In recent weeks,
The NFL have said that around 22-27 New Orleans Saints defensive players, as
well as an assistant coach, upheld an illegal bounty program from 2009-2011
that included payments to players for causing game-ending injuries on the
opposition.
Players are said
to have been paid $1,500 for “knockouts” and $1,000 for being carted off the
field, and the stakes went up in the playoffs.
Former defensive
coordinator Gregg Williams, has recently admitted to his involvement in the
program and has apologized. The Saints head coach Sean Payton and general
manager Mickey Loomis have also released a statement taking “full
responsibility” for the violations within the league.
The statements
made by New Orleans Saints management and coaches are making it look very
probable that they engaged in improper and coercive activities. Taking a look
at the NFL’s current CBA, it includes detailed rules on how clubs and coaches
can be penalized for violations of safeguards. Not all facts are currently
known, and the NFLPA is undertaking a full review of the circumstances
surrounding these reported violations of League rules.
Currently, the
New Orleans Saints franchise, its players, coaches, and former player Gregg
Williams are awaiting words on penalties from NFL Commissioner Roger Goodwell.
However, there may be bigger consequences for those involved in this bounty
scandal. The criminal defense attorneys and a former federal prosecutor have
said that if the Saints did engage in the scandal that paid players to deliberately
injure the opposition, then this situation could be considered a criminal
organization.
As of right
now, there has been no sign of federal law enforcement activity, and it is
unlikely that local law enforcement would take up the case, “given the
political sensitivities of tackling a case involving the beloved Saints”.
However, the local federal attorney could assign a special prosecutor to
investigate the case.
Football is
known to be a violent sport, and there is a certain level of consent to the
violence when a player steps out on to the field; however, this consent changes
when there is an intentional effort to actually injure someone rather than actually
tackle him or her. “The intent element is manifested by the money payments”. As
well as local federal attorney’s possibly getting involved, the individual
players who believe they were hurt as part of the Saints’ efforts could also
file their own civil complaints as part of the scandal.
It may be
difficult to establish a criminal case here; however, the NFL has said it has
tens of thousands of pages of evidence to back its argument that the program
exists, so there is a possibility that the criminal law will get involved.
http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Journal/Issues/2012/03/12/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Bounty.aspx?hl=scandal%20could%20rise%20to%20criminal%20level&sc=0
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