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The Saints got the hammer dropped primarily two reasons: they lied to the league about the extent of the program. Two, even though the hypocrisy piles up to the moon, the league is pushing a "safer" playing field. The league is currently being sued by former players and by punishing the Saints for this behavior they're furthering their own agenda in that regard.
Gregg Williams is probably not the only coach to ever tell his players to go out and target another player or injure them intentionally. It probably isn't widespread but that's irrelevant anyways. The fact is, whether Payton or Loomis gave directives or not, that the program existed with their knowledge and they didn't stop it. That's why they're included in the punishment. Are the Saints the only organization to have had a bounty program? No. It's the degree to which it was operated and the organization's (mostly the individuals responsible) reaction after the league found out.
The comparison of the Saints' bounty program to any college team is absurd. If you can't draw the distinction between the two I don't care to discuss it.
That being said...
The NFL's message about player safety is complete garbage. The league has been hypocritical right along the way about the violence and their policies and actions. If the league was serious about curbing injuries or concussions the steps would be very simple. For example, mandating mouth pieces, which are proven to mitigate concussions more than any other measure. It's all a grand facade being thrown up because the league is getting sued for the shit retired players go through.
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