NFL Scandal Continues: Four More Players Suspended For Bounties

NFL Scandal Continues: Four More Players Suspended For Bounties

NFL recently suspended New Orleans Saints defensive captain Jonathan Vilma without pay for all of next season on Wednesday and bans three other players for their roles in the team's cash-for-hits system that knocked key opponents out of games from 2009-11.

Three other players suspended without pay were defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith, Saints defensive end, and linebacker Scott Fujita.

The league said its investigation showed "a significant number of players participated" in the bounties by ponying up cash or collecting it.

Through his agent, Vilma issued a statement saying he is "shocked and extremely disappointed" by the punishment and denying he was a bounty ringleader.

The NFL said its investigation found out the Saints ran a bounty system for thousands of dollars offered for big hits that disadvantaged opponents. The league said 22 to 27 defensive players were involved in the illegal scheme, which was supervised by then-Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.

Allegedly, the targeted players included quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Cam Newton and Kurt Warner. "Knockouts" were worth $1,500 and "cart-offs" $1,000, with payments doubled or tripled for the playoffs.

Vilma will miss out on $1.6 million in base salary in 2012, while Fujita will lose more than $640,000, Hargrove more than $385,000, and Smith more than $190,000.

It is against NFL rules to dole out payments for such actions in a game, including interceptions or causing fumbles.  It is against NFL rules for any player, coach or captain to engage in such practices and warns all teams before each season. However, in the aftermath of the revelations about the Saints, current and former players from different teams revealed that sort of things are happening frequently.

Posted by Andre Monohan on Friday May 04 2012, 2:43 AM EST. Ref: CNN. All trademarks acknowledged. Filed under Featured News. Comments and Trackbacks closed. Follow responses: RSS 2.0