Goodell Decries Bounties
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said during a radio interview today that the league will deal harshly with any instance in which it is determined that a team put a bounty on an opposing player.
The league is investigating comments by Baltimore Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs during a recent radio interview that the Ravens had bounties on Pittsburgh Steelers tailback Rashard Mendenhall and wide receiver Hines Ward in a game this season. Suggs issued a written statement through the Ravens today saying he "misspoke" and there were no bounties, or financial rewards for hits that injure opposing players.
Goodell, in London for this weekend's Chargers-Saints game there, told ESPN Radio: "We do think it's inappropriate and that's why we have a very strong policy against any types of bounties or comments that would indicate that there's a bounty against a player. The idea of trying to injure a particular player and take him out of the game is not consistent with the way we approach the game and the sportsmanship involved. We know these players are going to compete and play hard against one another. But that's not sportsmanship.
"We have been in contact with the personnel involved. I'm confident that is not accurate, and there will be some comments coming out of both organizations. But the game will be played within the rules without any particular bounties or any kind of focus on that type of issue. It's strictly prohibited."
By
Mark Maske
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October 24, 2008; 1:11 PM ET
| Category:
League
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Ravens
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Steelers
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