NFL to continue investigating bounties
PALM BEACH, Fla. -- NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday that the league will continue to investigate allegations that teams other than the Saints engaged in a bounty system that paid defensive players for knocking opponents out of games.
"We will continue to follow up on any information we have," Goodell said after the owners' annual meetings at the Breakers hotel. "We haven't closed the investigation. We have not stopped investigating. If we get information, we will follow up on it."
Goodell believes that the penalties he doled out to the Saints for their bounty system, which the NFL said spanned the 2009-11 seasons, will preclude any teams or players from engaging in bounties again. He suspended coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season, suspended general manager Mickey Loomis for eight games and took away the Saints' second-round picks this year and next year.
Payton has until April 2 to appeal his suspension. Goodell said he will allow Payton to remain with the team during the appeal process and that he will expedite the hearing. Goodell will hear the appeal.
Rules changes mulled
The NFL will consider several rules tweaks this week as presented by the league's competition committee. Among the rules being proposed, according to committee chairman Rich McKay, the Falcons' president:
Having all turnovers subject to replay review without the need for a coach's challenge. The proposal has received generally positive feedback, although the change can't take place without a minimum of 24 owners voting in favor.
Moving the trading deadline to the Tuesday after the eighth week of the regular season. The current deadline is after the sixth week.
Allowing teams to place one player on injured reserve and have him eligible to return after eight weeks. Under the current rules, any player placed on injured reserve at any point during the preseason or regular season is ineligible to return until the following season.
Steve Smith joins Rams
Former Giants receiver Steve Smith signed a one-year deal with the Rams Monday. Smith, 27, played last season for the Eagles after not re-signing with the Giants. He had been the Giants' leading receiver before injuring a knee during the 2010 season.
