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TagsBY DAVE RAGAZZO
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Remember the heartwarming story that was the New Orleans Saints? Just two years ago, the city that was ravaged by Hurricane Katrina rallied around a team that won its first Super Bowl when they defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 in Super Bowl XLIV.
Now the team seems to be falling into a black hole following a scandal that is being investigated by the NFL, and settling for a franchise tag on the face of their organization.
In one week, the Saints found themselves in the midst of a bounty scandal where players were being financially rewarded for injuring the opposition.
Just one day after the news of “Bountygate,” the organization had to place the franchise tag on All-Pro quarterback Drew Brees after the two sides could not agree on a long-term deal. The deal is seen as a bad move for the Saints who now might not have enough money to sign other key free agents.
The NFL announced that they would be investigating the Saints’ bounty program on Friday. “The Bounty Hunter” if you will, was former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams who is now with the St. Louis Rams.
It has been reported that players were given $1,000 if an injured player left the field on a cart, and $1,500 if he left the game altogether. The totals were doubled and tripled for playoff games.
Williams released a statement about the program saying it was a “terrible mistake and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it.”
It was reported in The Guardian that before the NFC Championship game in 2009, Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma threw down $10,000 and said he would give it to whoever knocked Vikings quarterback Brett Favre out of the game.
According to the Washington Post, the NFL is also investigating the Washington Redskins for the same program. Williams was a defensive coach for the Redskins from 2004-2007.
To go along with the scandal, the Saints had to use their franchise tag on Brees after the two sides were nearly $5 million dollars apart in a long term deal.
First reported by FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer, Brees’ 2012 salary will be at least $14 million with that number expected to change after free agency begins.
The Saints put “exclusive rights franchise tag” on Brees which means he is not even allowed to talk to any other teams during free agency. Because of this, Brees’ 2012 salary will be the average of the five highest paid players at his position, and is expected to jump about $1 million after free agency.
According to CBS Sports, it has been reported on WIST-AM in New Orleans that Brees is “livid” about the Saints decision and does not want to sign the tag offer.
The problems don’t look as if they will stop anytime soon for the Saints, who were seen as the favorite to advance to the Super Bowl by some people this season. The Brees move might hinder their ability to sign some of their other key free agents such as wide receiver Marques Colston and cornerback Tracy Porter.
The Star Telegram is reporting that the NFL is looking into all forms of punishment for the Saints including fines, suspensions or even the forfeiture of draft picks.
