Over the last few weeks, several players on the New Orleans Saints have reached out to CBSSports.com columnist Mike Freeman to express their doubts and frustrations with the NFL's investigation into an illegal bounty program and the resulting suspensions handed down to current and former players, coaches and front office staff. Common themes in the players' comments are doubts that the league actually has proof of a bounty system, and a sense that the players and coaches are being railroaded by the NFL. The players also contend that the letters sent to head coach Sean Payton, former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, linebackers coach Joe Vitt and general manager Mickey Loomis informing them of their discipline imply reductions in their suspensions so long as they kept quiet about the issue. Another assertion is that Williams' reputation for administering bounty programs in previous NFL coaching stops prompted the league to make an example of the Saints. "It's been well-documented that (Williams) had a similar pay-for-performance system at other places he's coached," a player close to the investigation told Freeman, "so now players are being punished for just the dumb luck of being in New Orleans at a time when such a culture was present, and also at a time when the league needs to take a hard stance on such behavior for perception and liability reasons. There might be anecdotal evidence of a few players saying some over-the-top (expletive) to mirror their coach. I’ve heard players threaten rape and sodomy in pregame speeches. Immature? Yes. But actually paying and accepting money to injure? Nope." Source: NFL.com
They are manning up. Crap you people complain about the commish but take everything he says as freaking gold. You all think this is going to hurt the Saints? It won't. The offense will be as potent as ever and the defense will be better. They will be hoisting the trophy in their home stadium and Brees should give Godell a big FREAK YOU up on the stadium.
LOL. I doubt they will be hoisting the trophy this year. Lay off the Kool-Aid man crap, you should know that 99% of the people on this site think that Roger Goodell is a freaking dumb butt. And whining about someone being too harsh on the punishment for putting bounties on people isn't manning up in my eyes, it's called being a whiny overpaid snitch.
Hey Buck, what you happen if the trophy wont be in New Orleans? You all are the same, thinking and showing you are the best were in reality you are a bunch of hyprocrites that wont admit the bounty system. Good luck with the trophy....lol Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Brees will be giving a big FREAK YOU but it won't be to Goodell, it'll be to the Saints who won't give him a good deal...
you may be right. I just don't see how we will be hurt that bad unless Brees don't sign. The offense is untouched. Pete called most of the plays last year and we went 13-3. Just because a coach was taped saying what lots of defensive cordinators probably say don't mean there was a bounty to hurt people. And what happens if the trophy isn't here come Feb, I think that is what you asked, then oh well it didn't happen. Has anything come out saying player gets money for hurting someone? I haven't seen it. I am not whinning. Just stating nothing has been proven. Of what I have read and heard, getting a criminal conviction would be damn near impossible. Back in the 80's that is how they played defense. There was even a guy who had a towel with the numbers of the qb's he took out of the game. If I remember correctly, in the late 80's the Dome Patrol took out 5 starting qbs in one year. Now people want to see high scoring games so they hamstrung the defenses to make it happen. Just saying nothing has been proven so far backing up the bounty program. Same as Loomis supposedly listening to the opposing team's calls. After a big crap storm that followed and the denials of the parties involved nothing more has been said about it. But everyone was saying that happened. So far that has been shot down as a lie. So why not this. It is a fact that Williams said to target hurt players. That is what you are supposed to do. Get the player out of the game and you have a better chance to win the game. And good luck with the Bears trying to get a trophy. And I feel you are right Sweets. He may sign the one year tender and bolt next season.
