Meh - I don't get it. Troy Aikman and Emmitt Smith used to pay their linemen for a job well done. Presumably every play is considered an opportunity by a defensive player to knock the opposing offensive backfield out of the game. If they hit legally then it's simply understood that it's a good thing to do.
Alabama won national title a couple years back with exactly this strategy.
If the hit is done illegally, especially in bad sportmanship (e.g. after the whistle or whatever) then the defensive player risks suspension and fines and that would make a few thousand dollars seem like chump change.
I think Goodell is really upset because it's just such bad taste. But bad taste in New Orleans is about as common as cream sauce on fried food.
