Talking Points: Saints punishment

What’s the buzz from the world of sports? Here are some items that will have people talking:

1

Roger Goodell did his job.

By suspending New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton for an entire season and handing down other significant penalties to former Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams, and to the team’s GM, the commissioner sent a clear message that paying players to hurt opponents is way across the line of acceptable behavior.

Will these suspensions put an end to bounties in the NFL? When it comes to rewards for injuring opponents, probably.

So there is no need to make a federal case out of it.

But that’s what Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin is doing. Durbin said Thursday that he wants to examine whether federal law should make such bounty systems a crime.

Excuse us, Senator, but wasting time on this subject won’t do anything to help Congress’ historically low approval rating.

By handing out stiff suspensions, Mr. Goodell took a strong step to discourage dangerous bounties. He did his job.

2

So don’t make it yours.March Madness left you feeling empty? Might we suggest a tournament that, like NCAA basketball, features future professional stars.

The puck drops today on the Western Hockey League playoffs. As with college basketball, hockey’s postseason is when the competition becomes compelling.

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