NFL Offseason

[jersey cubs fan]

buffalo signs mark anderson to big deal, safe to say they won't draft a DE in the 1st?

[OleMissCub]

ugh.

 

the NFL's full statement with 15 damning bullet points.

 

http://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/2012/3/21/2890330/full-nfl-statement-regarding-bountygate-punishments

 

1. The Saints defensive team operated a pay-for-performance/bounty program, primarily funded by players, during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons. Under that program, players regularly made cash "donations" to a pool, and were "fined" for mental errors, loafing, penalties, and the like. At least one assistant coach (defensive coordinator Gregg Williams) also occasionally contributed to the pool. There is no evidence that any club money was contributed to the program.

 

2. Payments were made for plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries. All such payments are against league rules. Payments also were made for plays on which opposing players were injured. In addition, specific players were sometimes targeted. The investigation showed bounties being placed on four quarterbacks of opposing teams - Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, and Kurt Warner. Multiple sources have confirmed that several players pledged funds toward bounties on specific opposing players, with defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offering $10,000 to any player who knocked Brett Favre out of the NFC Championship Game in 2010.

 

3. Coach Williams acknowledged that he designed and implemented the program with the assistance of certain defensive players. He said that he did so after being told by Saints Head Coach Sean Payton that his assignment was to make the defense "nasty." Coach Williams described his role as overseeing record keeping, defining payout amounts, deciding on who received payouts, and distributing envelopes with cash to players who "earned" rewards.

 

4. In each of the 2009-2011 seasons, the Saints were one of the top five teams in the league in roughing the passer penalties. In 2009 and 2011, the Saints were also in the top five teams in unnecessary roughness penalties; in 2010, the Saints ranked sixth in the category. In the January 16, 2010 divisional playoff game against the Arizona Cardinals, Saints defensive players were assessed $15,000 in fines for fouls committed against opposing players. The following week, in the NFC Championship Game against the Minnesota Vikings, Saints defensive players were assessed $30,000 in fines for four separate illegal hits, several of which were directed against quarterback Brett Favre.

[NonProfitCow]

Schefter reporting that there's some sort of snag with Tebow's contract that could nullify the trade.

 

Jets-Broncos agreed to Tim Tebow trade before Denver asked NY to pay back portion of bonuses and salary already paid to Tebow. No deal yet.

 

I think the portion he's talking about is 5 million.

[NonProfitCow]

Oh, and if the deal falls through Tebow to the Rams (WTF) looks likely.

[OleMissCub]

Apparently Shockey was the snitch, or at least that is what Warren Sapp is tweeting.

[NonProfitCow]

Apparently Shockey was the snitch, or at least that is what Warren Sapp is tweeting.

Wow, wouldn't have pegged him to be the lone person affiliated with the Saints to have some integrity.

[Banedon]

Apparently Shockey was the snitch, or at least that is what Warren Sapp is tweeting.

Wow, wouldn't have pegged him to be the lone person affiliated with the Saints to have some integrity.

 

He probably did it more as an "I'll show them" gesture than some sense of moral responsibility. If that helps you out any.

[OleMissCub]

Apparently Shockey was the snitch, or at least that is what Warren Sapp is tweeting.

Wow, wouldn't have pegged him to be the lone person affiliated with the Saints to have some integrity.

 

no doubt he would have had that same integrity if they hadn't cut him

[CubmanPi]

I wonder what the bounty for Shockey will be.

[NonProfitCow]

Apparently Shockey was the snitch, or at least that is what Warren Sapp is tweeting.

Wow, wouldn't have pegged him to be the lone person affiliated with the Saints to have some integrity.

 

He probably did it more as an "I'll show them" gesture than some sense of moral responsibility. If that helps you out any.

Nah, I like to imagine he had a real heart to heart with Kyle Turley and decided it was the right thing to do for the NFL.

[NonProfitCow]

Meanwhile, Drew Brees says that Payton is great coach and man and he "really needs to hear an explanation for this."

[Smack]

I wonder what the bounty for Shockey will be.

