Top 6 Reasons Bounties Are A Good Thing in the NFL

A guest post by author Stephen Woodfin (visit his blog) or see all of his books.

Top 6 Reasons Bounties Are A Good Thing in the NFL

A few days ago, a three member NFL appeals panel lifted the suspensions of four NFL football players for their alleged participation in a bounty program which would have made cash payments to them for inflicting injuries on targeted players. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell had originally issued the suspensions of New Orleans Saints players Jonathan Vilma and Will Smith, Scott Fujita of the Cleveland Browns and free agent Anthony Hargrove as a violation of the “conduct detrimental to the game” rule.

As a rationale for its ruling, the panel gave these justifications.

1. “NFL fans don’t read Romance novels.”
2. “It’s time the NFL became more like the NHL.”
3. “Everybody knows NFL quarterbacks are a bunch of overpaid sissies.”
4. “We may reconsider our decision if LeBron James makes his much anticipated move to the NFL.”
5. “All the NFL players have agreed to be nice to each other from now on.”
6. “These are Saints, not sinners.”

Can you think of some other reasons why bounties are a good thing?

Stephen Woodfin is the author several books including Last One Chosen, The Sickle’s Compass, and Money is Thicker Than Blood. He has served as class counsel in national cases that included millions of people. He is the author of five fast-paced legal thrillers, and hopes these books will not debunk the myth that he actually knows something about the law.