Who Dat?

Roger Goodell brought the hammer down on the New Orleans Saints for their little bounty games. It was severe yet deserving. Goodell showed that he doesn't just discipline players. He'll go after anyone that threatens the game. Here's the punishment:

-The New Orleans Saints are fined $500,000.
-The Saints will forfeit their selections in the second round of the 2012 and 2013 NFL Drafts
-Head Coach Sean Payton is suspended without pay for the 2012 season, effective April 1.
-General Manager Mickey Loomis is suspended without pay for the first eight regular season games of the 2012 season.
-Former Saints (and current St. Louis Rams) defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is suspended indefinitely from the NFL, effective immediately. Commissioner Goodell will review Williams' status at the conclusion of the 2012 season and consider whether to reinstate him.
-Saints assistant Head Coach/linebacker coach Joe Vitt is suspended without pay for the first six regular season games of the 2012 season.
-Individual players will be disciplined at a later date.

I assume that the loss of two second round picks is due to the Saints not having a first round pick this year. Personally, I'd have taken the second this year and the first next year. At first, I was a little surprised that Payton was suspended for the entire season. That was until I read the statement from the league and saw all that I pretty much already knew laid out nice and neat. It was a fitting punishment that fit the crime. What was incredibly surprising was Payton's and quarterback Drew Brees' reaction to the punishment handed down. Payton was "speechless". Brees "wants an explanation." They lived this fiasco. They should have seen something severe coming. It's a complete disconnect from reality to be surprised by the punishments for bounties on opposing players. It's a serious, dangerous game that these clowns played. They lived it and they still don't get it? To summarize, Payton encouraged a nasty defense, acknowledged Williams' bounty system, ignored his own boss when told to end it, and then lied about all of it and encouraged his staff to do the same. Payton's very lucky that he wasn't suspended indefinitely with his idiot defensive coordinator. It's remarkable that any involved with this mess can still express surprise or anger to the punishments or the reactions of most. Everyone involved knew that they were doing something wrong. Why else would they have lied about it? For about the fiftieth time former Saints safety Darren Sharper hopped on a TV studio set and denied everything. Denied that his team did anything wrong. Payton, Williams, Loomis, everyone has confessed. There's no denying it. It's out there and the Saints hammered the integrity of the game. Face the music and enjoy that tainted Super Bowl.