New Orleans coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the coming NFL season after the Saints were revealed to be paying players illegal bounties.
The franchise s former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was also banned from the sport indefinitely for orchestrating the bounty system among the Saints defensive players, which saw them rewarded for injuring opponents over a three-year period between 2009-2011.
In addition, the Saints were fined US$500,000 and saw their second-round draft picks for 2012 and 2013 stripped.
New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis is suspended for the first eight regular-season games in 2012, while assistant coach Joe Vitt will miss the first six.
We are all accountable and responsible for player health and safety and the i…
Jose Mourinho says he brought on Marouane Fellaini to counter Everton s direct style in the closing stages of their match at Goodison Park.
Fellaini came on against his former side in place of Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the 85th minute for his 100th United appearance since joining in 2013.
But it was a landmark outing to forget for the Belgium international, who promptly fouled Idrissa Gueye in the penalty area, with Leighton Baines scoring the resulting penalty as Everton claimed a 1-1 draw.
United therefore failed to preserve the lead given to them by Zlatan Ibrahimovic, but Mourinho explained he was trying to ensure his side did hold out to secure all three points in bringing on Fellaini.
I thought you would know more about football than you do because …
Manchester United have completed the signing of striker Rasmus Hojlund from Atalanta on a five-year deal for a reported £72million.
The 20-year-old, who has scored 27 goals in 87 club appearances and netted six times in six appearances for Denmark, has an option for a further year which would take his Old Trafford stay to 2029.
He becomes the third first-team signing of the close-season, following the arrivals of Mason Mount from Chelsea and goalkeeper Andre Onana from Inter, and was introduced to United supporters on the pitch at Old Trafford ahead of Saturday’s friendly against Lens.
Hojlund, who leaves Atalanta after a single season since joining from Sturm Graz, told United’s website: “It is no secret that I have been a fan of this great club since I w…
Leeds United have rejected a bid from Norwich City for Robert Snodgrass, but the Elland Road outfit could still sell the player.
Leeds manager Neil Warnock is keen to keep hold of the Scotland international as he looks to build a side capable of pushing for promotion back to the Premier League but is unsure if his star midfielder will remain at the club.
It s been made public that they have bid, but from our own point of view it s not what we re looking for, Warnock told reporters.
We d like to keep Rob, and Rob knows that. Whether that will be possible we ll have to wait and see.
Snodgrass started his career at Livingston before joining Leeds in 2008 and has scored 35 times in 168 league games for the club.
Norwich boss Chris Hughton is kee…
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud will not be ready for the start of the Premier League campaign.
Arsenal s preparation for the new season has not gone as planned, with the club completing a tour of Asia with a 2-2 draw against Hong Kong champions Kitchee on Sunday, but a friendly in Nigeria planned for the weekend was cancelled, leaving just one match left against Cologne.
Wenger had last week revealed Jack Wilshere would not return until October, and explained that many of his players may not be ready to start the new season, having stayed home during the tour.
The players who were out here will have had enough games but some players will have only one game, he said.
Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud may take…
John O Shea believes Sunderland s poor start to the Premier League season means the result of Sunday s Wear-Tyne derby is even more significant.
Sunderland, winless after nine games and sitting at the foot of the table, take on Newcastle also in the relegation zone – at the Stadium of Light.
Sam Allardyce s men have dominated recent meetings between the fierce rivals, having won each of their past five games and remaining unbeaten since 2011.
O Shea, who joined the north-east club from Manchester United, says the whole team are relishing the upcoming test.
It is a massive game and as players we always look forward to playing our local rivals, said the Republic of Ireland international.
We ve had some positives results against them in recent ti…
Marco Parolo scored four goals, including a hat-trick of headers, as Lazio thumped Serie A s bottom side Pescara 6-2 on Sunday.
The midfielder nodded home crosses from Felipe Anderson and Lucas Biglia to put Champions League hopefuls Lazio 2-0 up after just 14 minutes at Stadio Adriatico.
Pescara initially responded strongly, Ahmed Benali and Gaston Brugman pulling them level either side of Gianluca Caprari seeing a penalty saved.
Yet Lazio were back in front just three minutes after the interval, Parolo nodding home a rebound from close range to seal his hat-trick.
Keita Balde Diao and Ciro Immobile each scored from close range to make the points safe for Simone Inzaghi s men.
Parolo then scored his fourth, arriving late to sweep home a Sen…
Former Italy boss Gian Piero Ventura has taken over as the new head coach of Serie B side Salernitana.
The 71-year-old has signed a one-year contract with which contains the option for a second season.
Ventura endured a horror spell in charge of the Italy national side two years ago as the Azzurri failed to qualify for the World Cup for the first time since 1958 under his watch.
He was sacked in November 2017 and returned to management with top-flight side Chievo 11 months later.
But, after lasting just four matches before stepping down without a win, much-travelled Ventura has dropped down a tier to take charge of Salernitana, replacing Leonardo Menichini in the Stadio Arechi dugout.
The Maroons narrowly dodged relegation last season, finishin…
Mikel Arteta insisted it has not become a psychological issue for Arsenal after they conceded in the first minutes of a home game for the third time this year against Fulham.
Bukayo Saka’s blind pass let in Andreas Pereira to score for the visitors after just 57 seconds in front of a stunned Emirates, after the team made similarly poor starts against Southampton and Bournemouth last season.
The hosts had looked to have done enough to seal a fine comeback victory when substitute Eddie Nketiah slotted past Bernd Leno from Fabio Vieira’s cross 18 minutes from the end.
The points are shared at Emirates Stadium.
— Arsenal (@Arsenal)
That was two minutes after Saka made amends for his early error and equalised from the penalty spot, with defende…
Brighton manager Gus Poyet has conceded he did not expect to be so successful with the club as they prepare for the play-offs.
The Championship outift secured their place in the top-six with a 2-1 win at Leeds United on Saturday and can now look forward to the potential prospect of Premier League football next season.
Poyet joined Brighton in 2009 with the club mired in a relegation battle at the bottom of League One and the Uruguayan has revealed that he could not envisage challenging for a place in the top flight when he opted the take over from Russell Slade.
I wouldn t have believed this when I came to the club. I m very positive and try to move forward and try to get to the top but I didn t expect this, Poyet said.
You need to be more than a dreamer; you would need…