In ’89, Idea of Bounties Seemed Funny to Many

The N.F.L.’s last bounty scandal of note did not provoke outrage or condemnation. It did not result in fines or suspensions. The accused perpetrators showed no remorse. The only person to receive any penalty was the victim.

Mostly, the incident was played for laughs.

There had been bad blood between Buddy Ryan’s Philadelphia Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys since 1987, when the Cowboys sent their stars onto the field against Philadelphia’s overmatched replacement players during the strike. The feud intensified in 1989 when Ryan released kicker Luis Zendejas after a string of poor games, and Zendejas criticized Ryan before signing with Dallas....