New Orleans Saints'
The New Orleans Saints didn't gamble on winning or losing, but they did offer incentives to players to deliberately injure players of opposing teams between 2009-2011.
Greg Williams was hired by the New Orleans Saints on January 15, 2009. Head coach Sean Payton, who was heavily involved in the effort to recruit Williams to the team, raved about Williams "because he was so impressive and prepared" in his interview. In fact, Williams was so impressive that Payton offered and took a voluntary 0,000 cut in salary to help facilitate his signing with the team. He took over a Saints defense ranked 23rd in the NFL in yards allowed and tied for 26th in points allowed in 2008. Williams' approach yielded immediate results, as the 2009 Saints recorded 35 defensive takeaways, second in the league, and the aggressive defense played an integral role in the Saints' run to their first Super Bowl championship.
Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, the ringleader of the scheme, is banned from football indefinitely. Head Coach Sean Peyton was suspended for a season.