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• Goodell: Some don't recognize bounties must end

  February 1, 2013 1:15 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says his biggest regret about the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal is that he can't get everyone to recognize bounties need to be eliminated from the game. Goodell said he hasn't been able to make the point clearly enough with the players' union... more »

• In New Orleans, an unwelcome mat for Goodell

  January 26, 2013 10:54 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - New Orleans Saints fans are celebrating the return of coach Sean Payton from his suspension following last year's "bountygate" scandal. But NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, who will present the NFL championship trophy when the Super Bowl is played in New Orleans on Feb. 3, is getting a... more »

• Saints' Sean Payton returns to work at Senior Bowl

  January 23, 2013 1:00 PM

  MOBILE, Ala. - Sean Payton has returned to work following a nearly yearlong suspension for his role in the Saints' bounty program. The New Orleans Saints coach watched Senior Bowl practice Wednesday and planned to meet later in the day with the staff to evaluate a defense that struggled. Payton... more »

• Vilma's defamation suit against Goodell dismissed

  January 17, 2013 5:24 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge has dismissed New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma's defamation lawsuit against NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in connection with the bounty case. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan in New Orleans said Thursday the bounty matter "feels as protracted and painful as the Saints season... more »

• Saints coach: Witnesses lied in NFL investigation

  December 13, 2012 4:01 PM

  METAIRIE - Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt says witnesses in the NFL's bounty investigation of New Orleans' pay-for-pain system have lied about him and the organization and that their stories might change in federal court. Vitt angrily said Thursday he feels the truth will come out in federal court,... more »

• Tagliabue bounty ruling coming this afternoon

  December 11, 2012 10:25 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - More than nine months after the NFL first disclosed its bounty investigation of the New Orleans Saints, four players will finally get a ruling on whether their initial suspensions are upheld, reduced or thrown out. Former Commissioner Paul Tagliabue, who was appointed to handle a second... more »

• Vilma's testimony ends latest bounty hearings

  December 3, 2012 6:41 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The latest round of appeal hearings in the NFL's bounty investigation have concluded with appearances by former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt and linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Vilma says his appearance went well but declined further comment citing a request for... more »

• Tagliabue, Saints continue bounty hearings

  December 3, 2012 10:34 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Hearings in the NFL bounty probe of the Saints have resumed with witness appearances by former Minnesota Vikings head coach Brad Childress, Saints assistant head coach Joe Vitt and linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Former NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue has been appointed to oversee the hearings, which he has... more »

• Saints' Vilma, Smith attend Williams hearing

  November 30, 2012 1:47 PM

  WASHINGTON - Saints defensive end Will Smith says he's glad he got a chance to hear former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams testify at an appeals hearing in the bounties case. Smith and New Orleans linebacker Jonathan Vilma attended Friday's session, where Williams was cross-examined by the players' lawyers for about... more »

• Tagliabue holds Saints bounties hearing in DC

  November 29, 2012 10:01 AM

  WASHINGTON - Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue and lawyers for the league and the players' union have arrived for a hearing in the Saints bounties case. Tagliabue is overseeing the latest round of player appeals in Washington. Former Saints assistant Mike Cerullo, a key witness in the NFL's... more »

• Neck injury ends Fujita's rocky season

  October 25, 2012 7:43 AM

  CLEVELAND - Former New Orleans Saints and current Browns linebacker Scott Fujita will be placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, ending his stormy season. Fujita, one four players suspended by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal, was inactive the... more »

• Kennedy says NFL lying about his bounty knowledge

  October 19, 2012 11:54 AM

  The former Vikings player identified by the NFL as a "whistleblower" in the Saints bounty case says the league is lying about his statements. Jimmy Kennedy released a statement Friday saying that the NFL called him to ask about a bounty program, and he told them that he did not... more »

• NFL responds to Vilma, NFLPA lawsuits

  October 17, 2012 2:43 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - The NFL is again urging a federal judge to avoid interfering in Commissioner Roger Goodell's efforts to discipline four players for the Saints' cash-for-hits bounty pool. In a response Wednesday to papers the players filed earlier this week, the NFL says its labor agreement gives Goodell the... more »

