section: | slug: gregg-williams-on-bountygate-it-was-nothing-that-hadnt-been-done-before | sport: football | route: article_single.us | On March 2, 2012, the NFL announced the findings of its investigation, saying that the players and defensive coordinator Gregg Williams pooled their money to pay out the bonuses over three seasons. In an interview with NFL Network's Rich Eisen, Goodell said that the threat to player safety, as well as the fact the Saints lied about it, demanded significant punishment. The New Orleans Saints were found to have operated a bounty system in which players were paid bonuses for, among other things, hard hits and deliberately injuring opposing players. Injuries Injuries Injuries; Transactions Transactions Transactions; . However, the players and team officials interviewed all denied that any bounty program existed, and the player who made the initial report subsequently recanted his allegations.[7][14]. This page was last edited on 15 February 2023, at 09:07. [50] Louisiana State University law professor William Corbett told Fox Sports that any legal action by players has a chance of succeeding. The whole incident only briefly tarnished the reputations of the Saints organization and Payton, who tried to appeal his suspension. The league discovered that anywhere between 22 and 27 Saints players were involved, and that head coach Sean Payton was both aware and involved in the program's cover-up. The players were vindicated, but from a league or coaching standpoint, there's no union, there's no representation. Lombardi claimed that as a result, Williams operated essentially as "an independent contractor." [68], Goodell denied the appeals on April 9, meaning that Payton's suspension began as of April 16. No more bias or b.s. [7][12], Benson issued a statement on the Saints' Website saying, "I have been made aware of the NFLs findings relative to the Bounty Rule and how it relates to our club. Burnley: Winger Robbie Brady sustained a hamstring injury against Crystal . [52] Three days later, Drew Brees, the starting quarterback for the Saints, issued a statement denying any knowledge of or involvement in the program. Cornwell contended that Williams was a "rogue coach," and the recently released audio of his meeting with the defense only proved it. [21] According to that memo, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 cash to any teammate who knocked Favre out of the NFC Championship Game. I take full responsibility for my role. Nonetheless, it found the Saints organization as a whole guilty of conduct detrimental to the league as well due to Williams and the players' maintenance of the bounty pool, as well as Loomis and Payton's failure to act "in a responsible manner" to stop it. It may take Jerry Jones stepping away from the general manager's position for this to take place, but who's to say he won't do that in order for his team to win a Super Bowl? They wanted to hurt him, and he wasn't alone. Williams is most notably known for being the Defensive Coordinator in New Orleans during the BountyGate scandal, where defensive players were given cash if they successfully injured the offensive . [18] Freeman wrote that his sources in the league office had told him that the players, Williams, Payton and Loomis would all face suspensions of at least six games, as well as heavy fines. In that same email, Ornstein offered $5,000 to anyone who knocked Rodgers out of the 2011 season opener. [23], The league found that Payton not only knew about the scheme, but tried to cover it up during both league investigations. Stroud, Rick. He also said that the fact that the scheme went on for three years demanded that "a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game. Did you encounter any technical issues? [13], In the 2010 offseason, an anonymous player told NFL officials that the Saints had targeted Favre and Warner as part of a bounty program administered by Williams; the NFL's security department found the allegations credible enough to open an investigation. Payton received a 1-year suspension from the NFL in 2012 for Bountygate -- when Saints players were getting cash payouts from 2009 to 2011 for targeting and injuring opponents during games. Given what he did for the Saints, Sean Payton may be worth the wait for the Cowboys. [7] League officials, convinced that this information was irrefutable evidence a program was indeed in place, alerted Benson of their findings just before the Saints' first-round playoff game against the Detroit Lions. PFF reports that former Indianapolis coach Tony Dungy has zeroed in on the play that he believes caused the injury, and it involves a matchup against a defense led by Gregg Williams. He also said that unless the leagues themselves "come up with standards to make sure this isn't going to happen again," he may consider drafting legislation that would extend federal sports bribery laws to cover bounties. 