Well, today was the day. Commishoner Roger Goodell brought down the hammer for the bounty scandal. 

The official release from NFL.com is below, and all of these punishments seem fair, when thinking about how Goodell goes about punishing people. He doesn't take crap, that is for sure, and this is just another example. 

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.

"It is the obligation of everyone, including the players on the field, to ensure that rules designed to promote player safety, fair play, and the integrity of the game are adhered to and effectively and consistently enforced," Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. "Respect for the men that play the game starts with the way players conduct themselves with each other on the field."

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.

"In assessing player discipline," Goodell said, "I focused on players who were in leadership positions at the Saints; contributed a particularly large sum of money toward the program; specifically contributed to a bounty on an opposing player; demonstrated a clear intent to participate in a program that potentially injured opposing players; sought rewards for doing so; and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation."

"No bounty program can exist without active player participation," Goodell added. "The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules."

Now, it was reported that Vilma expected a suspension from two to eight games. Mr. Vilma, do you know who you are messing with?

This sends a big message league wide that there is no tolerance for any activity that results in a negative outlook towards the NFL. Now, the Saints, players, coaches and all, know first hand. 

Twas the night after Christmas, when all through the Dome

All the creatures were stirring up Falcon Gumbo

The banners were hung from the rafters with care

Knowing that St. Breesus would soon be there

We Who Dats were settled all in our seats,

With visions of feasting on dirty bird meat

We’re all in our jerseys, with dome foam in hand

Screaming and dancing to Dixieland bands

When out on the field there rose such a noise

Fans on our feet yelling “Bless you Boys!”

The Who Dat Nation was at fever pitch

As the chosen team captain raised his fist

The Mercedes Benz crest that hung from the ceiling

Gave all that came hither that victorious feeling

When what to my wondering eyes should appear

The dirty birds shaking and quivering in fear

Then a voice came thundering so loud and so clear

We knew that kickoff soon would be near

They blew up the tunnel and lit of the flames

We whistled and shouted and called them by name!

Now Ingram, now Colston, now Thomas and Porter

On Shanle, on Vilma, on Harper and Jordan

Out on the gridiron, with the game on the line

Demolish the Falcons, the playoffs are nigh!

Dressed head to toe in their black and their gold

When the Saints come marching, it’s a sight to behold

Payton and Brees go straight to their work

As Ellis and Smith put “Ice” in the dirt

By air and by ground, the attack is relentless

And nothing can get through Greg Williams’ defenses

The shockwave is felt from the lake to the quarter

We turned Falcon to mince meat in prompt and short order

As the whistles are blown and the game is in hand

Exhausted and joyous are players and fans

The division is sewn up all nice and tight

May all Who Dat faithful sleep peacefully tonight

 ...'an dat's dat!

24 to 3….18 blitzes in the first half….Brees below stellar….Daniels looking good….Ingram, Morgan, King….stats, schmats, we don’t care about that…or do we?

It’s the preseason after all.  We have gone 4-0 and 0-4.  In the end, no one cares.  Nobody counts how many sacks you had in the preseason - nobody looks at those numbers.  Preseason statistics, wins and losses, and good calls, bad calls, missed calls, don’t win superbowls.  This has been my mantra for years. The preseason is a time to bask in the glow of the boys of fall.   Seeing our squad go toe to toe to with some other riff raff – it reminds us that fall is around the corner and the long, bleak offseason has come to a close. 

But this year preseason does have greater purpose.  It is more than a thinning of the roster and down to the wire decisions about whose career continues or begins, and whose stalls or ends.  This year’s preseason is more about developing cohesion.  In years past, teams have endured mini-camps, endless team meetings, team workouts, and rigorous preparation.  The lockout prevented the team from coming together in their normal offseason capacity.  While individuals and segments of the team have been rehearsing their lines, they are only now having their dress rehearsals just weeks before curtain call.  As Sean Payton aptly stated in his quote on neworleanssaints.com “We’re not a team yet.  We’re a roster”.

I, for one, put my faith in a Payton/Brees/Williams/Vilma system.  If anyone can pull a squad together in such short order it’s these guys.  They lead, we follow.  In Payton and Brees we trust.

....an' dat's dat! 

“Cha-Ching Moment”: Could rookie Joe Morgan from Walsh University be our next Michael Lewis?  That’s something we could all raise our beet to.