Saints Suspensions: Roger Goodell Has Gone Too Far with Punishments

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell is out of control with his punishments and his iron-fist method of running the league is becoming dangerous.

The fact that he’s banning men like Gregg Williams, by all accounts a good man and someone who has been around in some capacity since 1990, from the league for starting a “bounty” program is ridiculous.

Most men, if not every single one, that have been banned from football have had to deal with the legal ramifications of their actions. Still being able to be involved with a sport would be the least of their concerns.

A bounty program may be unscrupulous in Goodell’s eyes, but it isn’t the same as fixing games or committing felonies off the field.

Goodell’s punishment on Sean Payton is also borderline sadistic.

The man has to leave football for an entire year, lose $8 million in pay and then meet with the commissioner to see if he is fit to rejoin the league.

Coupled with the eight-game suspension doled out to GM Mickey Loomis, six games for Joe Vitt, a $500,000 team fine and loss of two second-round draft picks, it’s clear that all Goodell wanted to do was send a message.

Even if it was over-the-top and unnecessary.

The commissioner easily could have slapped the team on the wrist and dished out a ban or two for a few games and the bounty program would have went away quietly.

However, since the punishments do not reflect the crime, everyone has an opinion on the matter and it’s a hot-button issue.  

Hopefully Goodell learns from this, unless he enjoys the attention of his crazy decisions being talked about non-stop.