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New Orlean Saints Bountygate - The New Orleans Saints bounty scandal was an incident in which members of the Saints were accused of paying out bonuses, or "bounties", for injuring opposing team players. None of the hits in question were ever penalized or deemed illegal by in-game officials. The pool was alleged to have been in operation from 2009 (the year in which the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV) to 2011. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell responded with some of the most severe sanctions in the league's 92-year history, and among the most severe punishments for in-game misconduct. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, though this would be overturned the following year. Head coach Sean Payton was suspended for the entire 2012 seasonthe first time in modern NFL history that a head coach has been suspended for any reason. General manager Mickey Loomis was suspended for the first eight games of the 2012 season. Assistant head coach Joe Vitt was suspended for the first six games of the 2012 season. The Saints organization was fined $500,000, and forced to forfeit their second-round draft selections in 2012 and 2013. On May 2, 2012, four current and former Saints players were suspended after being named as ringleaders in the scandal, with linebacker Jonathan Vilma also being suspended for the entire 2012 seasonthe longest suspension for an on-field incident in modern NFL history. However, former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue overturned all sanctions against the players on December 11, 2012 after finding that the coaches were primarily responsible for the scandal.
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FILE - In this Thursday, May 25, 2017 file photo, New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara (41) carries the ball during an NFL football practice in Metairie, La. Why rookie Saints running back Alvin Kamara never emerged as a premier college player at Alabama or Tennessee remains unclear to coach Sean Payton. All Payton knows is that Kamara has continued during training camp to show promise as far as fulfilling the vision the Saints have for the third round pick. (AP Photo/Derick E. Hingle, File)
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FILE - In this June 8, 2017, file photo, New Orleans Saints linebackers coach Mike Nolan walks on the field during NFL football practice in Metairie, La. Nolan, who has been coaching in the NFL since 1987, is in his first year as New Orleans’ linebackers coach. He is trying to help improve a Saints defense that ranked 27th last season. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)
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New Orleans Saints Drew Brees (9) competes in the Epic Pro Dodgeball event at the 2017 Pro Bowl Skills Challenge on Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2017 in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan)
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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) makes a touchdown catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas (13) makes a touchdown catch as Arizona Cardinals cornerback Brandon Williams (26) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) waves during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints , Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown as New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. The Saints won 48-41.(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians yells at side judge Scott Novak (1) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower (34) celebrates his touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown with Carson Palmer (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown with J.J. Nelson (14) against the New Orleans Saints during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown as New Orleans Saints cornerback B.W. Webb defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) is sacked by Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell (93) celebrates his fumble recovery for a touchdown with teammate Patrick Peterson, left, during the first half of an NFL football game against the New Orleans Saints, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
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New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) walks to the bench after fumbling the football as Arizona Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell, right, celebrates recovering for a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
