Almost a week after the NFL pointed to them for failing to stop a bounty program involving some two dozen Saints players, coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis apologized and took the blame for violations that "happened under our watch. Wholesale NFL Jerseys ." "These are serious violations and we understand the negative impact it has had on our game," Payton and Loomis added. "Both of us have made it clear within our organization that this will never happen again, and make that same promise to the NFL and most importantly to all of our fans," Payton and Loomis said in a joint statement Tuesday. Payton and Loomis also said New Orleans owner Tom Benson "had nothing to do" with the bounty pool. "We acknowledge that the violations disclosed by the NFL during their investigation of our club happened under our watch. We take full responsibility," they said. The leagues investigation, released last Friday, said the bounty program was funded primarily by players for the past three seasons and was overseen by former Saints defensive co-ordinator Gregg Williams. He admitted to running the program and apologized within hours after the report surfaced. The NFL said it confirmed Benson was unaware of the program, and that he told Loomis to stop it immediately, but that Loomis did not. The league also said Payton, though not directly involved, was aware of the bounty pool, but did nothing to stop it. Williams now is defensive co-ordinator for the St. Louis Rams. He met with NFL security officials on Monday as part of the leagues ongoing investigation. Once it concludes -- the league says there is no timetable -- Roger Goodell likely will hand out the stiffest penalties of his 5 1/2 years as commissioner. Goodell has frequently taken a hard line on any action that threatens player safety. He suspended Detroits Ndamukong Suh for two games for stomping on an opponent last season; banned Pittsburghs James Harrison for one game after a series of flagrant hits that culminated in a collision with Cleveland quarterback Colt McCoys helmet; and has ramped up the amount of fines for what the league terms "egregious hits." NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said before handing out any penalties, Goodell will review the information with his staff and consult with others, including the union and player leaders. The players union has not seen a full report of the investigation, so it cant be certain if Goodell will levy punishment under the on-field discipline or the personal conduct policy. Theres a major distinction, because players can appeal on-field punishment to independent arbitrators Art Shell and Ted Cottrell. Appeals under the personal conduct policy are heard by Goodell and other league officials. "The commissioner has broad authority to impose discipline for violation of league rules. Were not going to put it in a category right now," Aiello said. The NFL hasnt cited specific players, but fines and suspensions are probable for those found to have participated in the bounty program. "We take this issue seriously and we continue to look into it," union spokesman George Atallah said. Goodell fined the New England Patriots $250,000 and their coach, Bill Belichick, $500,000 for the Spygate scandal in 2007, when the team was caught illegally videotaping the Jets sideline. New England also was stripped of a first-round draft pick. That violation pales in comparison to a bounty of up to $50,000 over the last three seasons that rewarded players for knocking targeted opponents out of games. The Saints can expect heavier sanctions than those given the Patriots, with suspensions likely for Loomis and Payton and a seven-figure fine for the organization. "I dont think there can be a limited focus -- if the league only is looking to penalize players and coaches," said George Martin, executive director of NFL Alumni and a former player, adding: "It is kind of shocking it still goes on in this time and age. "The organization has to take responsibility for it because it took place under their jurisdiction," he said. "The league needs to do whatever it takes in the way of discipline to make sure this is stemmed." John Lynch, an outstanding safety for 16 seasons, once was fined $75,000 for a hit on Indianapolis tight end Dallas Clark. Lynch was one of the hardest and surest tacklers in the NFL. He is just as sure that Goodell will hand out hefty punishments. "I would expect this to be pretty severe and harsh because of the direction the commissioner has taken in making player safety if not his top initiative, then one of them," Lynch said. "If this is true, as blatant as this is, and to have a coach out there saying, You knock this guy out of the game. Get him taken off on a cart. Here is the monetary reward, you need a severe and harsh punishment." That coach has been identified by the league as Williams, who could face a years suspension and a six-figure fine. Maybe more. The Rams would not say Tuesday what duties Williams currently is performing. "Coach Williams has shown contrition