The New Orleans Saints have been operating their defense on the controversial “bounty system,” where the defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, gave money bonuses to players who deliberately injured players on opposing teams. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has cracked down on such behavior, handing out fines and suspensions to players that aggressively hit opponents in the head and neck, in an attempt to make the NFL a safer environment.
“The club and the individuals will be expected to cooperate in any further proceedings and to assist in the development and implementation of programs to instruct players and coaches at all levels on principles of player safety, fair play, and sportsmanship,” the league said in a official statement on April 9th.
Goodell has banned Saints General Manager Mickey Loomis for eight games, Assistant Coach Joe Vitt for six games, Head Coach Sean Payton for the entire 2012-2013 season, and suspended former Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams indefinitely. The first three individuals were aware about the bounty program but allowed it to continue.
All except Williams have met in private meetings with Goodell to appeal the punishments. On the very same day that they went to appeal these punishments, an audio tape of Gregg Williams addressing his defense prior to the 2012 playoff game against theSan Francisco49ers was released. The contents in Williams pre-game incredibly hurt the appeal of the Saints members.
“We need to decide on how many times we can beat Frank Gore’s head,” he says.
Williams also implores his charges to “lay out” Smith and later adds, “We need to decide whether Crabtree wants to be a [expletive] prima donna or he wants to be a tough guy. He becomes human when we … take out that outside ACL.”
This audio tape enraged many people, as it exposed the nefarious goings-on in the Saints locker room. Many players in the league denied the assumption that the speech was directed primarily to injure opposing players, though the intentions of the coach could easily be construed as the prosecution states.
I don’t feel like anything was ever literal,” one of the players said, referring to the way coaches such as Williams and teammates spoke of brutalizing opponents. “There’s a pretty good sense of fraternity around the league, and players generally understand and respect the bounds of the game. But it takes a lot of passion to play football, and the tough talk was more about getting players in the right mind-frame to go out and do their job.”
Goodell has confirmed the punishments and they will be carried out. The Saints organization may also face possible reductions of financial penalties, and possible modification of a forfeited 2013 second-round draft pick.
