Goodell Lowers the Boom on the Saints, Tebow to the Jets, The Big Dance resumes tonight
Mar 22nd, 2012 by dmack
New Orlean’s HC Sean Payton suspended for ALL of 2012, Tebow wanted the Jets
Forget about what came first, the chicken of the egg ??? What came first, the Saints Bountygate suspensions or the Tim Tebow trade. Around noon on Wednesday, the NFL blew up with two blockbuster stories that have dominated sports radio and TV ever since. The Saints front office was gutted by Commisioner Roger Goodell with HC Sean Payton getting suspended for a year and GM Mickey Lewis getting an eight game suspension. Within seconds came the news that Tim Tebow was sent to the Jets for a fourth and sixth round draft pick.
In all, the Saint suspension amounted to this …. HC Sean Payton suspended for one year. Ex-Saints DC and current (team cut ties today) Rams DC Gregg is suspended indefintely. His status will be reviewed at the end of the 2012 season. General manager Mickey Loomis was susended eight games. Linebackers coach and several players that participated in the bounty program will be fines and or supended. The Saints were fined $500,000 and docked their second-round picks in both 2012 and 2013. The suspensions are without pay and start April 1, 2012.
Goodell’s statement
“The NFL’s extensive investigation established the existence of an active bounty program on the Saints during the 2009, 2010, and 2011 seasons in violation of league rules, a deliberate effort to conceal the program’s existence from league investigators,” said the NFL in a statement, “and a clear determination to maintain the program despite express direction from Saints ownership that it stop as well as ongoing inquiries from the league office.”
“We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game,” Goodell said. “We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities. No one is above the game or the rules that govern it. Respect for the game and the people who participate in it will not be compromised.”
“A combination of elements made this matter particularly unusual and egregious. When there is targeting of players for injury and cash rewards over a three-year period, the involvement of the coaching staff, and three years of denials and willful disrespect of the rules, a strong and lasting message must be sent that such conduct is totally unacceptable and has no place in the game.”
The harshness of the suspensions and penalties sends a crystal clear message will not tolerate nonsense regarding the players health or well being. With hundred-million dollar law suits arriving weekly at the NFL offices, the last thing the league needs is liability issues because of bounties. The Saints and the rest of the league had been warned before yet continued. In BOTN’s opinion, the penalties are just and appropriate. It will be interesting to see if this is the end of it or if offer teams will ultimately become involved.
It was originally thought that Tim Tebow had originally requested a return to Jacksonville or Miami. Ultimately, Tebow saw his best opportunity with the Jets and that’s where he’ll play this year after the Jets swapped a fourth and sixth round draft pick to Denver for Tebow and a seventh rounder. The deal had originally hit a snag when it was revealed that Tebow’s contract required any team acquiring Tebow to pay back Denver $5.06 million in advanced salary. The teams split the difference and the deal went through.
Tonight in the NCAA tournament
Syracuse -3.5 over Wisconsin (120.5) , 7:15 PM EST
Michigan State -5 over Louisville (125), 7:45 PM EST
Ohio State -7.5 over Cincinnati (129), 9:45 PM EST
Marquette -2 over Florida (147), 10:15 PM EST
Baeball is right around the corner and the first pitch will be in Japan on March 28th when the Mariners face the A’s. Here are a few of the available props to get you in the mood.
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(NBA) Memphis -1.5 over Portland
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