for his actions and continues to co-operate with the NFL in this investigation," Rams GM Kevin Demoff told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "Out of respect for the NFLs ongoing process, we will refrain from commenting until the league has come to a final decision on all aspects of this matter." Williams could turn to the NFL Coaches Association for help. Its executive director, David Cornwell, was concerned about individual coaches being singled out. "As this matter unfolds," Cornwell said, "I will work with our executive committee to protect the interests of individual coaches without compromising the NFLCAs fundamental belief that fair play and sportsmanship begins with the men who teach the game." Wholesale Jerseys China . "Because this a money generating asset, theyre under no pressure, I would assume, to sell," said Norm OReilly, a professor of sports business at the University of Ottawa. "Im sure, like any equity, they would have their eye on what they would turn around and do. Cheap Jerseys Wholesale . Hill has quickly made it impossible for DAntoni to keep him off the court while the Lakers chase wins without Kobe Bryant. Hill had career highs of 24 points and 17 rebounds, and Jodie Meeks and Nick Young scored 19 points apiece in the Lakers 114-99 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. WICHITA, Kan. -- Evansville coach Marty Simmons watched his young team race out to a big early lead on No. 4 Wichita State. Then he saw the Shockers slap on the press and come roaring right back. Its something theyve done to plenty of teams this season. D.J. Balentine had 26 points in another strong performance, but the Purple Aces were unable to hold onto an early 15-point lead and lost 81-67 at raucous Koch Arena on Saturday. "Its about the process. Its about the possession. You start thinking like that," Simmons said, when asked about getting comfortable with the big lead, "bad things are going to happen." They certainly happened quickly. Fred VanVleet and Ron Baker scored 14 points apiece for undefeated Wichita State. The Shockers comeback began when Baker scored with 8:12 remaining in the first half, starting a 27-4 run spanning halftime and turning a 15-point deficit into a 41-33 lead. The charge was fueled by a three-quarter-court pressure that forced Evansville into several turnovers, the only time that a team starting two freshmen and three sophomores looked shaky. "When theyre making their run, its like pouring gasoline on the fire," Simmons said with a shake of his head. "Thats something we have to learn from." It didnt help that the Purple Aces were mired in foul trouble. Duane Gibson and fellow guard Adam Wing each had three fouls by halftime, and four others had two fouls apiece. That included Balentine, who sat on the bench for the final couple of minutes so that he wouldnt be tempted into picking up his own third foul. The Purple Aces hung around until the midway point of the second half, when Evan Wessels basket began a run of seven straight points that gave the Shockers a 70-52 lead. Wichita State never allowed the Purple Aces (10-13, 3-7) to get close the final 8 minutes, avengiing two frustrating losses to them a year ago. Wholesale Jerseys. "The way they started, I said, Oh boy, here we go again," Wichita State coach Gregg Marshall said. "But we finally got stops. They missed a couple and we got out in transition." The Shockers (23-0, 10-0) rallied from a 19-point deficit to defeat Missouri State earlier this season, and have often found themselves suffering through long stretches of poor play only to come out unscathed by the final buzzer. So is there a deficit too big to overcome? "Lets just hope we dont find out," Marshall said. "Im sure there is, at this point not so far, but lets just hope we dont find out anytime soon." Balentine, who was coming off a 43-point performance against Northern Iowa, finished 11 of 21 from the field. But he didnt get a whole lot of help from his teammates, who struggled against the length and athleticism of the Shockers forwards. "They play so hard and theyre so active and they have so many good pieces," Simmons said. "They change things up and they keep you off balance." Cleanthony Early added 13 points and Tekele Cotton had 12 for the Shockers, who havent lost since last years surprising run to the Final Four, and now face the toughest two-game stretch standing between them and an unbeaten regular season. First up is Indiana State on Wednesday night, followed by a trip to Northern Iowa -- the two closest teams to the Shockers in the Missouri Valley standings. Incidentally, the only Valley school with a better start than the Shockers was the Indiana State team led by Larry Bird, which won its first 33 games before losing an iconic NCAA title game to Magic Johnson and Michigan State on March 26, 1979. "Its something a lot of people have talked about," Baker said. "Were excited about it." cheap custom jerseys wholesale jerseys store cheap jerseys Cheap Jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' '
