Saints' Bounty System Despicable, Should Be Punished by NFL to Full Extent

On Friday afternoon the NFL announced that the New Orleans Saints had violated the "bounty rule" in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

According to Pro Football Talk, the NFL learned that between 22 and 27 players and at least one assistant coach operated a bounty program, funded mostly by the players. The league claims that the program was overseen by former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and included bonus payments not only for forcing turnovers, but also for inflicting injuries on opponents. 

A player was reportedly paid $1,000 if an opposing player was carried off the field, and $1,500 if he was knocked out of a game. 

The league also stated that head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis were both aware of the program and did nothing to stop it. 

This is hard to hear because I've generally been a fan of the Saints as an organization. I have always held the team in high regard, especially for what the franchise meant to the city of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. That said, this is absolutely despicable and the Saints should be punished as harshly as possible. 

With how many life-altering injuries happen to NFL players each season, the fact that a team would seek to harm opponents is truly as bad as it gets in professional sports. The thing I love about athletics is how guys can battle each other fiercely between the lines during a game, then shake hands and show respect for one another afterwards. This flies right in the face of that.

Football is a violent and dangerous game, and no one should ever attempt to make it more violent or dangerous. It shows a complete lack of respect for the concept of sportsmanship. 

Do I think the Saints are the only team guilty of having such a program? Absolutely not. But the fact that they did have one, that they have been caught having it, and that those in positions of power knew about it and did nothing to stop it, is simply horrendous.

I've always pulled for the Saints, but after hearing this today my opinion has changed. Some things should never happen on a football field. Attempting to intentionally injure someone is one of them. 

Commissioner Roger Goodell should come down as hard as he can on New Orleans.