New Orleans Saints had bounty program to injure opposing players, NFL says March 2, 2012 -- Updated 2334 GMT (0734 HKT) NFL: Players were also paid for making interceptions and fumble recoveries Both the individuals involved and the club could be punished Saints owner Tom Benson pledges full cooperation in the investigation (CNN) -- The New Orleans Saints' defense had a bounty program that paid players to injure opponents and for making interceptions and fumble recoveries, the National Football League said Friday. The program involved as many as 27 defensive players, at least one assistant coach, and was active during the 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons, said the league. "The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for 'performance,' but also for injuring opposing players," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not going to relent," he added. Goodell has received the results of an NFL investigation into the Saints' program and will decide on discipline, which could include fines, suspensions and forfeiture of draft choices, the NFL said. Saints owner Tom Benson released a statement acknowledging the probe and calling its results "troubling." I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation. While the findings may be troubling, we look forward to putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans," he said. According to the NFL, Saints' players regularly contributed cash to a pool, the total of which may have been as high as $50,000 or more at its peak. They were paid $1,500 for a "knockout," when an opposing player was not able to return to the game, and $1,000 for a "cart-off," when an opposing player had to be carried off the field. Players were also paid for interceptions and fumble recoveries. Payouts doubled and tripled during the playoffs, the league said. The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl after the 2009 season. There is no question that a bounty program violates long-standing league rules. Payments of this type -- even for legitimate plays such as interceptions or fumble recoveries -- are forbidden because they are inconsistent with the Collective Bargaining Agreement and well-accepted rules relating to NFL player contracts," the NFL said.