This is a very popular story of late concerning football's New Orleans Saints. Not exactly hockey related, but the punishment is unprecidented.
The Saints had a bounty system in place. A crush-for-cash scheme. Essentially, players on defense were offered cash rewards for injuring oppossing players causing them to leave the game. "Knockouts" were worth $1,500 and "cart-offs" $1,000, with payments doubled or tripled for the playoffs, possibly more.
For example, during the 2010 NFC Championship Game, any player that caused then Minnesota Vikings quarterback Bret Farve to leave the game due to injury would be paid $10,000. The Saints were penalized twice for roughing Farve and the League admitted later that at least another penalty should have been called.
Any payout for performance is against NFL rules. So even something like causing fumbles or catching an interception is off-limits to reward financially.
The League is reviewing with its Player's Association what to do about players who were involved, but NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has already issued some punishments.
Head Coach Sean Payton has been suspended for all of next season and General Manager Mickey Loomis has been suspended for half of it. Assistant Coach Joe Vitt has been suspended six games. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (now with the Saint Louis Rams) has been suspended indefinately. The Saints must forfeit two second-round draft picks and pay a $500,000 fine.
Payton is the first head coach in the League's history to be suspended while Loomis is believed to be the first GM suspended.
"We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the integrity of the game. We will not tolerate conduct or a culture that undermines those priorities," said Goodell.
I am not aware of any NHL coaches having been suspended, there have been a number of other leagues suspending coaches, including a KHL Coach that attacked a fan with a stick and one just 10 days ago in Manitoba by a junior league coach for his actions during the playoffs, including physical harrassment of officials. Fines are not uncommon (Tort's $30,000 one after this year's Winter Classic comes to mind).
It will be interesting to see if the NFL bounty system will have an effect on other sports leagues, including the NFL.