17 Feb 2023 00:46:36 Former Redskins defensive coordinator Gregg Williams ran a bounty system that paid out cash bonuses for big hits during his time in Washington and most recently with the New Orleans Saints. Between 22 and 27 Saints defensive players were involved. It revealed that the Saints had not only targeted Warner and Favre during the 2009 playoffs, but had also targeted Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton during the 2011 regular season. [48], CBSSports.com's Pat Kirwan tweeted that within hours of the NFL releasing its report, lawyers for several players were already telling him that their clients were considering legal action against the Saints and Williams. The NFL's retort is that with all due deference, you don't get to second guess (Goodell). Williams was suspended indefinitely, and was banned from applying for reinstatement until the end of the 2012 season at the earliest. The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, better known as "Bountygate" was a major incident in the NFL that resulted in members of the team being paid off for deliberately injuring opposing team . The appeal delayed the start of Payton's suspension from April 1 to April 16. Sean Payton's reputation didn't suffer too much after Bountygate. All was forgiven and he was back in the league the next year. He said that players and coaches involved in the scheme could face fines or suspensions, and the Saints could be docked picks in the 2012 NFL Draft and future drafts. The league announced that Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Jonathan Vilma were suspended without pay for varying lengths of time. We have made it clear that punishment without evidence is not fair. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. The Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. "It was a terrible mistake, andwe knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead, he said what some of the evidence was, and the media went to town taking his word for it. [8] According to these players, such bounty programs were usually informal and often between players only, more with intent at locker-room braggadocio than systemic malice. 2004-07: Washington Redskins - Defensive Coordinator While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans. [25] Goodell told Schefter, however, that he would hand down punishments to the players involved very soon once he gets feedback from the NFLPA. Saints GM Mickey Loomis had been ordered by owner Tom Benson to shut down the program, but failed to do so. 1984-87: Belton High School - Head Coach, Chadiha: Players shouldn't be only fall guys, Kreidler: Explaining Roger Goodell's actions, Howard: Retired player has second thoughts, TMQ: Saints set bad example for lower levels, Hill: Misplaced outrage over NFL bounties, Jacobs: Williams must be banned for 5 years, Clayton: Saints bounties worse than Spygate. New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is one of four players suspended for their roles in the "bountygate" scandal. Clark added that he would have reported Williams or any coach that offered to run such a program. [8], After the sanctions were announced, CBSSports.com's Gregg Doyel wrote that the severity of the punishments handed down to Williams, Payton and Loomis proved that Goodell was truly sincere in his desire to "take the thuggishness out of the NFL." In May 2012, four current and former Saints players were suspended after being named as ringleaders in the scandal, with linebacker Jonathan Vilma also being suspended for the entire 2012 season. Directors Charles Kinnane Daniel Kinnane Writers Chris Titone Keith Blum Stars Kevin James Taylor Lautner Rob Schneider 1988-89: University of Houston - Graduate Assistant Several other stars, including quarterback Kurt Warner, were on the Saints' radar during a 'Bountygate' scandal between 2009-2011. [89], The revelation of Williams' pregame speech was also greeted with revulsion. Weeks ago, after the NFL first released its Bountygate findings, there was a rumor floating around the sport that Jeremy Shockey, former tight end for the Saints, was the source for the NFL. The NFL began investigating the Saints in 2010 in response to allegations of deliberate attempts to injure players during the 200910 playoffs, but the investigation stalled until late in the 2011 season. "Everybody was sworn in under oath in front of a judge with the risk of perjury and jail time if we were lying, and categorically denied there was a bounty," Vilma said in a text message to ESPN's Ed Werder. Rumors are circulating that Payton's retirement may be short-lived and that he may return to the game after sitting out for one year. [59][60], The Saints were also fined $500,000the maximum fine permitted under the league constitution, and had to forfeit their second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 (their first-round pick in 2012 had already been traded to the New England Patriots, and therefore, could not be forfeited; after the penalty; the Saints' first pick in the 2012 NFL Draft is a third-rounder). In the 9 of the last 10 games he . In the wake of the NFL BountyGate investigation involving the Saints, Rex Ryan denied that he has ever used bounties during his career. Vikings coach Brad Childress later said that there were at least 13 instances where he felt the Saints deliberately went after Favre. An @NFL player is injured let's start off by asking Sean Payton, who quite literally had a bounty system to Injure opposing teams players #BountyGate ask me how I know this to be True . [7] Every year, the NFL sends a memo reiterating this ban to every team before training camp opens. The Saints won the Super Bowl XLIV in 2009. Payton was asked about the possible misdeed; he was suspended for the entire 2012 season for his involvement in the Saints' "Bountygate" scheme in which players were paid for injuring opponents. [93], Despite the media outcry, an independent study speculated that Saints' players may have pretended to participate off the field but not put the tactics into action on the field. [12] Goodell said in a statement that he found it "particularly disturbing" that the Saints were deliberately trying to injure other players. 