Goodell lays down the law...

So why else would you think the NFL Commish would be anymore lenient on the three topheads of the New Orleans Saints? After all, he had warned the team for three years to stop the mess, but they did not heed his warning. Darning of the NFL no more. At least maybe they didn't stop because they thought, well, we are the Saints, the 21st century America's team. America's team no more!!! On the day that Commissioner Roger Goodell was suppose to hear all three appeals, a video was leaked out by filmmaker Sean Pamphilon that backed up Ex Saints Coordinator Gregg Williams bounty scandal. Pamphilon was in the Saints lockerroom this past January during the Saints and 49ers playoff game in San Francisco. He was there shooting a documentary on former Saints player Steve Gleason, who suffers from a neuro-muscular disease. And while Pamphilon was there, this is what he heard. He heard the likes of "Kill the head, and the rest of the body will die." Number 10 suffers from concussions, take him out so he won't return. Lets hit Alex Smith in the chin and knock him out, and as he is doing this, Williams is putting his fingers together in a cash money symbol. In this documentary, Williams uses explicit words in reference to hurt, RB Frank Gore, QB Smith, and TE Vernon Davis.

Commissioner Roger Goodell says no as he hears Saints' appeals: Photo/AP

All this is so chilling to me because there is no place for this type of play in the sport that all Americans love. These grown men are playing a kids game and they have turned this sport into a greedy, money hungry kill for all league. Yes, I agree, this is a rough sport, and injuries happen. But these injuries should happen within the rules of the game. It's not meant to intentionally hurt other players in which this is their livelihood that they support their wives and kids. And also, yes, all players get pumped before, during, and after games. But really, it's all suppose to be in fun. After all, at the end of the game, these players shake hands and even pray together at the 50. And it is true that a lot of these Saints players probably didn't want to do this, but since money was involved, you know they are going to take it. For me, to be a bigger and better man, these players should have just walked away. But now these players are coming out saying they didn't want to do this, but were forced. Your not a baby guys, grown men are not forced to do something. They took the bait and ran with it. These guys know they did something wrong, and they don't want to suffer the consequences. That's why these players are saying this now.

So back to last Thursday. Williams didn't appeal his indefinite suspension that is because he has already said he knows he did wrong, and he has admitted to having this bounty. Goodell heard the appeals of Head Coach Sean Payton, Assistant Coach Joe Vitt, and General Manager Mickey Loomis. But after the video was leaked, the appeals were short and stood. It's hard for me to believe that Payton didn't know about the bounties on the players. Being the general of the team, you are expected to know the ends and outs of the team, no matter if you don't sit in on all position meetings. Word still gets around from player to player. So Payton is suspended a year beginning April 16, and Vitt six games and Loomis eight games starting after the preseason. The team is also docked $500,000 and loss of second round draft pick from this year's draft. Goodell has come out and said he might lower the fine, but a final decision hasn't been made on that yet.

Mark A. Kirkley: twitter @makirkley

This entire scandal also hurts the St. Louis Rams because Rams coach Jeff Fisher just hired Williams as their defensive coach.  Even Fisher came out and stated if he would have known this he wouldn't even of thought of hiring Williams. And as I am writing this, it has just come over my twitter feed that Bill Parcells, the retired coach that Payton wanted to be interim coach, has just turned down the gig. If Parcells would have agreed, it would have delayed his entering the Hall of Fame, because you have to be retired five years in order to even be on the ballot.

The debacle of the 'who dat' nation should only help the other NFC South teams, the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But time will only tell if those teams will take advantage of the New Orleans turmoil and unseat last years division winner.