• Vilma takes bounty matter back to federal court

  October 15, 2012 10:56 AM

  NEW ORLEANS- Jonathan Vilma is again asking a federal judge to overturn his suspension in the NFL's bounty probe of the New Orleans Saints. In papers filed in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Monday, Vilma says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell engaged in a "farcical review" of his previously... more »

• 4 players file bounty appeals to NFL

  October 12, 2012 10:30 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - All four players punished in the NFL's bounty investigation have filed appeals with the league. People familiar with the situation say the players have asked Commissioner Roger Goodell to remove himself as arbitrator because they do not believe he can be impartial. One of the people also... more »

• Commissioner Goodell re-issues bounty discipline

  October 9, 2012 4:16 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has handed down new discipline to four players in connection with the NFL's bounty investigation of the Saints. There are no changes to the full-season suspension for New Orleans' linebacker Jon Vilma or the four-game suspension for Saints defensive end Will Smith. The... more »

• NFL seeking to block Vilma's request for evidence

  September 24, 2012 5:17 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal magistrate has ordered attorneys for the NFL and Jonathan Vilma to hold a status conference on Thursday to discuss the league's efforts to block Vilma's demands for evidence in the NFL's bounty investigation of the Saints. The NFL filed a motion on Monday arguing that... more »

• Smith, Hargrove visit NFL for talks on bounties

  September 18, 2012 4:02 PM

  NEW YORK - Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove have left their meeting with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell regarding the Saints bounty scandal. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello says the players left the NFL offices around 4 p.m. (EDT), about three hours after they arrived. Smith and Hargrove did not make themselves... more »

• Saints remain defiant after post-bounty loss

  September 10, 2012 4:07 PM

  METAIRIE - New Orleans defensive captain Malcolm Jenkins says he appreciates that the Saints did nothing to change the minds of those who suspect the bounty scandal and related suspensions will derail their season. He also points out that previous playoff seasons included setbacks that looked a lot like their... more »

• Saints players' bounty suspensions overturned Play Video

  September 7, 2012 3:04 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - An NFL appeals panel overturned the suspensions of four current and former Saints players accused of taking part in a team bounty program. The panel ruled today that Jonathan Vilma, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith and Scott Fujita would have their suspensions lifted. They were reinstated by... more »

• Judge gives up on NFL bounty settlement

  September 6, 2012 7:32 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A federal judge says she doubts there are any prospects for a settlement in the case of four NFL players challenging their bounty suspensions. U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan, who had urged all sides to settle, now asks for more filings pertaining to the players' request... more »

• Kromer formally takes over Saints' coaching staff

  September 3, 2012 4:58 PM

  METAIRIE - Aaron Kromer has begun his six-game stint handling head coaching duties for the Saints by providing his team with a dose of perspective. Kromer says whatever adversity the Saints must overcome because of suspensions related to the NFL's bounty investigation pales in comparison to fans whose homes were... more »

• Vilma, NFL return to federal court in bounty case

  August 10, 2012 10:30 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - Jonathan Vilma has returned to federal court Friday where a judge is hearing arguments on the NFL's motion to dismiss the Saints linebacker's lawsuit seeking to overturn his bounty suspension. It's not clear when U.S. District Judge Ginger Berrigan will rule, but if she does not dismiss... more »

• Senator sees Goodell, calls off bounty hearing

  June 20, 2012 6:22 PM

  WASHINGTON - A high-ranking senator is calling off a proposed hearing on bounties in professional sports because he is satisfied with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's response to the issue, including setting up an anonymous hotline. Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat, met with Goodell on Wednesday.... more »

• Ex-Saint Hargrove says it's not his voice in clip

  June 19, 2012 3:21 PM

  NEW YORK - Former Saints defensive end Anthony Hargrove says it's not his voice saying "Give me the money" in a video used by the NFL as evidence in its investigation of the New Orleans bounty program. Hargrove spoke Tuesday outside NFL headquarters. Hargrove, Will Smith, Scott Fujita and Jonathan... more »

• Browns' Fujita says bounty charges "not true"

  May 22, 2012 2:38 PM

  BEREA, Ohio - Cleveland Browns linebacker Scott Fujita says he is innocent in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal. Fujita, who spent four seasons with New Orleans, was suspended for three games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his alleged involvement in the pay-for-hits program. Fujita said he knows what... more »

