Gregg Williams: It Is Right to Remain Silent

By now, unless you have been in a coma for the past month, you have heard about the New Orleans Saints Bountygate scandal. Former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was the ring leader in a structured bounty program in which players were given monetary rewards for injuring other players. Williams has since been suspended indefinitely for his role in the scandal.

CAUGHT ON TAPE

Before the Saints’ game against the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round of 2011 NFL Playoffs this past January, Williams was recorded by a private filmmaker (making a film for the family of former Saint and ALS patient Steve Gleason) very graphically instructing his team to hit and hurt opposing players.

Williams can be heard saying to “touch” and “affect” 49ers running back Frank Gore’s head. He can also be heard encouraging his team to put Niners tight end Vernon Davis’ ankle “at the top of a pile”, to “test” wide receiver Michael Crabtree’s “outside ACL” ligament in his knee, and to hit receiver Kyle Williams in the head. Williams had recently suffered a concussion.

The most dangerous threat to Williams' defensive units. 3

 BAD TO WORSE

From all accounts of former players that I have heard on talk radio, it sounds like the general tone and tenor of Williams’ speech, encouraging his players to hit hard and hurt their opponents, is par for the course for pre game pep talks. The difference being, however, that most speeches did not have such graphic detail of injuries, specifying ligaments and body parts to harm.

At that time, the Saints had already been informed that the investigation into their then-alleged bounty program, begun in 2009, was being reopened. Call me crazy, but I think the Saints’ coaching staff had to know it was in trouble. Why Williams, whether he knew he was being filmed or not, spoke about hitting opposing players and injuring them with such graphic detail is beyond me.

2

ROGER, TELL ME HOW MY ASS TASTES!

Success can corrupt and breed arrogance. I never thought that arrogance could include delusions of administrative invincibility, especially in a league run by Roger Goodell, who often acts as more of a sheriff than a commissioner. Perhaps Williams can explain that to Goodell when he applies for reinstatement to the NFL in 2013.

I wonder if Goodell could rock the mic like Shaq. "Check it! Check it! You know how I be. Gregg won't coach without a blessing from me! Gregger, (expletive), tell me how my ass tastes!" 1

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1) Image from www.thegrio.com
2) Image from www.terezowens.com

3) Image from www.letsgodigital.org