Yep - it's kind of ridiculous - a couple of innocent teams got hit almost as bad. The Saints just lose two players for half a season, getting one back midway. And I've already complained about the stupid fine the Saints got. Turns out they made a huge profit on that fine, as they don't have to pay those salaries. They even get a cap bonus that will enable them to work out a deal with Brees.
And, of course, by not immediately suspending management, Goodell allowed the Saints to have an orderly transition and a normal draft (bar missing picks). And, while I'm okay with what suspensions there are, only 4 out of the 20-some looks awfully arbitrary. Shouldn't all of them have been suspended for at least one game? And, since Goodell likes delivering punishments that look much harsher than they are, they could be implemented at the Saints' discretion. ("Look much harsher" in an institutional sense - they're harsh from the individual's standpoint but the organization arguably got off lightly or more lightly than it might seem at first glance, anyway.)
Anyway - in really sad, confusing news, Junior Seau was either murdered or committed suicide or had a horrible accident. Dead at 43 of a gunshot wound to the chest, apparently.
In really happy news in a sense, if you get past the tragedy in the first place, the Bucs made
a great free-agent signing today.