The NFL announced that former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was administering a “pay for performance” program that included bounties for knock out hits on opposing players. The program was said to include 22 to 27 defensive players for the Saints, which would equate to most of the defense. Since then, other players have come out and admitted that there was a bounty system in Williams’ defense in Washington as well, including a lot of details in a piece written by former Redskins safety Matt Bowen.
Tony Dungy has gone as far as to suggest that Peyton Manning’s current neck injuries trace their genesis back to a game against Washington and Williams’ bounty-motivated defense, with a hit that Dungy considered dirty at the time.
Former Buffalo Bills linebacker Coy Wire, along with other players speaking on condition of anonymity, said that there was a bounty system in place in Buffalo as well, when Williams was the head coach there.
The Saints program included bonuses for turnovers, as well as $1,500 bonus for a “knockout” hit and a $1,000 bonus for a “cart off” hit. The program is in violation of league rules, and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will determine disciplinary action.
“The payments here are particularly troubling because they involved not just payments for ‘performance,’ but also for injuring opposing players,” Goodell said in a statement released by the league.
“It is our responsibility to protect player safety and the integrity of our game, and this type of conduct will not be tolerated. We have made significant progress in changing the culture with respect to player safety and we are not going to relent. We have more work to do and we will do it.”
The report indicated that Saints head coach Sean Payton was aware of the allegations, and that the league’s findings were brought to the attention of team owner Tom Benson, who directed general manager Mickey Loomis to end the program but that Loomis ignored Benson’s directions.
Benson released a statement today saying, “I have been made aware of the NFL’s findings relative to the ‘Bounty Rule’ and how it relates to our club.
“I have offered and the NFL has received our full cooperation in their investigation.“
Williams, who is at the center of the controversy, released a statement saying, “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’m truly sorry. I have learned a hard lesson I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again.”
Back in December, some of the Tennessee Titans accused the Saints of playing dirty following their game and a week later, Vikings All Pro running back Adrian Peterson said that Saints players were targeting his injured ankle during the game.
The NFLPA released a statement saying: “Health and safety is a paramount issue to the NFLPA. The NFLPA was informed of this investigation by the NFL earlier today and will review the information contained in the league’s report.”
