In a statement issued Monday, the NFLPA confirmed that it was aware of the existence of the Gregg Williams audio tapes prior to their release. “We learned of the tape as part of our effort to obtain any and all information related to an alleged pay-to-injure scheme. We had no control of the content and did not make a determination on the method of its release. To date, the NFL has not provided the NFLPA with detailed evidence of the existence of such a program.”
In the tapes, Williams, the former Saints defensive coordinator, is heard giving a pre-game speech to the team prior to their playoff game with the San Francisco 49ers.
The NFLPA did not have an issue with the tape being released because it shows Gregg Williams was over-the-top.
In the tapes, Williams exhorts the Saints defenders to target specific 49ers players. Williams is heard saying, “Kill the head and the body will die.” He specifically told them to go for the head of 49ers running back Frank Gore. “We’ve got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore’s head,” Williams told his players.
In reference to receiver Kyle Williams, who had a concussion earlier in the season, he said, “We need to find out in the first two series of the game, the little wide receiver, number 10, about his concussion. We need to [expletive] put a lick on him right now.”
Mike Silver of Yahoo Sports has reported that the filmmaker, Sean Pamphilon, was contacted four times by NFL officials on Friday in an effort to acquire the full tapes, rather than just the excerpts that Pamphilon released to the public.
