The NFL has found the New Orleans Saints ran a defensive 'bounty' payment scheme which included bonuses for injuring opposition players.
Saints found to have run bonus scheme for injuring opponents
The NFL has announced that an investigation has found the New Orleans Saints ran a defensive 'bounty' payment scheme which included bonuses for injuring opposition players.
League commissioner Roger Goodell will rule on the punishment for the Saints, with up to 27 defensive players and then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams involved in the scheme during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons.
In a move that violated league rules, the Saints defence could pick up bonus payments for 'knockout' and 'cart-off' hits on opposing players during the three seasons - one of which resulted in them winning the Super Bowl.
"The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for 'performance,' but also for injuring opposing players," Goodell said in a statement. "The bounty rule promotes two key elements of NFL football: player safety and competitive integrity.
"It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. 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."
Apology
Allegations made in 2010 started the investigation, with reports the Saints targeted Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner and Minnesota's Brett Favre during New Orleans' run to the Super Bowl.
Favre in particular took a pummeling and was injured during the NFC Championship game in New Orleans, and while no specifics have emerged, Williams has already apologised.
"It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it," said Williams, who is now with St Louis.
"I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."
"Our security department interviewed numerous players and other individuals," Goodell added. "At the time, those interviewed denied that any such program existed and the player that made the allegation retracted his earlier assertions.
"As a result, the allegations could not be proven. We recently received significant and credible new information and the investigation was re-opened during the latter part of the 2011 season."
$1000 and $1500 were the sums on offer for knocking opponents out of games, but the prize pool was said to have reached $50,000 at one time during the scheme - which was mainly funded by the players.
Aware
Saints coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis were both said to have been aware of what was going on, with Loomis even being told by owner Tom Benson to stop the program but failing to do so.
"I have been made aware of the NFL's findings relative to the 'Bounty Rule' and how it relates to our club," Benson said. "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."
Goodell is now mulling over possible punishments, but with a big push on player safety from the NFL, they will take a dim view on the Saints and their deliberate attempt to try and injure their opposition.
Possible punishments include fines, suspensions and even the loss of draft picks, and Goodell will consider them all before making a judgement.
