Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams said he wanted to end the team’s bounty system last season, but Joe Vitt, now the team’s interim head coach, was not on board with the idea, ESPN reported last night.
The suspensions levied to Saints players and coaches for their actions by commissioner Roger Goodell were overturned Tuesday by former commissioner Paul Tagliabue.
Yesterday, Goodell said he “fundamentally disagrees” with Tagliabue’s decision not to discipline players in the Saints’ bounty scandal.
This included the year-long suspension of linebacker Jonathan Vilma (whohas asked a federal judge to allow him to move forward with his defamation case against Goodell) and shorter bans for three other current and former Saints players.
Also, Goodell said his office has communicated with suspended Saints coach Sean Payton about his eventual reinstatement, and Goodell did not eliminate the possibility of Payton rejoining the franchise before the Super Bowl.
COWBOYS:
Josh Brent has been placed on the reserve/non-football illness list by the Cowboys, a move that ends his season but allows the defensive tackle to remain with the team.
The move came a day after a memorial service for practice squad player Jerry Brown, Brent’s close friend who was killed in a car accident when police say Brent was driving drunk. Brent is facing charges related to the accident.
REDSKINS:
Robert Griffin III feels the chances are “really good” that he will be able to play against the Browns. Griffin practiced on his sprained right knee, favoring his right leg slightly but said he “did enough” and that he will see how it feels the rest of the week.
CHIEFS: Hundred of mourners gathered for the funeral of linebacker Jovan Belcher in Dix Hills, near his hometown on Long Island. Belcher, 25, shot and killed his girlfriend and then himself on Dec. 1.