Goodell disagrees with Tagliabue's non-discipline decision in New Orleans Saints bounty scandal

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said he "fundamentally disagrees" with former league boss Paul Tagliabue's decision not to discipline players in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal.

Goodell said he respected his predecessor's decision, and believed it backed up the commissioner's conclusion that the Saints ran a bounty programme for three years and covered it up.

But Goodell took issue with Tagliabue vacating the year-long suspension of linebacker Jonathan Vilma and giving shorter bans to three other current and former Saints players. In an NFL appeal ruling issued on Tuesday, the former commissioner placed much of the blame with the Saints' coaches and front office.

"I fundamentally disagree that this is something that lies just with coaches and management," Goodell said. "I do think their leadership position needs to be considered, but I also believe these players were in leadership positions, also."

Like Vilma, Saints coach Sean Payton received a year-long suspension. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was suspended indefinitely, and assistant Joe Vitt, who is now the interim head coach, was banned for six games. General manager Mickey Loomis got an eight-game suspension.

"My personal view is I hold everyone responsible," Goodell said. "Player health and safety is an important issue in this league. We're all going to have to contribute to that, whether you're a commissioner, whether you're a coach, whether you're a player, and we all have to be held accountable for it."