Brace Yourselves, Saints Fans (Merged Threads)

[Gallagher]

HAHAHa I told you guys that this was not going to be as bad as people predicted. No players suspended, no first round draft pics impacted, this is much better than I ever dreamed. Losing Peyton will not even have a real impact. The Saints are a well oiled machine and Peyton leaves them in trusted hands.

So glad it didn't impact any players!

You know hat hasn't happened yet as the NFLPA is handling the player discipline, right?

[Mother Grabber]

Hey look, the troll is back.

[beastson]

You are an idiot...player suspensions and fines are coming out later today.

And how the hell losing your coach wont have an impact? smh saints fans

[SauceBoss]

Has anybody ever won a division this early?

[PantherBrew]

[Matthias]

And the Saints board is on lockdown. (Man this was a big penalty) Gregg Williams suspended indefinitely!

[atljbo]

[blackcatgrowl]

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d5d827c0dd9/article/nfl-suspends-saints-coach-payton-for-one-year-without-pay?module=HP11_breaking_news

The NFL announced Wednesday that New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton will be suspended for one season without pay for his involvement in the team's bounty program. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended for eight games. Former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams has been suspended indefinitely.

The NFL revealed March 2 the findings of a lengthy investigation into a Saints "bounty" program that gave thousands of dollars in payoffs to players for hits that knocked opponents out of games. The program, administered by then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, reached its height in 2009, the season the Saints won the Super Bowl.

The program ran in violation of league rules, and the investigation showed that Saints players received $1,500 for a "knockout" hit and $1,000 for a "cart-off" hit, with payouts doubling or tripling during the team's three playoff appearances.

The NFL Players Association formally requested that the league not punish the 22 to 27 players it cited in the scandal until the union had completed its independent investigation, which is underway, an NFLPA source told NFL.com's Steve Wyche.

The league initially did not respond to the union's request. The NFL told the NFLPA last Thursday, according to SI.com, that it was free to question any current or former Saints officials about the matter, but that it would not delay announcing its own decisions.

"We have given your requests careful consideration, and have concluded that there is no basis for delaying the imposition of any discipline in this matter, and particularly not as it may apply to a club or any non-player employee of a club," NFL attorney Jeff Pash wrote in the letter to union general counsel Richard Berthelsen on Wednesday. "Any disciplinary action affecting any player would be imposed only in a manner consistent with our Collective Bargaining Agreement. As you know, the sole authority to investigate and impose discipline in this matter rests with the Commissioner."

Williams, now defensive coordinator of the Rams, has admitted to and apologized for running the program.

Saints head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis also were implicated in the scandal, and they released a statement March 6 in which they took full responsibility for the violations.

"We acknowledge that the violations disclosed by the NFL during their investigation of our club happened under our watch. We take full responsibility. This has brought undue hardship on (owner Tom) Benson, who had nothing to do with this activity. He has been nothing but supportive and for that we both apologize to him.

"These are serious violations and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game. Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again, and make that same promise to the NFL and most importantly to all of our fans."

All I can say is .... WOW!

I didn't think Sean Peyton would take as hard a hammer blow.

I'm glad they kicked Greg Williams out of the league. That cock-sucker was dirty, and we all knew it.

[HeatCheck]

Rams just need to go ahead and fire Gregg Williams. Move on and find a D Coordinator. He's suspended indefinitely.

[ncmonzta]

Oh N.O. the voodoo that you do. :cam:

[KillerKat]

lmfao! awesome!

[Swarly]

I feel like there has never been a more appropriate time to use this gif.

[tondi]

"League's investigation says it found bounties on Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Kurt Warner." sry no link at the moment.

Wouldn't surprise me if one for SS was in there somewhere as well.

[Car123]