• NFL suspends 4 players for Saints' bounties

  May 2, 2012 11:01 AM

  NEW YORK- Punishments for New Orleans Saints players involved in a pay-for-pain bounty program were handed down on Tuesday. The NFL said Jonathan Vilma will be suspended for 1 year, former Saints and current Cleveland Brown linebacker Scott Fujita will be suspended for three games, Saints defensive end Will... more »

• Goodell upholds penalties in Saints bounty case

  April 9, 2012 12:13 PM

  NEW YORK (AP) - NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has rejected the appeals of coach Sean Payton and other New Orleans Saints officials stemming from the league's probe into the club's bounty system. After hearing from Payton, general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant head coach Joe Vitt last week, Goodell decided... more »

• Saints coach Payton arrives at NFL office

  April 5, 2012 1:04 PM

  NEW YORK - Saints coach Sean Payton has arrived at NFL headquarters, where his suspension appeal in the New Orleans bounty case is being heard by Commissioner Roger Goodell. Payton arrived Thursday, several hours after Saints general manager Mickey Loomis and assistant coach Joe Vitt went into the league offices... more »

• NFL, NFLPA meeting on Saints bounty issue

  April 2, 2012 11:05 AM

  NEW YORK- NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league is meeting with players' union officials about punishments in the New Orleans Saints bounty case. Goodell says that after Monday's meeting he hopes "we'll have some information and hopefully a recommendation from the NFLPA." The union has asked the NFL to... more »

• Source: Payton to appeal suspension

  March 30, 2012 12:27 PM

  NEW ORLEANS - A person familiar with the decision says that Saints coach Sean Payton will file an appeal of his season-long suspension with the NFL on Friday. The person says the appeal will also ask NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for his guidance on the parameters of the suspension. The... more »

• Police Shootings, Bounty?

  March 23, 2012 7:56 PM

  The mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico called for the halt to a police union practice of giving cash to officers involved in shootings. Mayor Richard Berry says he was shocked to learn of the practice. The father of one victim killed by officers called the practice a bounty. The union... more »

• Sean Payton suspended for season by NFL

  March 21, 2012 11:54 AM

  The NFL has suspended New Orleans head coach Sean Payton for the 2012 season, and former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is banned from the league indefinitely because of the team's bounty program that targeted opposing players. Commissioner Roger Goodell will review Williams' status after the upcoming season and consider... more »

• New Orleans gets new reality show

  March 20, 2012 6:58 AM

  NEW ORLEANS - A bounty hunter who tracks New Orleans criminals will be the subject of a new reality TV show being launched next month by Spike TV. "Big Easy Justice" will center on the gritty criminal underworld of New Orleans and a bounty hunter known as Tat-2, who hunts... more »

• NFL investigation of Saints' bounty system

  March 8, 2012 8:52 AM

  The NFL Players Association will conduct its own investigation of the New Orleans Saints' bounty system and has asked the league to help set up interviews with the team's coaches and front-office staff. The union issued a statement today vowing to "vigorously protect the rights of all players." Former Saints... more »

• Williams meeting with NFL officials

  March 5, 2012 10:50 AM

  NEW YORK - Former Saints Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams is meeting today with NFL investigators in New York. Williams has admitted and apologized for running a bounty pool of up to $50,000 over the last three seasons. Some of the Saints players were rewarded thousand-dollar payoffs for knocking... more »

• Saints violated NFL's "Bounty Rule"

  March 2, 2012 2:34 PM

  NEW YORK - The NFL says that New Orleans Saints players maintained a bounty program over the last three seasons that targeted opponents with the intent to injure them. The league disclosed the findings of an investigation Friday, saying between 22 and 27 defensive players and at least one assistant... more »

• Shooting suspects claimed to be bounty hunters

  October 5, 2011 5:18 PM

  BATON ROUGE - A registered bounty hunter could lose his license after two of his associates were arrested in a shooting this week. East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Deputies arrested Anthony Thomas, 24, and Demarcus J. McKnight, 31, early Tuesday morning after detectives said they found a woman shot at... more »

• Two alleged bounty hunters charged in morning shooting

  October 4, 2011 6:11 PM

  BATON ROUGE - East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Deputies have arrested two alleged bounty hunters for a shooting that happened Tuesday morning. Anthony Thomas, 24, and Demarcus J. McKnight, 31, were arrested after detectives say they found a woman shot at a home in the 9300 block of Ridgewood Drive.... more »