Four Saints' Players Suspended

(Associated Press)

Well it doesn't look like Sean Payton will be the only one facing the consequences for the Saints' Bounty Program, Roger Goodell announced early Wednesday that four Saints' players will also be facing a suspension.  Linebacker Jonathan Vilma received the harsher punishment of the four players, has been suspended the entire 2012 season effective immediately and will last through the Super Bowl.  During its investigation, the NFL found that Vilma pledged $10,000 in cash to any Saints player who knocked former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner out of the 2009 divisional playoffs as well the same offer for Favre during the NFC title game.  Along with Vilma, defensive tackle Anthony Hargrove, who is now a member of the Green Bay Packers, has been suspended 8 games, defensive end Will Smith has been suspended 4 games, and linebacker Scott Fujita, now a member of the Cleveland Browns, has been suspended 3 games.  All suspensions are without pay and although Vilma suspension is immediate, Hargrove, Smith, and Fujita are allowed to participate in their teams offseason and preseason activities.

"No bounty program can exist without active player participation.  The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program.  Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within these rules." -NFL Commission Roger Goodell

All suspensions for each player is expected to be appealed, in which each case will be heard by Goodell.  Evidence against the players include Fujita pledging a significant amount of money in the Saints' bounty program, Hargrove submitted a sign declaration to the NFL that the Saints' bounty program existed and that he was an active participant in the program, and Smith helped former Saints' defensive coordinator Gregg Williams create and fund the bounty pool while he was a captain of the defense.  The Saints' bounty program ran from 2009-2011 and paid out improper cash bonuses for hits aimed at harming or knocking out opposing players.  It was discovered that 27 Saints were involved in the bounty program. Saints' head coach Sean Payton suspension began April 16th and will last the entire 2012 season through the Super Bowl and was also fined $500,000.