Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue on Tuesday rescinded punishments against four players in the New Orleans Saints bounty scandal . The ruling overturned a decision made in October by Roger Goodell , the current commissioner , against Jonathan Vilma , Anthony Hargrove , Will Smith and Scott Fujita . SI : Goodell the big loser here . Under the bounty program , Tagliabue wrote , Saints players were given incentives during the 2009 through 2011 seasons to render opposing players unable to play . They were called `` cartoffs '' and `` knockouts . '' In addition , it was alleged that the Saints offered a bounty for injuring Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre during the NFC Championship game in January 2010 . In October , after he upheld suspensions , Goodell appointed Tagliabue to review player appeals . In his 18-page order , Tagliabue found that Fujita 's actions `` were not conduct detrimental '' and vacated a one-game suspension imposed by Goodell . Tagliabue wrote that Fujita `` did not participate in the program including cartoffs and knockouts and that his participation in a 'non-injury ' pay-for-performance pool is typically subject only to club discipline . '' Tagliabue found that Hargrove , Smith and Vilma engaged in `` conduct detrimental to the integrity of , and public confidence in , the game of professional football , '' but ordered their punishments also be rescinded . Read Tagliabue 's ruling ( PDF ) Hargrove had been suspended for seven games but was credited with having served five . Goodell found that Hargrove falsely answered an NFL investigator 's questions about the misconduct . But Tagliabue said it was not clear Hargrove lied about the program and noted that he was `` under tremendous pressure to follow the chain of command in order to keep his job . '' Tagliabue concluded that there was insufficient evidence that Hargrove 's alleged misconduct merited a suspension . Peter King : Ruling points finger at Saints brass . Goodell had suspended Smith for four games after finding he gave money to the program . But Tagliabue said Smith was being singled out unfairly because he was a team captain . `` On the present record , selective prosecution of allegations of misconduct and enforcement of discipline relative to Smith can not be sustained , '' Tagliabue wrote . `` Whatever the reason for such selective enforcement , it does not satisfy basic requirements for consistent treatment of player employees similarly situated . '' Goodell had found that Vilma offered a bounty to any Saints player who could knock Favre out of the 2010 championship game and suspended him for the entire 2012 season . But Tagliabue nixed that suspension , too , saying it was not clear that any such pledges were made seriously . `` Was it inspirational only ? '' he asked . `` Was it typical 'trash talk ' that occurs regularly before games ? The parties presented no clear answers . '' Tagliabue wrote reducing the suspensions to fines could be justified in the cases of Hargrove , Smith and Vilma . `` However ... this entire case has been contaminated by the coaches and others in the Saints ' organization , '' he wrote . After the order was released , Saints quarterback Drew Brees took to Twitter : `` Congratulations to our players for having the suspensions vacated . Unfortunately , there are some things that can never be taken back , '' he wrote . Are athletes who speak their minds out of bounds ? In a statement , the NFL noted that the matter had been reviewed by Goodell , two collective bargaining agreement grievance arbitrators , the Collective Bargaining Appeals Panel and now Tagliabue . `` The decisions have made clear that the Saints operated a bounty program in violation of league rules for three years , that the program endangered player safety , and that the commissioner has the authority under the CBA to impose discipline for those actions as conduct detrimental to the league , '' the league said . `` Strong action was taken in this matter to protect player safety and ensure that bounties would be eliminated from football . '' October : Goodell upholds suspensions . In a statement , the NFL Players Association , the union , said it was pleased with the decision . `` Vacating all discipline affirms the players ' unwavering position that all allegations the league made about their alleged 'intent to injure ' were utterly and completely false . We are happy for our members . '' Vilma 's lawyer , Peter R. Ginsberg , accused Goodell of `` trying every conceivable maneuver to avoid real and honest scrutiny of his manufactured allegations that Jonathan Vilma engaged in a bounty program aimed at opposing players . '' Though gratified that his client `` no longer needs to worry about facing an unjustified suspension , '' he said Tagliabue 's order `` does nothing to rectify the harm done by the baseless allegations lodged against Jonathan . ''
Decision by former commissioner overturns current Tagliabue chief . Case affects the New Orleans Saints from the entire 2012 season . NFL says Jonathan given incentives to hurt opposing players . Was it typical `` trash talk '' that occurs regularly before games ?