The New Orleans Saints are going to have a very rough road ahead. In what is likely one of the most sensational scandals in NFL history, the leaue suspended head coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012-13 season, their general manager Mickey Loomis for 8 games, assistant head coach Joe Vitt for 6 games and their former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (now with the St. Louis Rams) indefinitely. The league is still investigating the scandal and several players, possibly as many as 27, may also face single to multi game suspensions for their parts in the bounty scandal, but here is what we know so far:
Saints players under the direct knowledge and even guidance of Williams, participated in a pay for pain bounty program which involved knocking out opposing offensive players in games. $1500 was paid to knock a player out of a game and $1000 for a player being carted or helped off the field. These amounts were increased in playoffs including a $10,000 offer to knock Vikings then QB Brett Favre out of the game. Williams is at the center of the scandal because of leaked video footage before a 49ers game to injure key players on San Fran's offense. This led to an investigation that has spiraled into a bounty system that goes back several years and involves numerous players many of whom are no longer with the Saints. If Saints lose key defensive players like Jonathan Vilma to multiple game suspensions, this could lead to a complete devastation of the entire season for the Saints. Even if they manage to get my with minimum suspensions on their defense, the loss of their head coach will most likely be very costly to the Saints this season.
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