Eric MacKenzie
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I would be more in favour of the top four model if teams were required to schedule better out of conference games. There is no reason teams should be permitted to schedule FCS. Better out of conference scheduling might actually allow judges to make an informed decision rather than looking at who had the worst loss. Until that happens, I'm fine with weight being given to conference champions.
@randolph32 The players were at no time warned to cease the bounty program. I have no issue with the punishments meted out on the coaches and management, though Payton's was arguably excessive. The players in question had no history of dangerous hits with the exception of Hargrove, yet they took the same or much worse than a repeat offender on the level of James Harrison. It's ridiculous. Further, if there was no increase in rate of injury, it is ridiculous to argue intent to injure. Are you seriously telling me that you think these players would not be successful, if they were truly intent on injury? Have you ever played contact sports? It's really not that hard to take out a guy if you're dedicated to it. If they were intent on injury via clean hits, then so what?
To me, the biggest problem I have with these punishments is that there's not even been an attempt made by the league to show an impact from the bounties. If they could show that more injuries resulted at the hands of the Saints than other teams, I could see going to this extent. As it stands, it seems like a gutless move by a commissioner trying more to make a statement than actually hand out justice. The complaints of coverup are nonsense. This is the same guy that had all the tapes from Spygate destroyed so no one could see the extent to which the Pats cheated. Sure he has the right to do all this, but it sure as hell doesn't make him right for doing it.
Seems the easy solution would be to publicly highlight the teams that have higher rates of specific injuries. Anything that negatively impacts recruiting will get some attention. The NFL and media keeping quiet on these types of issues is as much a part of the problem as anything.