 

snitches get stitches

[El Duderino]

I wonder how long Vilma will get suspended.

[UMFan83]

I could really see this ending the Saints run, or at least seriously hurting it. I know the Saints lost a few guys via FA this offseason and havent made any pickups to my knowledge. I don't know how much that has to do with this scandal or if its just normal NFL business, but it certainly doesn't make the Saints beter. Then you have Brees unhappy about not having a long term deal. There's just a black cloud over the entire organization from the GM, head coach, assistant coaches, and the players.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

A snag in the Tebow deal? Oh well. On entertainment value alone it's a win for the Jets. Considering that the Jets want to run the ball a crapton and the new OC is familiar with the WildCat/Option/Pistol/whatever it was even an interesting football move.

 

Not that i would complain if they called take backs...

[OleMissCub]

I know the Saints lost a few guys via FA this offseason and havent made any pickups to my knowledge.

 

Basically replaced Carl Nicks with Ben Grubbs and signed Brodrick Bunkley. That's about it.

[minnesotacubsfan]

The Aints are back!

[OleMissCub]

The Aints are back!

 

They'll still make the playoffs next year.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

I know the Saints lost a few guys via FA this offseason and havent made any pickups to my knowledge.

 

Basically replaced Carl Nicks with Ben Grubbs and signed Brodrick Bunkley. That's about it.

 

Fortunately for them those are two really good moves. Bunkley is a great compliment to Ellis. Underrated player. Grubbs is a solid with the kind of road grading pedigree the Saints really seem to like.

[hawkeyecub]

The Vikings should get one of those 2nd round picks the Saints had to give up. Or both. Or just award us the Super Bowl from that year.

[Soul]

I could really see this ending the Saints run, or at least seriously hurting it. I know the Saints lost a few guys via FA this offseason and havent made any pickups to my knowledge. I don't know how much that has to do with this scandal or if its just normal NFL business, but it certainly doesn't make the Saints beter. Then you have Brees unhappy about not having a long term deal. There's just a black cloud over the entire organization from the GM, head coach, assistant coaches, and the players.

 

That's what happens when you use witch doctors to curse your way to a Super Bowl.

[erik316wttn]

I'm wondering if the pending litigation against the NFL regarding concussions made the penalties more severe than they would have been. If one of those cases sees the inside of a courtroom, opposing lawyers would have been flaunting the Saints punishment as proof that the league doesn't care about safety if it wasn't bordering on excessive. I think part of this is covering their asses, not that I don't think it isn't justified. I'd have taken away 2 first-rounders instead of 2 second-rounders, though.

 

I wonder how long it'll be before Williams is reinstated by the league. You'd think at least a year, as they can't make it "indefinite" and then have him come back before Peyton.

 

Goodell possesses a mighty hammer, that's for sure.

[NonProfitCow]

I wonder how long it'll be before Williams is reinstated by the league. You'd think at least a year, as they can't make it "indefinite" and then have him come back before Peyton.

I heard on the radio that he will be re-evaluated after the season. No idea if it's true though.

[PriortoTheoIhadWood]

Jets and Broncos are splitting the 5 million and the trade is official. Really like this trade for the direction my team is taking the offense this year...Sucks that Sanchez's suckage kind of forced that hand, but in the end it doesn't really matter. Tebow isn't here to be a QB, but he's enough of a threat and presence to give the Jets kind of a "bullpen" of QBs (him, Stanton, and McElroy) that they haven't had in a while. Weird to have 4 QBs and not one trustworthy passer, but I guess teams like the Chiefs are going through this same thing with lesser athletic talents.

 

Plus, I'm optimistic on Sanchez the passer next year.

[ELCABALLO45]

Meanwhile, Drew Brees says that Payton is great coach and man and he "really needs to hear an explanation for this."

 

This was the best part.

 

Hey Drew, how about you have defensive players put money on your head every week and get cheap shot after cheap shot and then we will see if you need an explanation for it. Saints got off easy, should of been 1st round picks not 2nd round picks.

 

So glad Thompson picked McCarthy over Payton.

 

/end rant.