Question for the Forum
 

What is the league/Goodell going to do if, despite all of the forfeited draft choices, suspension of coaches, Loomis and players, the Saints still have a winning season, maybe even win the Super Bowl?

What deterrence is left for Goodell to use against other teams that may do something like the Saints?

That Goodell is in fact, "The Manimal", and he will turn into a panther, and attack Tom Benson......

Even if we just make the playoffs, that'd be a huge blow to Roger! However, I don't see that happening. We still have the player penalties to go and apparently Goodell is intent on making us the example

It costs the people involved millions. Payton is losing 7 million alone.


There really isn't a connection between the bounty deterrents and the 2012 Saints.

The bounty deterrent are obviously meant to put the Saints at a disadvantage.

If the 2012 Saints, for the sake of argument, win the Super Bowl, then doesn't that mean the punishments meted out by Goodell and the league, failed?

I can see the Superbowl T-shirt design already.

SuperBowl Champions on the front, and a middle finger followed by the NFL shield on the back...

No. Those involved were not suspended to net any result other than the suspension itself (loss of income, overall participation included).

If James Harrison is suspended 1 game and the Steelers win, did the suspension fail?

Apples & oranges comparison.

How is suspending one player similiar to suspending a HC for a year, GM for 8 games, another coach for 6 games, and the potential suspensions of 22-27 defensive players?

Because they were all involved...Heavily.

And lied about it, hence the suspensions.

You're suggesting the suspensions were leveed to keep the team from contending. Well, if upwards of 30 ppl from the organization weren't involved, then we wouldn't be having this conversation.

If it was just the players, that would be one thing.

But suspending coaches + the GM + taking draft choices is meant to send a message to the rest of the teams.

I don't think that Goodell was seriously trying to hurt our chances at "contending", trying to send a message to other teams is not the same thing.

Ask yourself this: Who lied?

The GM?
The Coach?

And who is ultimately responsible?

The Owner?
The Organization?

Look man, this thing stinks to high heaven. And I firmly believe the Saints were excessively punished, as an organization. But Loomis and Payton and Williams (especially) put the entire franchise at risk when they allowed this to continue AFTER being warned by the commish of the league - the SAME guy who has been trigger-happy on safety since becoming the commissioner of the NFL. AND ALLOW IT TO BE VIDEO TAPED!!! :doh:

If Sean Payton wasn't such a good coach, his ass would be GONE

For the life of me, I don't know why Saints fans aren't more upset about losing the draft choices because that DIRECTLY shows Goodell over-reaching and wanting to hurt the team's future on-field abilities.

The punishment is supposed to fit the crime. What do draft picks have to do with "Bounty Gate" anyway???? Williams set this up: he's suspended. Payton, Loomis, Vitt let it go on: suspended. Why should the Commissioner hurt the on-field future of the team for past actions when he's already penalized...very harshly...those who did the dirty deeds? There's at least 35 other players on the team that weren't involved, so why penalize them...or the fans (who still have to pay full price for their tickets) by taking away draft picks and potentially hurting the team's future performance? Affecting the competitive balance of the league is WAY BEYOND what a Commissioner should be able to do.

It's like a high school suspending your kid for bad behavior and trying to garnish the parent's future wages.

Other than vindictiveness and Goodell wanting to make sure the team's future performance is impacted as much as possible, can somebody PLEASE enlighten me with the rationale for taking away future draft picks for past actions when you've already harshly penalized those responsible? I mean, let's face it, because of the cover-up the Commish had some valid reasons for suspending Payton (although it was overly harsh), Loomis, Vitt and perhaps even the players. But draft choices? How do those figure in???

And why aren't more of you upset by that???

WHAT THE?

Name one person that calls themselves a Saints fan that isn't pissed off at it?

Don't take offense Danno. It's just that in all the postings here and on other sites (profootball.com, etc.), I haven't seen comments on the fact that while there is some validity (weak, I'll grant you) for the Coach and GM suspensions, there really is none for the draft picks. That's what we should be screaming about because it shows Goodell's bias and real intentions are way beyond just punishing those he feels are responsible for past transgressions, and more towards trying to ensure the team isn't as competitive in the future.

Ive been saying the same thing sense this started. GW got what he deserved, feel sorry for the RAMs thou,lol. The rest is a little over the top, but the draft picks make no sense at all, unless your trying to affect the team as a whole.
The offense had nothing to do with this.

Draft picks: Because the next time somebody farts while Roger is in the room he wants to have history. He wants to be able to say, "The last time somebody farted in my presence I suspended, fined, and docked draft picks."

No that just means we overcame adversity. Either way we still wont be the same without SP at the reins but our system is good enough anyone can jump in and seem genious. But i'm sure Roger and the Viqueens wont likey.

OK... I can see that. But I think precedent was set with the Patriots cheating so everyone assumed we'd lose a pick. Two picks was more than I thought it would be, but the suspensions were grossly over the top.

When you get kicked in the balls, a titti-twister just doesn't get as much attention.

OK... I can see that. But I think precedent was set with the Patriots cheating so everyone assumed we'd lose a pick. Two picks was more than I thought it would be, but the suspensions were grossly over the top.

When you get kicked in the balls, a titti-twister just doesn't get as much attention.

Too funny Danno......:p
God-all is punishing the entire team and that is his way of punishing the owner who couldn't control his rogue team leaders. He is sending a message at all levels.

Well remember the seats for the Dome were already sold out at the time that the "bountygate" story was broken, -- they deliberately waited to announce the investigation or penalties until after the season ticket deadline, so people would NOT have time to cancel...that is why I think the draft picks may mysteriously be given back, because any penalties inflicted on the Saints THIS year, including losing Payton for the whole year, it doesn't really matter to the league or to Benson, because the Dome is already guaranteed sold out including the suites...NEXT year if the Saints are 5-11 and are STILL looking at another year or two of being penalized for this, I think that selling out the Dome will be a real problem.

I think what happens to the penalties may be influenced by what happens on the field and more importantly, at the box office. If the Saints suck and Benson's numbers at Champions Square etc. are way down, you will probably see those draft picks come back pretty quick.

Too funny Danno. Too funny.....;)

By punishing the entire team God-all is sending a message to all the owners. He will hurt you entire team if you don't follow along. This is all about getting to Benson who couldn't control his rogue team leaders. He's being very methodical about trying to dismantle our team.
However, he doesn't understand the New Orleans mentality. We don't field a 12th man we field 13!!! Who Dat Baby!:bng:

What can they do? Sit back & deal with it, IMO ... Goodell took his best shot and the Saints winning the NFC South will be more a testimony to their organization then an indication the punishment wasn't stiff enough ... looking around the league, a lot of lesser teams would buckle if something like this had been levied on them.

I don't see what, if any, feasible deterrence is left for Goodell. If suspending a H/C and GM doesn't get all the team's attention in this matter and cause them to take more personal interest in covering their asses on this sort of stuff , nothing will.