Bounty hunters, the Saints, and safety in the NFL

Roman Harper's big hit on Bret Favre

By Joey McMurry

It's no secret that most fans are not particularly happy with all the new rules in the NFL.

I, for one, respect what the league is trying to do - player safety is obviously important. However, removing aspects of the game to do so is the wrong way. I simply don't agree with that.

Risk is part of the job when you put on an NFL uniform, and I think most of the players understand and accept that. In fact, most players seem to believe in that idea. I can't recall one instance where an NFL player has really taken the league's side on this one. Granted, the media covers the opposition more (take James Harrison, for example), but still. There is a general feeling that no one necessarily likes these rule changes that are said to keep players safer. However, the intentions of the changes are good, even if the rule changes are not appealing.

That brings me to the New Orleans Saints and their "bounty hunter defense."

Before I go any further, let me point out that Gregg Williams, the Saints' defensive coordinator who instigated the program, is really nothing special, as Bay Area Sports Guy points out. Sure, he's coached up some good secondaries, but it looks more and more like that had a lot to do with this type of pay for performance program.

According to reports, the program awarded Saints defenders who inflicted devastating hits on opposing players. Particularly, $1,500 for a "knockout" and $1,000 for a "cart-off," with payouts doubling or tripling during the playoffs. It is pertinent to mention that the year this $50,000 pool started was 2009 - the year New Orleans won the Super Bowl.

Despite its obvious moral violations, the program is against league rules without even bringing up the league's recent concentration on player safety because it is a form of "payment for performance." So, that makes me think - the program began in 2009, right around the time the league started to crack down on "vicious" hits. I have to wonder if this program had something to do with those changes in league policy.

Gregg Williams, before he fled NO for STL

If that is the case, then this is a clear message that coaching staffs around the league don't necessarily like the changes. I am personally disgusted that I am even thinking that at this point. I had a tremendous amount of respect for Saints head coach Sean Payton. I liked the guy. Now, he's right up their at the top of my "I'm pissed at you" list because there are reports out there that he knew about the program and didn't stop it. Pardon the french, but this sort of system is bullshit.

If you don't agree with what the league is doing or how they're doing it, fine. Tell the league that. Offer suggestions on how to keep players safe without changing the game. Don't protest by doing the exact opposite. Intentionally injuring another human being is simply wrong. That is NOT what football is all about. Yes, football is a brutal game, and it doesn't need any help from idiotic coaches like Gregg Williams to be dangerous.

That's why I really hope this sort of thing is an isolated incident. If it is in fact a response to changes in league policy, the commissioner's office needs to confront the problem now.

Thinking that the league's efforts of trying to keep players safer has actually endangered them more is truly frightening.

I tend to think that the pool was more related to Williams' (completely disrespectful and stupid) theory of how to play defense, but we may never know. Perhaps this sort of thing happens all around football. If that's the case, I really am ashamed that that is what this great game has come to.

Gregg Williams should be at the least suspended indefinitely until the league can complete a full investigation. Jackasses like him don't deserve to get paid to coach football. The Saints as an organization should also be punished severely, especially if their head coach knew what was going on. This whole thing is an insult to the game and should be dealt with extremely seriously.

For once, Roger Goodell has my support to lay down the hammer. Make an example so that this sort of idiocy and disrespectful bullshit won't happen again. Even though I think removing parts of the game is not the best thing to do, I absolutely think that player safety should not be put in jeopardy by appalling systems like this bounty hunter defense.

Kurt Warner in the 2010 NFC Divisional game, the last game of his career, after a hit by a Saints defender that knocked him out of the game.