ALL CLUBS DIRECTED TO ENSURE NO BOUNTY PROGRAMS EXIST

In addition to announcing discipline on the New Orleans Saints and individual employees for the operation of an illegal bounty program, Commissioner Roger Goodell also instructed all clubs today to certify that no such program exists at any NFL team.

In a memo to NFL clubs, Commissioner Goodell directed the principal owner of every NFL team to meet with the head coach and confirm that the club does not operate a similar pay-for-performance or bounty program and to instruct his coach that no such program is permissible and that if such a program exists, it must be terminated immediately.

Each principal owner and head coach must certify this in writing to the commissioner by March 30.

“Bounty programs have no place in our game,” Commissioner Goodell stated. “They are incompatible with our efforts to promote sportsmanship, fair play, and player safety.”

Going forward, Commissioner Goodell said, the annual certifications required of each club under the league’s “Integrity of the Game Policy” will be modified to include specific references to bounties and pay-for-performance programs. The prohibition on pay-for-performance programs includes not just “bounties” but any form of non-contract bonus payment. Owners and head coaches share the responsibility for ensuring adherence to these rules and for promoting player safety and the integrity of the game.