Just to clarify, I brought it up as a reference for the punishment. Not necessarily saying which is worse or what the punishment SHOULD be. Just what (I think) it WILL be.

My understanding of it was just a reference point for you.

well, if a sportswriter has possession of it, then likely it isn't very confidential. Since the NFL is about nothing but integrity (spygate) and player safety (bounty prgram) I fully expect to be hearing about how the NFL will be doing an internal check to see who leaked this document, and then fire the guilty parties involved.

Make no mistake, the NFL is a business that is about being exciting and entertaining, they love the free press they are getting from this, they can act offened all they want, but they love it...their marketing department couldn't have come up with a better plan...

It could be confidential, just unclassified though.

I agree with you that the NFL only pretends to really care about player safety, but there's no way they love this. The NFL knows it's core fan base of men (who love big hits) is going to be around no matter what. And they've already got 100% of them. Now, they're trying to appeal to a broader audience and convince them that their sport is not barbaric. It's the same reason you get Madonna and LMFAO at halftime of the Super Bowl instead of someone like Metallica. The NFL is now going after the audience that is more squeamish about violence. This isn't going to help them.

Beyond the fines/suspensions/etc. that the NFL will levy... do you think any players (I'm assuming it would be ones who sustained season-ending or career-ending injuries) will file criminal charges against other players or teams? An interesting thought....

There has been some talk (only the media so it counts as much as Paul winning the nomination)

Actually, on second thought, I could see Goddell relishing the chance to show himself being "serious about player safety" (without abandoning the idea of adding 2 games to the season) and how much of a disciplinarian he is (without getting serious about steroids).

hey

it could happen!

In a knee jerk reaction, Goddell fined James Harrison $50,000 and suspended him for 3 games after hearing that members of the Saints coaching staff had issued bounties for cart-offs and knock-outs of players on the opposing team. Upon being told that Harrison does not play for the Saints, Goodell tacked on another $25,000 fine and issued a statement saying "I have no further comment other than to say that Player safety is our number one concern".

All teams have a bounty program. Be it an actual cash value or a pat on the back, the point of football is to outscore the other team. Part of that is taking out their productive players.

I see no place where it says you cannot take the opposing player out of the game. There is a written rule against filming the other team.

Shutting a player down is one thing, whether through coverage or other special attention. But injuring another player on purpose? I'll never agree with that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bounty_Bowl

The Bounty Bowl was the name given to two notorious NFL games held in 1989 between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The first, the 1989 Thanksgiving Classic game in Dallas was most noted for allegations that the Philadelphia Eagles put a $200 bounty on Dallas Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas, cut by Philadelphia earlier that season. The second was a highly touted rematch between the two teams that was held two weeks later in Philadelphia, noted for the rowdy behavior of fans attending the game. Philadelphia, already heavily favored to win both games due to the Cowboys having an extremely poor season that year, swept the series.

So the league was shocked by this behavior. They should have wikkied it.

Reports this morning are that in 2009 the Saints were specifically told by the NFL to stop the bounty program, yet they did not. Same with the Patriots with spygate.

Up until the league told all teams they couldn't tape the others, many teams were doing as the Pats were. The Pats were wrong when they continued the practice after being told not to. Thats where the Saints (and maybe others) are screwed.

Obviously the intent is to stop the other players. Intending to injure them is another matter.

I doubt anyone would actually go through with it, but I think the biggest thing would be if the bonuses were also paid to illegal hits.

It is amazing that you would need to tell them to stop cheating. This includes both taping and intent to injure (if proven). Pondering if there is a rule for the Beer vendor to not overcharge.

Players attempt to hurt/injure other players without bounties, but there are plenty of people out there that want to plug their ears and pretend it doesn't happen.

Ronnie Lott punnished anyone coming across the middle with brutal hits - if you were going to come across the middle you would be sent a message and have pain inflicted on you. What is the result of purposely inflicting a large amount of pain? INJURY! It is part of the game. Football is a violent, brutal game. That is why it is so popular. But now people want to pretend like that aspect does not exist...

I get the point and the scumminess of paying guys to injure -- but let's not kid ourselves... a defense trying to hurt someone on the other team always has been and always will be a part of the game. Fact of the matter is there are rules they must play within on the field -- those rules are in effect and always have been (although they do change over time).

Headline of the day:

MMA fighter charged with intent to injure opponent.

Film at 11:00

the world is becoming chickified...

careful.........

the NFL today, in response to the Saint's Bounty scandal, has decreed that all teams will now be required to wear pink tutus, cream tights, and ballet slippers. All play will center around a paper triangle football that gradeschool boys have employed for years, with extra points and field goals being kicked through spread fingers...oh, joy...

Meanwhile, the popularity of real football continues to grow world wide...

As an aside, former saints safety Darrin Sharper said there were never bounties offered and Greg Williams is doing this hoping to have a couple of saints defenders suspended, as he doesn't want to play them.

the NFL today, in response to the Saint's Bounty scandal, has decreed that all teams will now be required to wear pink tutus, cream tights, and ballet slippers. All play will center around a paper triangle football that gradeschool boys have employed for years, with extra points and field goals being kicked through spread fingers...oh, joy...


And they named this new sport Soccer

Poor Taste - Yes
Against the rules - yes
looks bad for the NFL - yes


but really - look at the amounts of some of these bounties... whats 10k to an NFL player? a bar tab?

Plus, its not like the Saints defense actually collected on any of these last year - they were fairly lackluster

It is impossible to disconnect society's sports passions to their political ideologies. As society moves further to the left, sports that champion collectivism over rugged individualism become more popular. Is it disheartening that socialist football is becoming more popular? Yes. Is it shocking? No.