Saints dealt stiff punishment for Favre bounty

The NFL came down hard on the Saints for Bountygate.

​Saints coaches had a bounty on Brett Favre's head during the 2009 NFC Championship Game. Now, they'll have to pay a stiff price themselves.

Following an investigation, the NFL today suspended Saints coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012 season. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was banned indefinitely. Two second-round draft picks were stripped from the franchise, along with $500,000.

Meanwhile, Vikings fans are left to stew, wondering what could've been had the officials had a clue (and had Adrian Peterson applied stickem to his hands prior to the game).

The Saints ravaged Favre with borderline hits as the referees looked the other way and Adrian Peterson fumbled.

​According to the NFL's investigation, Saints defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 to any player who hit Favre so hard he couldn't return. The Saints then battered the grizzled gunslinger with questionable hits throughout the brutal 31-28 loss, a game that will go down as the one where some longtime Vikings fans felt their faith in the Purple stomped out once and for all.

The news prompted Saints quarterback Drew Brees to take to Twitter and whine:

I am speechless. Sean Payton is a great man, coach, and mentor. The best there is. I need to hear an explanation for this punishment

-- Drew Brees (@drewbrees) March 21, 2012

Two tears, Drew. You'll always have your bounty-tainted Super Bowl championship. Us Vikings fans? All we've got are the brutal memories.