Should Sean Payton Appeal His Suspension?
SodaHead Sports
2012/03/28 19:00:00
|
|
|||||
|
25 votes
|
|
38% | |||
|
41 votes
|
|
62% | |||
New Orleans Saints head football coach Sean Payton hasn't yet decided whether he'll appeal his season-long suspension from the NFL, despite overwhelming support from many of his players -- including franchise quarterback Drew Brees. Payton, who coached the Saints to a Super Bowl championship in 2009, is currently suspended for lying to the NFL in regards to the team's bounty system that was put in place by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Williams is suspended indefinitely.
Many argue that it should be Payton who is suspended indefinitely, considering he is the head coach and knew defensive players were intentionally trying to send opponents to the hospital for illegal bonuses (illegal based on the agreement the NFL has with the players association).
However, as bad as Payton's actions (or lack thereof) are, his supporters will argue the SpyGate scandal involving the New England Patriots in 2007 had a far greater impact on the outcome of games, as head coach Bill Belichick and the organization were accused of spying and recording other teams' practices. Belichick was fined $500,000 (largest in league history at the time), but was not suspended by the NFL. Without an appeal in place, the Saints need to find a credible interim head coach during Payton's absence. Do you think Sean Payton should appeal his suspension?
Many argue that it should be Payton who is suspended indefinitely, considering he is the head coach and knew defensive players were intentionally trying to send opponents to the hospital for illegal bonuses (illegal based on the agreement the NFL has with the players association).
However, as bad as Payton's actions (or lack thereof) are, his supporters will argue the SpyGate scandal involving the New England Patriots in 2007 had a far greater impact on the outcome of games, as head coach Bill Belichick and the organization were accused of spying and recording other teams' practices. Belichick was fined $500,000 (largest in league history at the time), but was not suspended by the NFL. Without an appeal in place, the Saints need to find a credible interim head coach during Payton's absence. Do you think Sean Payton should appeal his suspension?
Payton allowed this to happen on his watch but Williams ran it. I truly believe that the whole mess started as a motivational tool for interceptions, causing fumbles, etc. It apparently devolved to rewards for "taking out" a player.
The reason I think Payton should appeal is that it Williams ran a similar system in Buffalo and other places before he came to the Saints. Yet he can ask for reinstatement at the same time Payton's year is up. I think Payton's punishment should be more like 8 games and $2 million.
GEAUX SAINTS!!
Football is inherently a tough, risky sport. Players endanger themselves every time the step out on the field.
Take the Saints-Vikes 2009 NFC Championship. The Saints beat the crap out of Brett Favre. He was their biggest threat. The Saints kept Adrian Peterson in check. The Saints drew some roughing penalties. And in the end of regulation the battering and intimidation paid off - in field goal range, Farve threw a pic that let the game go into overtime.
Do you really believe that the "bounties" made any difference on how the D would have gone after Favre?
I dislike Favre intensely. But to his credit even he said shortly after this "bounty" stuff made headlines, 'Now the truth comes out. That's good. But that's football. The only thing that really pisses me off about the whole thing is we lost the game. That's the thing about that day that still bothers me. And that's the way it goes. If they wanted me to testify in court about this, they'd be calling the wrong guy.'
However, my Saints institutionalized an illegal reward system that is specifically forbidden and then lied about it. Had they stopped "bounty" pool when the NFL had first investigated them over a year ago, this all would have been swept under the rug. It was the lying that caused the severity of the punishment. I just think the punishment is too severe.