Breaking News Wednesday - It's an NFL Circus!

Holy breaking NFL news, Batman! What a crazy day, and it's only 1pm! Let's start with the Saints, yes?

Photo Credit: ESPN.com

NFL Commissioner Roger Goddell brought the hammer down on the New Orleans Saints for their "bounty system" that Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams headed. This disgusting system was finally brought to light, and we all knew that there were going to be serious consequences. I'll be honest, though, I didn't think they'd be this intense. Head Coach Sean Payton is now suspended for the 2012 season without pay beginning April 1, the team will be fined $500k, they will lose a second round draft pick in 2012 and 2013. Additionally, as expected, Williams is suspended indefinitely, which to me, says he's out for eternity. The Saints' general manager, Mickey Loomis, will also be suspended without pay the first eight games of this year's regular season and assistant head coach Joe Vitt is suspended (again, without pay) for the first six games of the 2012 regular season. For more specific information on the penalties, suspensions and overall picture of the sheer amount of trouble the Saints are in, read Adam Caplan's overview here. As a Falcons fan, this brings me immense amounts of satisfaction, but let's be honest, we always want a strong competition with the Saints. It's sad to see a team have this kind of serious infraction, and even harder to watch the fallout after. What happens to Brees and the rest of the Saints is up in the air. Without Payton, this team will undoubtedly be lost. He's one of the best coaches in the league, and it's really unfortunate to see this happen on his watch. However, there is a price to pay for such egregious acts such as this so-called "bounty system" that Williams had in place, and this is the result. We're still waiting to see if there will be individual player fines and suspensions handed out - my guess is it's just a matter of time. Was Goddell too heavy handed? I don't know, but it sure sends a very clear message. 

Moving on to the second piece of serious breaking news...Tim Tebow has officially been traded to the New York Jets for fourth and sixth round draft picks (the Broncos will also receive a seventh round pick). Fourth round?! SIXTH?! That's IT?! Wow. If that ain't a slap in the face. BUT, the Jets may just be a good fit for him, now that I think about it. Either that or (as my friend Jess and I discussed) Rex Ryan is asking to be fired, but whatever. He'll compete with Mark Sanchez (who is having his own set of issues right now) for a starting job that he may just get. I hope Tebow is prepared for New York fans, they're slightly different from the fickle Denver fan. Sanchez, hope you have your big boy pants on...get ready for Tebowmania, part two...this time, with the colorful Jets. Let's hope he has some Jets branded earmuffs for Rex Ryan's meetings, we know Tebows ears aren't prepared for the language he uses.

Days like this make me fall even more in love with football and the NFL (if even possible). This game is full of ups and downs and will throw you for a loop when you're not even remotely prepared for it. It's the business of it, the love for what happens on the field, and the thrilling fact that...well, it's pure entertainment. Keep your eyes glued to ESPN, friends, I'm sure there's more to come (and of course, you know I'll cover it).

Til next time...
S.

**UPDATE** There has been a snag in the Tebow-to-New York Jets trade. Apparently, Tebow has $5 million worth of recapture language...this means the Jets would have to pay back money to Denver. Jets have said they are unwilling to do this. If they can't get through this hang-up, Tebow would be back on the market and the trade would be nullified. Reportedly, the Rams are interested in him and would be willing to be a new trade parter with the Broncos, but if this is true, the terms of the trade change and of course, the question becomes "What of Sam Bradford?" Stay tuned, folks. He may just end up in Jacksonville, after all. Here's the latest from Pro Football Talk.

**UPDATE II**  It's official. The Jets now have Tim Tebow on their roster, for now, as Mark Sanchez's backup. The Jets have agreed to pay half of the $5 million to Denver, which apparently was good enough for them. "Dear Timmy, you're not worth more than a 4th and 6th round pick and half of the $5 mil we wanted. So. See ya. Love, the Broncos." Ouch. Well, here goes. The all-mighty Tim Tebow is now going to be tabloid fodder (Page 6 has to be in heaven right now) and will have to face hungry Jets fans. I'm sure Ryan will use him in the Wildcat - how successful that will actually be remains to be seen. Once again, Pro Football Talk has a great breakdown, which you should read.

Suh's Bad Behavior

Andrew Weber/US Presswire

Part of me wants to make a snarky, "well it's because he went to Nebraska" comment, but I'll reserve bias because it really doesn't have anything to do with it (maybe).

Yesterday, as I was watching the Packers vs. Lions game, all I could see was a whole lot of nothing the first half, and then a whole lot of self destruction by way of penalties and bad decisions the second half for the Lions. This post, however, has nothing to do with the Lions late-season self destruction or thinning secondary due to injury. This is all about Ndamukong Suh.

