty on players and injuring them on purpose is wrong and unsportsman like. I do remember the days when certain teams had the reputation for being overly brutal and I was just as disgusted by that behavior then.
They should have their title stripped and draft forfeited.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:40amThis is a total spin story. It’s not a “Bounty Pool”, It’s called a “Signing Bonus”.
Report Post »ThePostman
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:35amAnd baseball pitchers are ordered to hit the batter. This is one good reason not to support professional sports in America – because the entire franchise is corrupt, and VERY un-sportsman-like. It is not a sport, it is a business, and the mindless masses give away their hard-earned retirement nest eggs to go see their favorite teams.
Go see a minor league team, or a college team. Those games are much more interesting to watch anyway.
Report Post »chips1
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:45amLittle League World Series is the greatest sports venue. Anything and everything happens. It’s in August. Pro sports can’t do what these kids can!!!
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:00pm@ Thepostman
Report Post »Sadly, it happens at every level of sports. A Florida player a couple of years ago tried to gouge an eye out of an opponent — Florida‘s coach Urban Meyer wasn’t too down on that. My 6′3″ daughter was targeted for INJURY (not merely to be fouled) in recreation league basketball. While general laws can cover this, states might want to consider statutes that specifically criminalize a coach’s (or anyone’s) direction to players to injure an opposing player. If the target of the directed violence is a minor, then chile abuse could come into play.
BlesstheJews
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:34amIf they take away Hiesman tropheys for indescretion, take away thier Super Bolw tropheys and rings
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:33amThe Saints- The nawlans Saints-The Wurl Champeens! The WODAT?! Mothes. I would expect nothing less. BTW. Could you send somebody over here to pick up some of your welfare mares-
Report Post »I mean, really, 7 years in a damn motel- paid for with “tax dollars”
momrules
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:58amI love you posts, always read them. Could those welfare mares you mention be Kartrina mares? We got a lot of them in Houston.
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:44amGo stick your head back up your A#% where it obviously has been, what is your home team the Green Bay Butt Packers or the S.F. 69ers
Report Post »floridacockleburr
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:27amMiss the glory days of football, when Ben Davidson, Jack Tatum, Jack Lambert would all gladly put you in the hospital for free.
Report Post »BlesstheJews
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 6:08pm“……gladly put you in the hospital for free.” Classic! I remember those days!
Report Post »rghoward56
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:24amGood thing the NCAA isn’t enforcing the rules or the Saints might have to return their Super bowl rings.
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:19amOh no they di-unt….
Report Post »Rayblue
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:18amThe report expands to include the season the Saints won the Super Bowl. Commissioner Tweedledum said; The Saints will forfeit their Super Bowl trophy and rings and will be publicly humiliated by force feeding them mayonnaise sandwiches for lunch and making them watch a years worth of Texan games. Saints coach Mademoiselle Mudbug said it amounts to cruel and unusual punishment and will appeal the ruling.
Report Post »dissentnow
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:01ameh, its a tough sport. My older and wiser self doesn’t like to hear about players hurting each other on purpose but my younger and more sadistic self used to go out of my way to apply extra torque on my opponents as a high school and college wrestler for no other reason than to hear them and see them in pain. Athletes, at a certain, level are a different breed.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:00am.
Who Dat? C‘mon Ya’ll it’s football. Hard Hit’s are like Playing Skins while your playing Golf with your buddies.
Anyone who think this is wrong, needs to change their Panties to some Big Boy Drawers………
Some in the NFL need to pull their Panties Up too. “But I’ll Hit my Head Coach!” No Kidding, you just now figuring that out Nancy……………..
Report Post »RonSwansonJr
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 12:30pmI think there is major concern with the sport now that players who dominated the sport in the 60‘s and 70’s are dying 25 years early. It’s a faster sport, and more dangerous. Players are more dangerous, and due to increased performance of equipment and increased athleticism, players are ruthless and launch themselves with their heads. Players like Harrison have the size and concussion-proof helmet that helps him hit, but if he played in the 70′s, he may have likely been laying face down in the dirt after one of these helmet-first hits. It’s still a great sport to watch, so I don’t have a problem with the NFL enforcing tactics that were aimed at injuring players.
Report Post »johnnyman311
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:13amWho dat homie!
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:46amThat’s Right
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 1:56amRONSWANSONJR yep there is a lot of that happening, in fact the very first game of last season a Green Bay player lauched himself headfirst into Marcus Colston during a tackle and broke his collar bone, funny thing though, not one announcer, referee, NFL rep. or sports show even so much as mentioned it much less gave out a suspention or fine.Go Figure and let’s not forget the hit that broke Shaun Paytons knee was a late hit out of bounds, still,not a word said. Move along, nothing to see here…
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:59amWho put that idea in their heads, Michael Vick?
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:35amI don’t think I like this pool of money to reward big macho men to injure other big macho men. What if a player needs the money really bad and really gives it all he has to injure another and ends up killing them? Maybe boxing would be best for these brutes.
Report Post »RRFlyer
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:56amHow could a player need an extra $1500 when they make millions per year? Get real
Report Post »Razorhunters
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 8:49pmmeth is a heII of a drug…
Report Post »momrules
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:34amAs I start to watch any football game I say a little prayer that God protect the players from serious injury. This probably started around the same time I saw Joe Theisman get his leg broken. It’s a rough sport and I know some injuries will happen.
To hear that the Saints were actually TRYING to injure other players really sickens me. It’s dirty.
Report Post »aro5o75
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:41amOh boo frickin hoo..GO SAINTS.!!!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:59amGO SAINTS.!!!…and take LSU with you.
Report Post »Chuck Stein
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:00am@ Momrules
“Individual players contributed cash to the pool, reportedly up to $10,000 in one case, and sometimes earmarked for specific players.” That activity is not just sickening — it is criminal. It is on the same ladder (a rung or two down) as placing a “hit” on someone — a “hit” for battery, not murder.
Report Post »sWampy
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:30amI always laugh when people say sports build character, all sports do is teach people to cheat, lie, and win at any cost.
Report Post »aro5o75
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:38amOh boo frickin hoo…….GO SAINTS.!!!!
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:57amSports don’t teach bad character, they just expose it.
Report Post »sawbuck
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:25amWhy don’t we just get to the point .Replacing the Game of ..“football” .. with .. “futbol” ..!
Report Post »Isn’t that right…Globalist
jcldwl
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:07amThat is what they are trying to do. In order to have a new vorld order you must have a new vorld sport. But I am done with football or any other professional sport anyway. They glorify felons by bringing them back into the game after prison terms and paying them millions of dollars. Doesn’t set a good example for anyone.
Report Post »Baddoggy
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:10amThe NFL has sissified the sport. I see more coming.
Report Post »If you want to reduce the career ending hits, remove the faceguard on the helments. Problem solved.
Gonzo
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:09amPerfect representatives of their city and fan base. Replies from the Monkey will not be accepted on this post.
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:44am.
Report Post »C‘mon Ya’ll Boy‘s will be Boy’s……………..
Gonzo
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:50amCouldn’t resist.
Report Post »drago
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 10:58amLol, get a room you two;p
Report Post »SpankDaMonkey
Posted on March 3, 2012 at 11:05am.
LMAO No I couldn’t………..
Like it Never Happened Before in the History of the NFL…………Oh Nancy Please!!!!!!!…….
Report Post »proudinfidel54
Posted on March 4, 2012 at 11:12amBozo uh uh Gonzo, nice “LITTLE” closed mind you have there, I guess it‘s a good thing you are not in charge of this sight’s censorship…lol Blow it out your Gonzoo
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