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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Mad Stork Sports Podcast For 3-7-12

If you missed this show, then you missed a doozie.
The opinions were flying and the passion was high.
Peyton Manning released, Drew Brees crying like a
baby, and Gregg Williams ready to lay one last
bounty on ME. Check it out !



Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

Ranting With Rizzo Podcast For 3-3-12

The latest podcast is here for your downloading
pleasure. In case you missed anything from the
show Saturday or just want to make sure I didn't
contradict myself, here it is. Enjoy !



Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

Saints Bounty Gate Is Not Cheating Just Stupid, Criminal

Andrew Weber, US Presswire

In my last post, I without question eluded to the fact
that I felt this latest thing going on with the New
Orleans Saints and Gregg Williams was in fact a form
of cheating, and yet I have since had a change of heart.

It's not cheating, because football players get paid
to throw, run, score, catch, and yes HIT anyway.
What it is though, is stupid, and it's stupid on much
more than one level, for it to be necessary to provide
extra financial incentive for players to be more
aggressive in their tackling or hitting of opposing
players is absolutely ridiculous. As a coach have to
ask yourself, how much does this player who is making
anywhere from the rookie minimum of $285, and needs to
absolutely prove himself to stay with the team in even
the smallest of capacities want it, if a mere extra
$5-$10k bounty is going to add more incentive?
A veteran who could be making millions must also know
that a players career life expectancy is only a few
very short years in the NFL, and he can't possibly
believe that a bounty that small is going to make
enough of difference in his life. Why risk really
maiming a fellow player or yourself if something goes
wrong?

I keep hearing how this has been going on forever,
and how few if any of the players are surprised.
So what, that makes it OK? I thought I had a problem
with this when I first heard about it, but now the
only problem I have with it, is how stupid it is.
I will however have a bigger problem with the league
if they don't make an example of the Saints, Gregg
Williams, Mikey Loomis and anyone else who had an
active part in this sham. Commissioner Goodell has
been fining guys like James Harrison major dollars
for what he deems as dangerous and illegal hits, well
it's time to make sure he doesn't make a hypocrite of
himself and brings down the hammer. Don't preach
player safety and code of conduct and the allow this
to go on under your watch. I have said it before
however, and I'll say it again, unless you hit the
Saints and teams like them where it really hurts,
nothing will change. It's true that in most cases
if you hit a team in the pocketbook, it's a good
deterrent, but in this case you need to send a message
to all teams who blatantly break rules like this, in
one very prominent manner. If the team won a title
during the season that these violations occur, strip
the title, I can bet you, you will get their attention.
Money would hurt them, but it's almost a wash because
they pretty much made that up when they won, but when
you hit a team in their pride, they are bound to pay
attention.

This is a pipe dream of course. No Commissioner in
any major league outside of perhaps FIFA has that kind
spine, and I don't expect it from Roger Goodell either.

Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

Ranting With Rizzo - Live

"Ranting with Rizzo" is on at 12 Noon and news
out of the NFL is big, but since it's always big,
that means this time it's bigger than usual.
Here my take on the latest, and some NBA talk.
Tune in to 1170AM WDIS and WDISAM.Com
Join the discussion. Rizzo@WDISAM.Com


Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis

Who Dat Saints With Dirty Faces?

(Photo by Al Messerschmidt/Getty Images)

The news today should be of surprise to no one who
is a sports fan of ANY sport. Athletes and coaches
are human just like you and I, and though you may
not cheat, you sure know someone who does or has.
Get used to it, the age of innocence is long over
with and may never return. Want to hurt teams
where it hurts almost as much if not more than their
pocket? Take away there Rings and Trophies, that is
sure to make them think twice before they do it again.
No Commissioner including Roger Goodell has the guts
to do it, so it won't happen. More to come I'm sure.


Tweet Don't Believe In Plays, Believe In Players - Al Davis