This whole New Orleans Saints Bounty Gate Scandal keeps getting more and more ridiculous with every passing day and now the NFL and it’s Commissioner Roger Goodell can’t seem to find a hole big enough to hide the stupidity they have unfolded.
Watching ESPN SportsCenter yesterday it was revealed that the NFL Players Association filed papers in federal court pointing out that the NFL permitted a 1996 incentive program for big hits and Reggie White one of football’s biggest names was at the center of the whole Smash for Cash program back when he was a Green Bay Packers defensive lineman.
- Saints player suspension overturned proves Roger Goodell Overreached.
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In the report filed by the union it was cited media reports about White’s “smash-for-cash” program that paid $500 for big plays, including big hits.
The union is now asking why NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell should now be able to suspend former Saints linebacker Scott Fujita for offering then-New Orleans teammates rewards for big plays during the 2009 season.
I have written several articles ever since this stupid bounty scandal started and I have always pointed out that these so called bounty programs have always been a part of football at every level and it is never done to harm anyone but to further incentivize players in the locker room to play even harder.
It has always been clear from the get go that Roger Goodell and his cronies up there at the NFL office are using this Bounty Gate Scandal to put a face to the NFL’s continuing Concussion issue and with all the lawsuit popping up every second they had to do something fast.
While I have always agreed with the suspensions of Sean Payton, Gregg Williams, Mickey Loomis as the architects of the bounty program – I never agreed with the suspension Anthony Hargrove, Jonathan Vilma, Will Smith and Scott Fujita. Player suspension to me was just an overreach by the commissioner.
This was a very insightful seven minutes of reporting on ESPN that went a long way to prove all I have been saying all these months about the NFL and it’s witch-hunt in New Orleans was true. The reports, now nearly 16 years old, include players from other teams discussing similar pools climbing into the thousands of dollars.
Troy Vincent (Vincent now works for the NFL as a vice president overseeing player engagement) then a defensive back with Philadelphia, discusses a similar player-funded incentive program run by Eagles players.
If you didn’t see the video yet check it out above.
So what is the NFL’s response to the Smash for Cash Program?
“The ‘Smash-for-Cash’ program is within the rules as long as players use their own monies, the amounts are not exorbitant, and the payments are not for illegal hits.”
- Saints player suspension overturned proves Roger Goodell Overreached.
- Is the NFL Investigation into New Orleans Saints Bounty Gate Hypocritical?
- NFL and Fans Overreaction To New Orleans Saints Bounty Program is Hypocritical
From what I can remember from the Saints Bounty Program, were they not offering similar amount for hits and big plays, or was someone offering hundreds of thousands and no one told us about it?