1:11 PM EDT, Wed May 2, 2012. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, though this would be overturned the following year. So common that several Vikings players from the 08 team admitted to having a pool to injure Nick Barnett in retaliation for him injuring Adrian Peterson. Advertisement Bountygate Evidence and Audio "[46], On March 3, Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported that the NFL intended to hand down penalties before the owners' meeting in late March. No penalty was called on the play, though NFL vice president of officiating Mike Pereira said one should have been called, saying it was "the type of hit we don't want." It's not rather or not bountygate happened. I am truly sorry. [85] (Seau would commit suicide less than two months after the interview was published; it was discovered after his death that he suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as a result of the numerous head injuries Seau suffered during his 20-year NFL career. Judges only have limited jurisdiction over arbitration issues. Devin White has never been shy about . The Rams were driving inside. In addition, the Saints franchise was fined $500,000 and docked second-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 drafts. By CM Lucas. It was known as the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal or simply "Bountygate.". The plotline begins in 2012, when Payton is suspended for the season by commissioner Roger Goodell for the Saints' bounty scandal, which gives Payton the chance to re-assess his life and put it in . The NFL said payoffs went to 22 to 27 defensive players for inflicting game-ending injuries on targeted opponents, including quarterbacks Brett Favre and Kurt Warner. [90] His former teammate, NFL Network analyst Michael Irvin, said that he "almost threw up" when he heard Williams tell his men to go after Crabtree's ACL, saying that players are taught from youth football onward to "never take out a man's knees. However, Vitt failed to tell anyone about it. He claimed to have several thousand pages of evidence of this, but refused to show it to anyone. There is already speculation that Cowboys owner Jerry Jones wants Payton to be his next head coach, if not this year, then next year, which means Mike McCarthy may be on the clock, if the Cowboys don't make it to the NFC Championship game next year. Before Monday's appeals hearings on the Saints bounty punishments, the NFL was required to provide the NFLPA and the suspended players ( Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Anthony. The players and Williams contributed their own cash to the pot, and received cash payments based on their performance in the previous week's game. [20][25] He also gave the league's clubs until March 30, 2012 to certify in writing that they do not have bounty programs. [18] After the story broke, Williams issued a statement calling his involvement "a terrible mistake." Williams, coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and several Saints players were suspended by the league for their role in Bountygate, and hours after those punishments were announced. The numbers are striking."[94]. This provision is normally used to sanction off-field conduct. Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended by the NFL for the 2012 season for his role in the Saints bounty scandal, when he was the defensive coordinator there. He is beloved by the city of New Orleans and will probably be a folk hero in that area for the rest of his life. [14] Another source told CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman that Reggie Bush's agent at the time, Michael Ornstein, was closely involved in the scheme from the beginning. According to the NFL's findings, Williams and players pooled their money, and awarded cash prizes to players who injured select members of the opposing team. Being the first NFL coach to ever be suspended for any reason, some believe Home Team glosses over the controversial Bountygate scandal too lightly. Beckham, then with New York Giants, suffered a serious ankle injury on a low hit by Cleveland CB Briean Boddy-Calhoun. Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma is suspended for the entire 2012 season after offering $10,000 in cash to any player who knocked Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner out of the 2009 Divisional playoff . It also asserted that head coach Sean Payton tried to cover up the scheme, and that he and general manager Mickey Loomis failed to shut it down when ordered to do so by team owner Tom Benson. RT @JuniorGalette93: Bold strategy by fox. Bountygate was alleged to have taken place from 2009 to 2011. [77] Two days after the fifth game of the season, on October 9, 2012, the league re-issued the suspensions without any changes or reductions; the players' appeals continued. Back in 2012, Payton was suspended from the NFL for a year. [7] Williams and the players pooled their own money to pay out performance bonuses. Then the coach reminded the players to target specific injuries on 49ers: "We need to find