Williams also reportedly ran a bounty program with the Redskins when he was the defensive coordinator there. "22 to 27" defensive players on the Saints participated in the bounties, and MLB Jonathan Vilma reportedly put $10,000 in the bounty on Brett Favre in 2010.
According to the investigation, Saints owner Tom Benson told Mickey Loomis to put an end to the bounty program multiple times. Loomis did not. Similar to the pending Vicodin scandal, Loomis created more trouble by unsuccessfully orchestrating a coverup. Interviewees denied early the existence of a bounty programs, so much so that the intestigation was closed. It was re-opened last season with the reception of new credible information.
Only the Patriots' 2007 scandal of filming opponents rivals the trouble the Saints appear to be in. ESPN's Adam Schefter wrote on Twitter Friday, "A safe prediction: Saints will be disciplined far worse than the Patriots were for Spygate." The NFL has specific rules against player bounties.
The Patriots were punished with a $500,000 fine for head coach Bill Belichick and a $250,000 against the team. The Patriots also lost two draft picks under the following conditions: its first-round draft choice in 2008 if it reached the playoffs in 2007, or its second and third round picks if not.
NFL security compiled 50,000 pages during their three year investigation, which goes back to the Saints' 2009 Super Bowl XLIV run, which featured devastating hits on Arizona QB Kurt Warner and Minnesota QB Brett Favre.
Williams in a statement on Friday admitted and regretted the program:
I want to express my sincere regret and apology to the NFL, Mr. Benson, and the New Orleans Saints fans for my participation in the 'pay for performance' program while I was with the Saints. It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.
Former All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman wrote on Friday via Twitter:
Why is this a big deal now? Bounties been going on forever. A "Bounty" left me with a torn PCL and LCL in my knee check the 07' Titans game I was pissed I had to play in the pro bowl with that knee like that lol #StillhereProFootballTalk writer and former attorney Mike Florio wrote on Saturday:
While the league can only do so much to its players in light of the CBA, the NFL can come down hard on Loomis and everyone else who lied to the league, including (presumably) former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Saints coach Sean Payton, former Saints defensive backs coach (and current Raiders head coach) Dennis Allen, and any other non-player who knew damn well what had been happening and . . . wait for it . . . LIED to the league about it.
If that's what's it takes you boosting your team and or some players up by offering them a prize to play well WHAT'S WRONG WITH IT ITS A GAME THAT'S PLAYED TO WIN!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's not just a prize to play well. It's a bounty to hurt someone and potentially end their career. I love football but find this totally despicable. I think these coaches should never coach again.
ReplyDeletec'mon... this is a game about hurting people.... it is a game about hitting the other guy hard enough that they dont get up, and you win... This is just some coach that should have exercised some responsibility over this sort of juvenile behavior... but its not even an extension of the game... logical or illogical, IT IS THE GAME.... Do you think that a player that is getting 50 K per game... is going to do anything different for an extra 5 K ?? Ask anyone who has played the game, you get maybe one shot per game, maybe.... at one of the opposing players, where the angles and everything are just right and there is nothing they can do..... But most shots... are partial.... shots.... Maybe they should start looking at having people actually wear the pads that they are supposed to wear.... and maybe get some modern engineering involved in their pad and headgear and brace and protection designs... Seems to me that there has been a great deal of progress in the automotive industry in regard to crashes and materials, and also combat armor designs in regard to distributing a point impact.. For starters NFL... how about make them wear thigh and hip pads ??? how many pointers and charlie horses would you save per year ?? hypocritical SOBs.....
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many of you brave talkers who condone the despicable "bounty" practice have actually played football at any level....you tail gate heroes and Gregg Willliams make me sick!
ReplyDeletewell, they are getting paid to hit and hurt people, and now you are questioning an additional competition because its kind of "organized"...
DeleteNoone wants to cripple someone, but as a defensive player, hitting someone hard enough that they have to leave the game... is kind of impressive... with or without the money, and the organization.. A coach should have stepped in and taken control, but they did not, so what is agreed upon and mostly unspoken, becomes agreed upon and spoken... What is the difference please?
Paying someone to cripple someone is just plain evil. Knock them down, tackle them, fight them, sure. Cripple them, NO. And doing it in front of all the kids in America. Disgusting.
ReplyDelete