Sean Payton Suspension: NFL Takes Key Step Toward Changing Culture

Was Sean Payton made an example of by the NFL in Bountygate?

Absolutely.

Did the punishment far outweigh his role in the crime?

More than likely.

Was it the right move for Roger Goodell to suspend him for a year anyway?

Without question.

The culture in the NFL needs to change. The days of purposefully trying to injure players for money, of head-hunting and trying to cause damage rather than simply inflicting pain, need to end.

Is it harsh that Sean Payton will be out millions of dollars this year?

Yeah, sure it is. But what about any players who may have suffered season- or career-ending injuries under this bounty program spearheaded by then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams? How much money could they have possibly lost?

Sorry, but Payton must pay for his role in trying to cover up the bounty system in place in New Orleans.

The culture of football needs to change. Just because football is by its inherent nature a violent game does not mean that it needs to be a savage one. Just because hard hitting is a vital aspect of strategy doesn't mean that targeting a player at the head or knees should be acceptable.

For what it is worth, I played football—both offense and defense. When I hit people, I tried to hit them as hard as I could. I wanted to knock the ball loose or let a receiver know what was going to happen to him if he tried to catch a pass in front of me.

But trying to injure somebody else?

No, I never did that. I knew I could make my point in a clean, legal way.

I've heard various theories as to why the Saints punishments were so harsh—along with Payton, general manager Micky Loomis was suspended for eight games, assistant coach Joe Vitt for six games, the team was fined $500,000 and had two second-round picks taken away—but none I agree with.

Some suggest that Roger Goodell is trying to clean up the game and remove the hits to the head because of impending lawsuits against the league from players. Others think that he came down hard on the Saints because this story became so big nationally.

Me, I don't subscribe to either theory. Maybe I'm naive, but I think Goodell has taken such actions because it is what is best for the people who play these games.

We should no longer consider it acceptable for players to attempt to injure one another. Players should attempt to avoid helmet-to-helmet collisions whenever possible. Concussions aren't to be taken lightly, and neither should the ramifications of injuring another player purposefully.

Sean Payton, fair or not, is now the poster child for the culture shift in the NFL. As a lifelong fan of the game, I'm pleased to see the NFL is trying to move the game forward and away from some of the barbarism in its past.

Hit me up on Twitter—I've tweeted from Lehigh's campus before. Seriously.