Darren Sharper responds to "Bounty Gate"
 

The NFL’s investigation regarding the use by the Saints of a bounty program began after a Super Bowl run that featured big hits on Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner and Vikings quarterback Brett Favre.

“Our investigation began in early 2010 when allegations were first made that Saints players had targeted opposing players, including Kurt Warner of the Cardinals and Brett Favre of the Vikings,” Commissioner Goodell said in the league’s release announcing the determination that the “bounty” rules had been violated. “Our security department interviewed numerous players and other individuals. At the time, those interviewed denied that any such program existed and the player that made the allegation retracted his earlier assertions. As a result, the allegations could not be proven. We recently received significant and credible new information and the investigation was re-opened during the latter part of the 2011 season.”

That “significant and credible new information” possibly came from a former Saints player or coach with direct knowledge of the bounty program.

NFL.com news: Ex-Saints safety Sharper calls allegations of bounties 'ridiculous'

League says they have documentation and GW has already apologized for his role in it.

The Saints can't un-ring the bell now.

I don't really think this is damaging....stupid but not a real issue. Unless I am not fully seeing implications.

What documentation? What forenics? Really? Where did they get it from? Who were the investigators? I think the fans, not to mention the people being "presumed guilty", have a right to see the damn evidence..... And by everything im reading, this has Gregg Williams written all over it! And how convenient for him to be already gone!

Here's my thing, I have always said that since these fines the league had been dishing out had become so many in nature that players and coaches might set up some fund so that the defense could go out and play with a mind free off " How should I tackle this guy " or is this leagal, or not. I know this is not what that was, but that is how I would be thinking.

And I haven't seen this mentioned by anyone. Our Tackling has sucked since after the 09 season, I've seen no one on stretchers but our players ( Tracy Porter, Courtney Roby ). As much as you try you can't taint those victories. One you had refs in place who are supposed to call the game down the middle. So your telling me in 09 they were told in the Two just two years beyond winning that game we had the same thing done to us in San Fran!!!!

Witch hunt if you ask me!!!!!

I think there is either more to the story or not much to the story. I don't feel they have given us enough information for the public to decided for themselves what really happened yet.

Right now its just a rush to judgement and careful wording going on that there is no exact account to what happened.

Glad we aren't in the NCAA.

Another reason we should have got rid of GW in my opinion. I just didn't like what he was doing and rubbed me the wrong way after that first year. So glad the jerk is gone. But if you look at the way the D played it sort of makes sense... deliver a knock out hit and get money and fame in the locker room but to hell with technique when it comes to tackling?

Its not like this is a surprise... teams do this all the time. I am not scared of the NFL handing out punishments. I don't thing the Saints should be slapped with anything to heavy. I won't lose sleep over it. But if they have hard evidence and want to make examples then hit up the individuals hard for it so Loomis pays a fine. GW gets a fine and 4 game suspension.

They could lose draft picks for this. Including a 1st rounder. You can't intentionally try to hurt other players for a bounty. That's not the spirit of the game. It's a physical rough game but it's not about intentionally hurting people for a bounty. That's beyond dirty.

The league says they have the documentation and some have already admitted to this apparently. If that's really the case punishment can and probably will be handed down.

I agree they can't un-ring it. It's pretty serious and it could have a punishment along with it.

So i'm just curious..... No one believes what Sharper is saying? He has no reason to remain loyal to the organization.... Williams is obviously slime... He knew about it but did nothing? He had complete control over the defense, and he has already been exposed for doing it in Washington.... Bet he did it in Jacksonville... Now he wants to taint our team, because he isnt here anymore? No one, other than Williams has "confirmed" anything..... So im holding my judgement, until Payton, and Loomis release a statement....

And as far as Benson's statement? He's so far out of the loop, anything he says is almost conjecture....

This is just ammo for the SAINTS to go out this year and win it all out right. This way there would be no doubts that the SAINTS are champions. !!!WHO DAT!!!! The NFL is turning into a bunch of sissy's if you ask me. If a player is afraid to make a hit it completely hinders them from giving it there all. Each player has the fine they are going to get in the back of there minds when they are on the field now. I wonder if the fans can protest the league rules on this? This mine as well be two hand touch football. Go out there, take your hits, and be a man about it. Isn't that what footbal was all about?

Man I just woke up and everyones talking about this. I hope don't become a problem for use. Espn is saying they can take draft picks away.

We now have our "us against the world" attitude back.

Goosfraba!

Bounties part of the game
 

Prices were set on Saturday nights in the team hotel.

In a makeshift meeting room, with the whisper of evening traffic pouring in from the Beltway, we laid our bounties on opposing players. We targeted big names, our sights set on taking them out of the game

Matt Bowen: Bounties are part of the NFL - chicagotribune.com

The funny part about all this is, is it has no face. Sources say, NFL Security, or like this story I can tell you how it happened but I won't put my name in it. The media condemns the players for not coming out and saying who you are when you attack another player verbally but when they print stories like this one it is fine to Go with its a former Washington Redskins player. Crap!!!

The more this stuff comes out, the less we should be hammered. Maybe if Goddell quit counting his money for a minute and actuall payed attention to stuff, this wouldn't have been such an atrocity!

Darren Sharper gives an insiders view of bounty system
 

Bounties obviously didnt help our D
 

So you mean to tell me that there was money on the table and we still couldnt hit/ cover people. Maybe they should have upped the bounty. it almost looked like they were getting paid NOT to hit someone. The league should look at the tapes from the last 2 years and they will see that our D was not trying to hurt anyone...in fact they avoided hitting people

I'm old school......I thought bounty hunters rode horses and had wanted posters..........Wanted Dead or Alive!!

What doesn't make sense to me is the amounts they are talking about. $1000 for a player taken to the sidelines and $1500 if they are taken off in a cart. With fines handed out of up to $50000 it doesn't make sense to risk that large a fine and possible suspension to try for those small bounties. Even for a $10000 bounty for a Manning or a Farve it still doesn't make sense.