Saints head coach Sean Payton heard all about the James Harrison "envelope story," in which Harrison claims Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin handed him "an envelope" after he was fined $75,000 by the NFL for an illegal hit on Browns receiver Mohamed Massaquoi in 2010.
Problem with that story is this: It's completely illegal for coaches or teams to pay players' fines or to otherwise give them money with a wink and a nudge for any purpose.
Payton knows this scenario well, as he was suspended for the entirety of the 2012 season for his role in "Bountygate," a system the Saints had established from 2009 - 2011 which rewarded players for big hits and/or knocking opponents out of the game. Most notably, Saints defensive coordinator at the time, Gregg Williams, claimed linebacker Jonathan Vilma offered a $10,000 incentive to any teammate who could knock Brett Favre out of the 2009 NFC Championship Game.
The Saints won that game and the Super Bowl that year, but Favre did indeed take a few questionable hits from the Saints, calling it one of the most violent games he'd ever played.
Vilma, along with teammates Scott Fujita, Will Smith and Anthony Hargrove, was initially fined and suspended, but those punishments were vacated after being appealed.
Payton wasn't so lucky.
His season-long suspension was upheld, and he's still bitter about it today. Making matters worse for him, he doesn't expect Tomlin or the Steelers to face any blowback for Harrison's latest claim.
"If people are waiting for the league to investigate that, they shouldn't hold their breath," Payton told Jason La Canfora on 105.7 the Fan. "I think what took place with us back in 2011 in so many ways was a sham. And yet there wasn't a lot we could do with it. You know, the players were vindicated. But from a league or coaching standpoint, there's no union, no representation."
In the aftermath of Harrison's statement, Steelers president Art Rooney II, Harrison's agent, Bill Parise, and Harrison himself have all strongly denied any such activity.
“I am very certain nothing like this ever happened. I have no idea why James would make a comment like this but there is simply no basis for believing anything like this,” Rooney said.
"Absolutely not," Parise told the Tribune-Review's Joe Rutter. "Never happened. I would have known that. It didn't happen ... James and I are still together. We were really close during our 18 years. He would have said something along the way."
"Wow y'all really comparing what I said to BOUNTYGATE?!?" Harrison wrote on his Instagram. "Mike T. Has NEVER paid me for hurting someone or TRYING to hurt someone or put a bounty on ANYBODY! If you knew the full story of what happened back then you'd know that BS fine for a Legal Play wasn't even penalized during the game ... AGAIN AT NO TIME did Mike T. EVER suggest anybody hurt anybody or that they'd be rewarded for anything like that. GTFOH with that BS!!!"
Payton, however, didn't seem to share this viewpoint, adding that he'd be "shocked" if the Steelers suffered any punishment.
"That'll be something that's tucked away or under the rug at Park Avenue," Payton said. "They'll look into it briefly. Listen, don't get me started on that. I lost $6 million in salary. And, honestly, it was something that I'll never truly get over because I know how it was handled and how it was run and the reasons behind it. And that's just the truth."
If Payton's words hold up, the Steelers could be subjected to an investigation here.
But to use his words, I won't be holding my breath that anything of note is found.
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