Rams linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar from Saints not suspended for any games!

[Rambos]

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season, as the NFL handed down its player discipline Wednesday for the Saints' pay-for-performance "bounty" scandal.

Three other players -- Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith -- in addition to Vilma were notified that they have been suspended without pay for conduct detrimental to the NFL as a result of their leadership roles in the "bounty" program that endangered player safety over three seasons from 2009-2011.

The discipline breaks down, per a league release, as follows:

• Linebacker Jonathan Vilma of the Saints is suspended without pay for the 2012 NFL season, effective immediately per league policy for season-long suspensions.

• Linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) is suspended without pay for the first three games.

• Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (now with the Green Bay Packers) is suspended without pay for the first eight games.

• Will Smith of the Saints is suspended without pay for the first four games.

On April 16, sources close to the linebacker told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora that Vilma was bracing himself for a suspension ranging anywhere from two to eight games.

Vilma was the only Saints player involved in the "bounty" scandal to see his name released to the public after the details emerged of a program in which then-defensive coordinator Gregg Williams orchestrated a pay-for-performance system from 2009 through 2011 that rewarded players for cart off and knock-out hits.

Williams already has been suspended indefinitely by the league, while Saints head coach Sean Payton is suspended without pay for the 2012 season and general manager will miss the first eight games of the season. Assistant coach Joe Vitt, suspended six games for his role in the scandal, will serve as the team's interim head coach in Payton's absence.

According to a Sports Illustrated report from March, Vilma allegedly offered $10,000 to any player who could knock out then-Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre from the 2009 NFC Championship Game. During that game Favre endured a number of gruesome hits, and he suffered a nasty ankle injury late in the game.

The Saints spent a portion of their offseason bolstering their linebacking corps, possibly in preparation for Vilma's punishment. The Saints signed middle linebacker Curtis Lofton away from the Atlanta Falcons in March, and later added former St. Louis Ram Chris Chamberlain.

[THOLTFAN81]

If only the NFL woulda taken this hard of a stance against the Pats....

[Rambos]

I'm wondering if players around the league are going to bring it against the Saints for a little pay back.
Glad we did not lose Jo that would have been a big loss for us.

[AtlantaRamFan]

Yeah no kidding...what I don't get is why they waited until after the draft to release the suspensions. Not that I care about the Saints, but most of these players are already with other teams. I'm fine with punishing them, but they're also punishing the teams that signed the players, and doing so after all the free agents are signed and the draft completed.

[MauiRam]

[QUOTE=AtlantaRamFan;427098]Yeah no kidding...what I don't get is why they waited until after the draft to release the suspensions. Not that I care about the Saints, but most of these players are already with other teams. I'm fine with punishing them, but they're also punishing the teams that signed the players, and doing so after all the free agents are signed and the draft completed.[/QUOTE]

Possibly Goody wants to further reinforce his message to all teams .. Glad we didn't get whacked again though.

[mh-i]

Yeah no kidding...what I don't get is why they waited until after the draft to release the suspensions. Not that I care about the Saints, but most of these players are already with other teams. I'm fine with punishing them, but they're also punishing the teams that signed the players, and doing so after all the free agents are signed and the draft completed.

Evidently the players union was involved and delayed the process. That's what was reported on ESPN.