Former New Orleans Saints receiver Joe Horn has pleaded guilty to medical fraud. On Thursday, the ex-NFL player pled guilty to scamming a benefits program designed to help retired NFL players pay for medical expenses.

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Horn was one of 12 former players named in federal indictments earlier this month for an alleged scheme that cost the program, the Gene Upshaw NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan, more than $3.4 million in reimbursements for medical equipment and procedures, none of which were actually purchased.

He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit health care fraud, a charge carrying a maximum of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 fine. His cooperation could lead to a lesser sentence with a plea agreement.

Other players facing charges include John Eubanks, Robert McCune, Carlos Rogers, Tamarick Vanover, Ceandris Brown, Clinton Portis, Fredrick Bennett, James Butler, Etric Pruitt and Correll Buckhalter.

The attorney for Portis, Mark Dycio, said, “Many of the players named in the indictment are shocked to the allegations given that most if not all deny any participation in any scheme to defraud the insurance company.”

McCune and Buckhalter are the alleged ringleaders of the group, according to prosecutors. They would recruit former players and submit fake claims to the health care plan, demanding thousands of dollars in kickbacks for each fake claim.

A typical claim would range from $40,000 to $50,000 and would include things like hyperbaric oxygen chambers, cryotherapy machines, ultrasound machines and electromagnetic therapy devices.

The  NFL Player Health Reimbursement Account Plan provides tax-free reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses of players and their families who are not covered by insurance.

Despite forged prescriptions and authorization letters, no evidence was uncovered that any doctors were complicit in the scheme.

It is safe to say that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is not a popular guy among active players. Between his handling of bounty-gate and deflate-gate, he rules over the NFL with an iron fist and a whole lot of unchecked power.

Just look at Goodell’s decision to personally oversee Tom Brady’s appeal process. Instead of recusing himself due to a conflict of interest, he makes the NFLPA regret signing their latest deal. And though active players have fallen on both sides of the spectrum about Goodell, former Saint Joe Horn does not hide his true feelings for the commissioner.

 Joe Horn Bashes Commissioner Roger Goodell

In an in-depth interview with The Football Girl, Horn talked about coming up through the CFL, his post-NFL life and, most importantly, his hatred for Commissioner Goodell.

And wthen asked to be honest about how he feels about the NFL, Horn did not hold back. “Here’s what I don’t like. I don’t like what Roger Goodell is doing,” he stated. “He has so much power that he can almost shut people down. I just don’t like him. And I don’t like that on draft day these kids don’t know that they’re hugging the devil. I hate to see kids that are lost and then happy but they really don’t know that the man they’re hugging will rip their throat apart.”

“If he has an opportunity to take money from them, or there’s a situation where they’re guilty before they go to court, he’ll rip them apart. And there’s nothing no one can do about it. If the owners are happy with Roger Goodell — the fans, the media — no one can take his job from him. I hate it.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2MygB4QOcng

And he did not stop there, even suggesting that the usually outspoken analysts Chris Berman and Cris Carter have to even watch their tongues about the commissioner.

In the end, Joe Horn, a player known for his ridiculous touchdown celebrations, will now be known for his opinion about the commissioner. But it does not seem like the four-time pro bowler really cares about it.