Saints Bounty Scandal: Joe Vitt's Angry Reply Proves NFL Has Gone Too Far

Interim Saints head coach Joe Vitt has apparently had enough of the bounty allegations being made by the NFL, which is not surprising, since he is now a target of those allegations.  

Vitt was not a part of the initial round of findings made by the NFL. In fact, the league went as far as to say he specifically was not accused of contributing to the bounty pool. 

Well, the NFL has changed its mind. It is now accusing him of contributing $5,000 to a bounty on Brett Favre. 

Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio shared that news and this statement by Vitt, which was forwarded to the website by a Saints spokesman:

"

In the recent information released by the NFL to the NFLPA, and later to the media, there is an allegation made against me that is completely untrue and I cannot let it go unchallenged.

I did not pledge any money for any type of incentive program pertaining to the 2010 NFC Championship game. Furthermore, I have never at any time pledged any money for any type of incentive program, or so-called ‘bounty’ program.

"

I would say that is what you could call an aggressive denial. It was also a pointless allegation for the league to make. 

Through the entire process, the suspensions handed down by the league and their investigation into any possible bounties has had the feel of Roger Goodell trying to make an example of the Saints for something that has been going on in the league for decades. 

I get that. There is no need for bounties in this violent game, and with all the new concern and evidence over the effects of head trauma, it is a smart move for the league. They need to show that they are doing what they can to limit the violence. 

Still, hasn't their point already been made? Even if the league did receive evidence that Vitt participated, they should have just let that slide at this point. They had already cleared Vitt of wrongdoing, and now he is the interim coach. 

What are they going to do, suspend Vitt and force the Saints to make yet another coaching change? Do we all need to go back on duty to watch for Bill Parcells' return to coaching?

And all of this while the man accused is on record saying he will take a lie detector test. 

The NFL doesn't need one of its head coaches taking a lie detector test. No matter what the results reveal, it is all going to come off like a twisted joke. 

The NFL has made its statement. If anyone has failed to grasp that bounties are going to be seriously frowned upon, lumping Vitt into this, at this point, is not going to help.