Rickh

I don't believe this is about the "bounty system" or "player safety" at all. Two things drove this hard punishment.

1. Fear of future lawsuits (concussions etc..) they are coming but the commish can now say he is Mr. Safety for the players and he's awesome so nobody can sure the NFL for ignoring player safety.

2. and this is the big one, this is THE reason he came down hard. Arrogance. The NFL warned Saints management and Payton and other lied about it and didn't stop the practice. Payton thumbed his nose at Goodell's "authorita" (Cartman voice).

I, for one, love Payton's arrogance, I wouldn't trade it for the world. When he gets back in 2013 there will be a huge standing 'O' for the coach. Contrast this to when Goodell makes it down to the Superdome for a game and gets his face put up on the screen. The chorus of BOO's will be deafening. Payton will come back to the league on a mission.

In Febuary of 2014 just imagine him getting the Lombardi trophy from Goodell on the stage. I'm living for that image now, God can take me soon after