Roger Goodell Unleashes the Banhammer on the New Orleans Saints

The NFL today announced how the New Orleans Saints will be punished for their "bounty hunter" program. Their punishment is as follows:

• Head Coach Sean Payton has been suspended without pay for the 2012 season, effective April 1, 2012.
• Former Defensive Coordinator (now with St. Louis Rams) Gregg Williams has been indefinitely suspended from the NFL.
• General Manager Mickey Loomis will be suspended without pay for the first 8 regular season games.
• Assistant Head Coach Joe Vitt will be suspended without pay for the first 6 regular season games.
• Fine of $500,000
• Forfeiture of 2012 and 2013 2nd Round Draft Picks

After the 2012 season, NFL commisioner Roger Goodell will review Williams' status and whether or not to reinstate him or make his suspension longer. Goodell has also publicly stated that he would have also have announced player suspensions, but the NFL Players' Association wants to review the case first and decide along with the NFL which players should be suspended and for how long. It is very obvious however, that Defensive Captain Jonathon Vilma will be hit the hardest for offering a $10,000 bounty to anyone who could knock out Brett Favre from the 2010 NFC Championship Game.

This is the harshest penalty the NFL has ever given out to a team for violating league policy. Although most people are surprised at how hard the league came down on the Saints, most are not arguing that the punishment is too harsh. The NFL had to send a message that the culture in the NFL must change for the betterment of player safety and paying players non-contract bonuses for knocking players out of games is unacceptable. Many Saints players have vented their frustrations on ESPN and the NFL Network, showcasing their incredible ignorance. Many players have said the NFL is punishing them for hard hits, which is absolutely untrue. Sean Payton and Gregg Williams had a bounty program which they deliberately tried to hide from the NFL. Drew Brees is also displeased, demanding an explanation for why the Saints were punished so hard... so Goodell explained exactly why in an interview with ESPN's lead NFL insider, Adam Schefter.

Goodell made it clear that he is confident there will never be another bounty program in the NFL. If there is one, you can expect a much harsher penalty. Now, I'm not one to usually say certain geographical regions are dumber than others, but just take a look at this poll ESPN took today:

It's not a coincidence the Deep South is opposed to the penalties incurred by the Saints.