New Orleans Saints Bounty Scandal: Experts' Reaction to Potential Punishment

The New Orleans Saints are facing a whirlwind of negative publicity at the moment, as reports issue the team maintained a "bounty" program. 

The already trying time that comes during the offseason is being multiplied by an investigation that finds the Saints rewarded players for hurting the opposition to the point that they had to be removed from the game. 

ESPN reports an investigation by the league's security department, and they found players were rewarded for laying the hurt on opposing players. Here is what the report finds: 

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The investigation by the league's security department determined that an improper "pay for performance" program included "bounty" payments to players for inflicting injuries on opposing players that would result in them being removed from a game.

In some cases, the amounts pledged were both significant and directed against a specific opposing player, according to the league's investigation.

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The obvious reaction is the Saints should prepare themselves from a world of hurt from league officials. There is little doubt the team will be punished for a deplorable act like gunning for injury. 

Here, we will break down what the experts are thinking on this very dark day for Saints football. It's important to temper this with some that are taking exception to these revelations. 

Former Saints player Darren Sharper offered this, via Pro Football Weekly:

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Former Saint Darren Sharper on ESPN: "We play physical football. To say we put bounties on knocking guys out of the game was just ridiculous

— Pro Football Weekly (@ProFootballWkly) March 2, 2012"

The league now has the task of finding the range and scope of these misdeeds and doling out just punishments. 

Here is what the football world seems to think that might be. 

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John Clayton

ESPN's John Clayton puts some specifics on what the Saints can stand to lose going forward. Here are his thoughts on the subject with the following tweets:

There is this tweet that issues draft picks being levied. 

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You would have to figure the Saints would have to give up a draft choice this year and maybe a No. 1 this year for the Bounty offense.

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Continued: 

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With the Patriots having the Saints first-rounder this year, the highest draft choice penalty would have to be in future years.

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Things will be far reaching as well. 

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With the fact that the Saints Bounty went for three years, the penalty will end up being worse than what was giving for Spygate.

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And, of course, coaches will be taken to task, according to Clayton. 

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You'd also have to think that some coaches will receive suspensions of a game or two.

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Jason La Canfora

Reporter for NFL.com Jason La Canfora weighs in with what he claims will be revolutionary punishment. 

There is this tweet that sets the punishment as all encompassing. 

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League sanctions for the Saints and the individuals involved could be precedent-setting. Loss of draft, picks, fines and/or suspensions...

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This tweet issues that we may be a couple weeks from really knowing how grave the punishments will be. 

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To reiterate from earlier, the matters will be discussed by owners/teams at the late March league meeting, with discipline forthcoming

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Brett Favre

Robert Klemko of USA Today has a report on the issue and how it is being received by quarterbacks that were targeted. 

The gunslinger weighs in himself and issues the following, via an interview with SI.com Peter King:

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I'm not pissed. It's football. I don't think anything less of those guys. Said or unsaid, guys do it anyway. If they can drill you and get you out, they will.

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You might not be the least bit surprised that this is coming from the grizzled, legendary quarterback, but the sentiment is shared by another former star. 

Kurt Warner

Robert Klemko of USA Today catches up with Kurt Warner, who is disappointed, but not the least bit shocked. 

Warner responded via KTAR Radio in Phoenix:

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It's definitely disappointing, but I won't say that I'm completely surprised. I'm not surprised that there were teams out there doing those kinds of things behind closed doors.

I think that's part of the game, and I think that's part of the mindset. And I'm not going to tell you that I haven't believed that there was probably defensive players that got together and said, 'Hey, you know, a thousand bucks for the first guy to knock Kurt out of a football game.' I'm sure that's been a part of our league for a long time.

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That brings us to the obvious notion that while something may be ingrained in the culture, it certainly does not make it right. 

Pat Kirwin

CBS Sports' Pat Kirwan has some thoughts on this becoming a legal matter. 

This tweet should have just about every culpable coach and player a bit sheepish heading into the back end of March. 

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There could be lawsuits to follow by players injured in games against the Saints during the 2009-11 seasons.Lawers have been texting me

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The Washington Post

Mark Maske of The Washington Post reports Gregg Williams had a bounty system in play when he was a coordinator with the Washington Redskins. 

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The Washington Redskins had a bounty system for big hits on opponents under former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams that was similar to the one revealed by an NFL investigation of the New Orleans Saints, four players who played under Williams said Friday.

Players said compensation ranged from “hundreds to thousands of dollars,” with the biggest sum any player received believed to be about $8,000.

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The report issues the Redskins were unavailable for comment. 

Adam Schefter

ESPN's Adam Schefter chimes in with some thoughts as well. 

This tweet issues the league will have plenty to wade through to make their judgment. 

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Investigation reviewed 18.000 documents totaling more than 50,000 pages. Commissioner Goodell will determine the discipline.

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Schefter echoes the sentiment of other experts. 

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Discipline for the Saints could include fines, suspensions and forfeiture of draft choices.

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This is what Saints fans can expect to see for their team. 

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A safe prediction: Saints will be disciplined far worse than the Patriots were for Spygate.

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Gregg Williams

Finally, a statement from the face of the Saints' scandal, former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, via NOLA.com:

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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. 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. 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.

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