In the NFL's initial announcement of the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal, it was reported that as many as 27 players were involved in the program in some way. On Wednesday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suspended just four players for their roles in the bounty program.
Saints Punishment: NFL Explains Suspensions For Jonathan Vilma, Others
Jonathan Vilma was suspended one full season, Anthony Hargrove (now with the Packers) received an eight-game ban, Will Smith was suspended four games and Scott Fujita (now with the Browns) was suspended three games.
So how does the NFL get from as many as 27 players involved in the program to just four of them facing discipline? Goodell explained the process of applying player discipline in the league’s statement announcing the suspensions.
"In assessing player discipline," Commissioner Goodell said, "I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation."
Vilma was a leader in New Orleans as the defensive captain. He also contributed "large sums" of money and contributed to a bounty on a specific player in both Kurt Warner and Brett Favre. Smith and Fujita were reported to have also contributed significant sums of money.
Hargrove acknowledged via a written statement to the league the existence of the program. No player agreed to be interviewed in person by the Commissioner, the NFL’s statement said.
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