Suh was ejected from the game after he pounded the head of Packers' offensive lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith, followed by a giant stomp on him.

Hold up. 

I'm sorry, in what world is that okay behavior? Grow up, Suh. He said later about his behavior, "I want to apologize to my teammates, my coaches and true fans for allowing the refs to have an opportunity to take me out of this game." Right...okay. He continued, "What I did was remove myself from the situation the best way I felt, with me being held down." I'm sorry, is it just me or is this just a giant "I'm the victim" play by Suh? He has lost his mind if he thinks anyone thought this wasn't intentional. To me, the worst part of this is he genuinely feels like he didn't do anything wrong. I hate to say it, but all of America would have to disagree here.  As ESPN.com blogger Kevin Seifert said, "...if Suh didn't intend to do what he did Thursday, he needs to be examined for involuntary leg and arm movement." While I got a small laugh out of this, it's incredibly true. There's no room for any sort of doubt in this situation. Suh has established himself as a dirty player. Once you go there, there's no going back.

Let's do a reality check here, real quick. Obviously things happen. Football isn't exactly a delicate sport, but there really is no place for behavior or actions like Suh's. Period. End of story. This situation makes me disappointed for a number of reasons. I liked Suh (despite that whole he-went-to-Nebraska thing) and actually found him rather interesting and well-spoken. Above all else, though, he was a bad-ass player with so much talent he almost didn't know what to do with it. Impressive. He single-handedly changed the Detroit Lions' defense and their team as a whole. Now, he's changing it for different reasons. Suh has been fined many, many times - last year for hits on Jay Cutler and Jake Delhomme, this year for a nasty hit on Andy Dalton in the preseason.

Let's talk numbers, now. Suh has now received three personal foul penalties this season alone, making his total number seven since his rookie season last year. He's now tied (ironically) with his teammate, Cliff Avril for the most personal foul penalties in the league since last year. Suh can say backwards, forwards, upside-down and sideways that he was justified in what he did and that there was reason for it...fine, let him. He's wrong. Obviously Suh doesn't care about his public perception and has a total lack of respect for the rules of the game, his coaches, teammates, fellow players and the NFL as a whole. Unbelievable.

My opinion? Suspend him for the rest of the season. It's time for Roger Goodell to make a point, and Lions coach Jim Schwartz needs to step in and back him up. There is no room in this game for actions like Suh's. His talent is undeniable, his behavior is unacceptable. Let him learn his lesson.

Until next time...
S.

Penn State's Tragedy and Scandal

Andy Colwell/The Patriot-News/AP

I've waited a while to address the situation at Penn State because it's been so difficult for me to face. I have a hard time not being emotional when it comes to abused of children by someone they trusted. A week ago, my friend Amy sent me the full list of all of the charges and the grand jury indictment against Jerry Sandusky. I was speechless. I cried. I felt disgusted and nauseated. I felt horrified. Most of all, though, I felt so angry for these poor, innocent children who had their trust violated by someone in a position of influence and their innocence stolen. There are just no words.

It's unreal to me that no action was taken, despite having multiple reports.  How was this never taken to the police? It's truly unbelievable. There were so many people who knew, who were witnesses, who tried to alert the right people...but it never was addressed the way it should have been. Frankly, everyone is to blame here. This is evil in its purest form. Joe Paterno's legacy is in ashes, and he's falling into history as someone who maybe wasn't the hero we all thought he was (his name was removed from the Big Ten Championship trophy today). The fallout of all of this is so much greater than anyone can understand.

There's no reason for me to go into the details - this scandal has been everywhere, splashed all over every newspaper and news outlet in the country. I pray that the victims of Sandusky's sick abuse can one day recover and that they learn to trust again. I hope that the receive justice and that Sandusky sees his day in court and that he knows how sick he is.

Today, Sandusky proclaimed that he was "innocent." That he was not at fault for the crimes and sick acts he has committed. He said to Bob Costas in an interview that he is "...innocent of those charges... I could say that I have done some of those things. I have horsed around with kids I have showered after workouts. I have hugged them and I have touched their legs without intent of sexual contact."

I don't even know what to say. He's innocent?! He's in denial. He's a sick, sick man. I feel for those who are innocent in this situation - the kids, of course - but the Penn State campus, the players on the team now, and those that have to deal with the negativity and impact of this horrific situation.

This points out a bigger issue of abuse and disgusting behavior of those in positions of power and trust. This is beyond Sandusky, it's beyond Paterno. It's something that (should) and will sit on the shoulders of all those involved for not taking swift action to end this behavior. Justice will come, I believe it.

For more information on the latest with the Penn State/Sandusky scandal, read this.

If you want to help bring awareness and donate to end sex abuse, please visit http://www.rainn.org/.