No bad deed goes unpunished. Four NFL players are learning that the hard way this offseason, as the news broke earlier today that the “punishments” are being handed out for the Saints bounty scandal.

Saints LB Jonathan Vilma has been suspended for the 2012 season for his participation in the pay-for-performance “bounty” scandal. However he is not alone, joining him in suspension will be Scott Fujita, Anthony Hargrove, Will Smith who will be suspended without pay for “conduct detrimental to the NFL as a result of their leadership roles in the “bounty” program that endangered player safety over three seasons from 2009-2011.”

According to NFL.com the suspensions will go as follows:

• Linebacker Jonathan Vilma of the Saints is suspended without pay for the 2012 NFL season, effective immediately per league policy for season-long suspensions.

• Linebacker Scott Fujita (now with the Cleveland Browns) is suspended without pay for the first three games.

• Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove (now with the Green Bay Packers) is suspended without pay for the first eight games.

• Will Smith of the Saints is suspended without pay for the first four games.

These players have 3 days to appeal but if they were smart they’d just take the sentence & move on.  I do not foresee Goodell having a change of heart in this matter anytime soon. They were involved & will now pay the price. Let’s not drag this scandal out any longer than necessary.

“No bounty program can exist without active player participation,” Goodell added. “The evidence clearly showed that the players being held accountable today willingly and enthusiastically embraced the bounty program. Players put the vast majority of the money into this program and they share responsibility for playing by the rules and protecting each other within those rules.”

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Interested to see what Aerys Lead Saints Reporter, Krissy, has to say on the matter. Check it out on Halftime Voodoo.