10 NFL offseason headlines no fan wants to see

Apr 30, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Dante Fowler Jr. (Florida) poses for a photo with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected as the number third overall pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first round of the 2015 NFL Draft at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports /

8 of 11

Jan 6, 2016; Metairie, LA, USA; Sean Payton talks to the media after announcing he will remain as the head coach for the New Orleans Saints during a press conference at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

4. Coach Sean Payton suspended for a year (2012)

In 2012, the head coach of the New Orleans Saints was banned without pay for an entire season due to his alleged role in Bountygate, a payment system that rewarded players for aggressive hits on opposing players.

In addition to Payton’s one-year suspension, defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely and general manager Mickey Loomis was banned for the first eight regular season games. It was the first time in NFL history that a general manager and head coach were suspended. The team also lost second-round draft picks in 2012 and 2013 and had to pay a $500,000 fine.

In 2015, the New England Patriots were fined and stripped of their 2016 first-round pick because of Deflategate. Quarterback Tom Brady was suspended over the same scandal. The four-game was overturned on appeal in 2015, but then upheld this off season after the NFL appealed that ruling.

Certain fans might welcome news of punishment on rival teams, but when the punishment meted out by commissioner Roger Goodell and deemed arbitrary by the courts, all fans should be nervous.

Next: 3. Any headline involving the 2015 49ers

Home/Baltimore Ravens