Fansided

Tom Brady’s suspension and the harshest all-time NFL penalties

By Stanford Crissey

Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; General view of footballs before a game between the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 2, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; General view of footballs before a game between the Houston Texans and the Philadelphia Eagles at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A detail of a New Orleans Saints helmet on the field before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; A detail of a New Orleans Saints helmet on the field before a game against the Minnesota Vikings at Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

New Orleans Saints, “Bountygate”

In 2010, it was found that Saints players and coaches started a “bounty” program built around targeting opposing players (such as star quarterbacks) to earn money in the locker room. Specifically implicated were defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and former linebacker Scott Fujita.

The NFL handed down one of its harshest punishments when Sean Payton was suspended for one year without pay for his involvement in the team’s bounty program. General manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for eight games. The Saints were also fined $500,000 and forfeited second-round picks in the 2012 and 2013 NFL Drafts.

The Patriots’ punishment isn’t quite as big as this. Losing head coach Bill Belichick for the season would probably kill them. But then it shouldn’t be, as it’s not a safety issue like bounties are. The NFL may have gone a little overboard in the “bountygate” punishment, but at least it was in a worthwhile way. The NFL saw something that needed to be stamped out of the league, and did their best to do so–albeit in the most Goodell-era NFL way possible.

Next: New England Patriots, 2007

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