NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell came down hard on head coach Sean Payton, GM Mickey Loomis and other non-player employees involved in the New Orleans Saints bounty program. He came down extremely hard on the players as well.
The NFL announced suspensions for the following players: Jonathan Vilma (full season), Anthony Hargrove (eight games), Will Smith (four games) and Scott Fujita (three games). Vilma and Smith are currently on the Saints. Hargrove is now with the Green Bay Packers and Scott Fujita is now with the Cleveland Browns.
Fujita is a former Chiefs player from 2002-04.
The punishment is fairly jaw-dropping, even if we knew significant discipline was coming. All four players are expected to appeal in what could be a "massive legal battle" coming.
This does have a direct impact on the Kansas City Chiefs. The Chiefs travel to New Orleans to play the Saints in Week 3. Both Vilma and Smith will be absent from that game. Also missing will be head coach Sean Payton, GM Mickey Loomis and assistant (and interim) coach Joe Vitt.
The Saints will still have Drew Brees (assuming he signs by then) so it definitely won't be easy, and the Chiefs will still be 'dogs in this game, but it never hurts for two opposing defensive starters to miss a game.