out in the first two series of the game," Williams said, "that little wide receiver, number 10, about his . NEW: The NFL Players Association challenges the suspensions, Two of the suspended players are now with different teams, The suspensions are the latest by the NFL in the scandal over bounties, The league previously suspended a coach and a former defensive coordinator. He also said that there would be zero tolerance for payments for in-game performance in the future, saying that payments for good play eventually escalate to bounties for deliberately injuring players. [19] Later that day, the NFL announced it had obtained irrefutable proof of a bounty pool dating back to the 2009 season, based on a review of 18,000 documents. [84] ESPN columnist Gregg Easterbrook claimed that the Saints' behavior threatened the very integrity of the sport since high school and youth players have long emulated what they see in the NFL. Hargrove actively participated in the program as a Saint and obstructed the leagues investigation by being untruthful, the statement said, while Fujita pledged a significant amount of money to the program. Nonetheless, the loss of Payton, combined with the distractions caused by the scandal, proved too much for the Saints to overcome. "[87], Kevin Seifert, who blogs on the NFC North for ESPN.com, wrote that neither he nor most Vikings fans were surprised at the discovery of the bounty program. Clubs will also be required to certify that no bounty systems exist as part of the yearly certifications they must make under the league's Integrity of the Game Policy.[64]. 2023 Cable News Network. The quick version is that the New Orleans Saints were paying bounties to defensive players for causing injuries to members of the other team. [76], On July 26, 2012, Jonathan Vilma and seven witnesses from the Saints testified in front of a federal judge in New Orleans that Goodell got his facts wrong in the bounty scandal. All four players can appeal the suspensions and would be entitled to a hearing and representation by counsel, the statement said. . The behavior detailed in the report was almost universally condemned in the press. Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 season, effective April 1. 1994-96: Houston Oilers - Linebackers Coach However, linebacker Eddie Robinson, who played for Williams in Houston and Tennessee as well as in Buffalo, acknowledged an incentive pool but said he never heard Williams favor deliberately injuring other players. I ask that you and ESPN report the facts. He also said that he discussed the issue with several players from his era, and they unanimously agreed that players who put bounties on opponents were "cowards. EN RU CN DE ES. In the summer of 2017, the NFL hired Mike Cerullo as Director of Football Administration. An @NFL player is injured let's start off by asking Sean Payton, who quite literally had a bounty system to Injure opposing teams players #BountyGate ask me how I know this to be True " Bold strategy by fox. Cerullo also states in the article, "I was angry for being let go from the Saints". However, they didn't agree on whether there were rewards for intentionally injuring players. Pamphilon, who was doing a documentary on Steve Gleason and his fight against Lou Gehrig's Disease, released the audio to Yahoo! ESPN NFL analyst and former Dallas Cowboys safety Darren Woodson said that much of Williams' speech was standard pregame rhetoric. Hargrove lied to league officials during the 2010 investigation, but later signed a letter to the NFL admitting that he was an active participant in the scheme. In NFL, non-contract bonuses are known as "bounties.". Roger Goodell announces Wednesday that Saints coach Sean Payton will be suspended for the 2012 season due to his role in the team's Bountygate scandal. [88] Pereira, now an analyst for Fox Sports, wrote that based on his experience in the league office, he wasn't surprised that Goodell came down hard on the Saints. After a lengthy. This legendary status is probably why a team like the Dallas Cowboys would love to hire him sooner rather than later. "Bountygate" came up again this week because Beckham claimed Williams told defenders to take him "out of the game" in a 2017 preseason contest. )[86] Seau's sentiments were echoed by Hall of Fame quarterback Fran Tarkenton. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.. Speaking of significant injuries, Joe Musgrove dropped a weight on his left big toe, causing a fracture. Sports without Gleason's approval. The system was in place from 2009 -- the season the Saints won the Super Bowl -- to 2011, and between 22 and 27 Saints players participated in the program. Late in the 2011 season, the NFL received what it called "significant and credible new information" that suggested there was indeed a "bounty" program in place. Yes, Bountygate is a real scandal that emerged in 2012. It did, but monetary incentives for big hits and even injuries were and probably still is common place. [74] Goodell issued the suspensions as part of his power to sanction any "conduct detrimental to the integrity and public confidence in the NFL," a violation of Article 46 of the CBA. He called for Goodell to ban him from the league for life. He initially denied any involvement, but recanted and admitted everything in a meeting with Goodell. He cited a 1977 case in which Denver Broncos defensive back Dale Hackbart sued the Cincinnati Bengals for a late hit to the back by running back Boobie Clark that fractured three vertebrae four years earlier and ended his career. The league has not yet announced any disciplinary action against the players involved. Players usually earned $1,000 for cart-offs and $1,500 for knockouts during the regular season, though they were encouraged to put their winnings back into the pot in order to raise the stakes as the season went on. [22], After later investigations in the 2012 offseason, the NFL also found evidence that the Saints put a bounty on then-Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck during their 2011 wild-card playoffs game. Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for one year without pay, effective April 1. After seeing the NFLs decision letters, the NFLPA has still not received any detailed or specific evidence from the league of these specific players involvement in an alleged pay-to-injure program, Smith said in a statement. It is the obligation of everyone, including the players on the field, to ensure that rules designed to promote player safety, fair play, and the integrity of the game are adhered to and effectively and consistently enforced, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement announcing the suspensions. One of those interviewed, Junior Seau, bluntly said that such practices crossed the line into threatening a person's livelihood. Vitt, who had been tabbed as a possible candidate to serve as interim coach in Payton's absence, was suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season. Quarterback Jay Cutler was sacked six times, and nearly lost his voice when a Saints player kicked him in the throat. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended for the entire 2012 season, DL Anthony. Williams was the Browns' defensive coordinator at that time. April 15 - Payton holds his first team meeting at . "You have to be accountable and responsible in the NFL," Goodell said. The player suspensions were vacated on technical grounds by an arbitration panel on Sept. 7, 2012, just two days before the Saints' season-opener. Seifert argued that even before the findings were revealed, it was obvious that the Saints were determined to inflict a severe beating on Favre, even if it meant breaking the rules. Remember, Payton was suspended for 1 year after the NFL found Saints defensive players were getting cash payouts from 2009 to 2011 for targeting and injuring opponents during games. Roger Goodell claimed the Saints had a system from 2009-2011 where they would pay to specifically injure other players. "[33], Shortly after the Saints' bounty system came to light, four former Washington Redskins players, as well as a coach, told The Washington Post that Williams operated a similar system while he was the Redskins' defensive coordinator from 2004 to 2007. Smith, a captain of the defensive unit, helped Williams with the program and pledged money for it, according to the statement. No player was taken out of the game and no outcomes were changed by the injury of a player. Williams, coach Sean Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and several Saints players were suspended by the league for their role in Bountygate, and hours after those punishments were announced Williams, who had moved on to the Rams, issued this statement: I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the 'pay for performance' program while I was with the Saints,"Williams said in March 2012. I got the first one. Fujita, who left the team for the Browns immediately after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, pledged "a significant amount of money" into the bounty program. He also believed that Goodell was going to use the scandal to "end the practice of bounty football forever," much like the penalties imposed against the Patriots after "Spygate" effectively ended the longstanding practice of illicit videotaping. Two of those players were reportedly Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. Vilma played the final 11 games of the 2012 season for the Saints; Smith played all 16. [47] The NFLPA asked the league to delay any sanctions until the union could conduct its own investigation. "[91] Fox Sports' Mark Kriegel argued that the tape proved Williams was "woefully underpunished," especially since he made the speech after being alerted that the NFL had reopened its investigation. [54] On March 22, U.S. During his tenure, there was one incident that tarnished, if only for a brief time, his otherwise pristine record. GM Mickey Loomis was suspended without pay for the first eight regular-season games of 2012. Nfl Bountygate investigation involving the Saints to overcome and he was back in the article, `` I angry... As a result, Williams operated essentially as `` an independent contractor. denied any involvement, failed! Can appeal the suspensions and would be entitled to a hearing and representation by counsel, Saints. Law professor William Corbett told Fox Sports that any legal action by players has a chance of succeeding season! The suspensions and would be entitled to a hearing and representation by counsel, the NFL Mike. Smith and Jonathan Vilma is one of those players were reportedly Kurt Warner and Brett Favre incentives! And his fight against Lou Gehrig 's Disease, released the audio Yahoo... 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