New Orleans Saints Receive NFL Death Penalty

I think we can all agree that this is a huge blow to
the Saints and their fans, but don't cry for them.
As I alluded to on Twitter earlier (@MadStorkSports),
the Saints and their fans got a Super Bowl victory
out of this, and losing for the next few years is
something they've been used to in the past anyway.
I can assure you that fans in Cleveland and Detroit
would be more than happy to trade some more woeful
years of football if they could be guaranteed a
Lombardi trophy.

This punishment is harsh, but appropriate, not just
because of what they allowed to happen, but because
this NFL Commissioner stressed player safety, and to
allow this to happen under his watch, and then just
give what might be considered a slap on the wrist,
would easily make him a laughing stock around league
circles. I do have an issue though with the length
of suspensions for HC Sean Payton & GM Mickey Loomis
however. Initial reports had Owner Tom Benson with
knowledge of what was going on telling Loomis to stop
it, and Loomis did not. It was also reported earlier
that Payton knew less about it, than Loomis did, so
unless that information was either wrong or updated
Loomis is the guy who should be out for the year and
Payton for eight games.

The Gregg Williams thing is a huge blow, but more to
Williams and the St. Louis Rams than to the Saints.
Williams is gone, and was supposed to be the new DC
for Jeff Fisher and the Rams, and now he may have to
look for a different career altogether. Willaims
penalty is indefinite, and if Payton's was one year
and he wasn't directly involved you can only imagine
that Gregg Williams will get more, and in pro sports
time is your enemy. Though Williams is not a player
and has a longer life span than a player, he will be
a little aged once his time suspended ends.

With all this being said, the Saints got off easy.
Why? Well, it's a completely different discussion
altogether, but if you make the case that this type
of incentive helped propel the Saints to their Super
Bowl title since it happened during that season, then
you can make the case that they should be stripped of
it as well. Like I said, it's a completely different
argument entirely, but if you don't do this, then some
teams will definitely feel it might be worth the gamble
in order to bring their franchise a Lombardi Trophy.
Just Sayin'.



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