The Scandal of the National Football League
James Wood
March 4, 2012
Dr. Sally Asbell
Course # 067
We all love and respect the game of football. It is easy to love with the great catches, moves, play calling, and big hits, but when a coach demands his players to deliberately hurt certain players of the opposing team, that is when the love of the game is lost. The New Orleans Saints defensive coach Gregg Williams, has lost his career for putting bounties on opposing teams players. Not only has this scandal put this great franchise in the hole, but also they have lost the respect of players and fans around the country. The tape released of Gregg Williams talking to his defense before the NFC semi final game against the San Francisco 49ers, will bring chills down your back with the severity of his demands to physicaly hurting certain players. This scandal puts a huge damper on the NFL, whom tries so hard to protect the players and their well being.
The Saints are the fist team to have ever been reported placing bounties on players and it came with swift consequences. The National Football League has suspended the Saints head coach Sean Payton without pay for the entire 2012 season and indefinitely banned the team’s former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams (Clayton pg.1). National Football Leaguecommissioner Roger Goodell, has not taken this kind of action lightly. He has also come out and said, “This isn’t the end of the investigation. All The players that participated in this act as well as enforcing it, will also be punished.” (Fox p2). With all these punishments being placed it show’s how severe and disrespectful their action were.
The New Orleans Saints have become a household name ever since they brought a city together after a horrific tragedy. This team showed their city how to come together and won the 2009-2010 super bowl. Now after all the scandal talk and punishments, this team is going to be forever known as the team that lost their way in 2012. With an endless list of former and active players of the NFL placing their opinion’s about how shocked they are that a coach would actually do something of this nature (Ketcylan). Not only are players disgusted with this act of violence, but the fans that love the game, feel some type of betrayal from those players purposely trying to inflict injury to another player.
Some fans and other players say that the player’s shouldn’t be punished for these acts, because they were merely following the orders of their coach. Most recently released documents states that most of the Saints defensive players embraced the bounties and the bonuses that came with them (Yasinskas). This is just one more reason fans fill the game is heading down hill. If players will inflict pain on other players for more money what wouldn’t they do for more money?
When the reports of the scandal fist came out, it made people believe it was most likely going to result in a multi game suspensions. All the investigators had was, he said she said accusations with no evidence. Then the tape came out of Gregg Williams talking to his defense the night before their playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. The audio tape that was released by documentary filmmaker Sean Pamphilon, that said “I wouldn’t have released the tape if the NFL weren’t in the middle ofa very serious investigation.” (Perez p2).
Just one listen of this audio will make you sick to your stomach. Coach Williams goes into so much detail on how to attack certain players. Williams pointed to his chin while telling his players to hit 49ers quarterback Alex Smith “right there,” saying: “Remember me. I got the first one. I got the first one. Go get it,” while rubbing his fingers together to indicate there would be cash paid for the hit (Battista). The biggest statement in the tape is how Gregg is informing his team to “Hit the head, early and often.” One of the NFL’s biggest rules is no contact to a player’s head. Which if there is contact will result in a fifteen-yard penalty and in most cases, suspension.
The NFL has been trying to reduce long-term injuries ever since it became the National Football League. They have been doing so by having players wear more equipment, enforcing new rules to protect the player’s, and putting thousands of dollars into researching more advanced equipment. No one has put more time or effort into protecting the players and their well being then Rodger Goodell. Ever since Rodger became the commissioner of the National Football League, his main goal has been to protect the players. He has done so with enforcing new rules such as, no hitting a defenseless player, no leading with your head on a tackle, and no helmet-to-helmet contact (Smith).
The Saints scandal defiantly brought a ton of negative attention to the NFL, but what it affected most was how the NFL has been trying so hard to enforce player safety. After the last six years of the NFL changing rules, what is the point if coaches are just going to offer rewards for those players that injury other players. We as fans understand that injury is part of the game, but going as far as deliberately hurting people on the field makes you as a player and the game you represent look bad.
After all the talk and speculation of the New Orleans Saints placing bounties on opposing teams players was official, I believe it is fair to say that the one-year suspension of head coach Sean Payton and the indefinite suspension of Gregg Williams was the correct call.
Even with the Saints the team that brought a city together after a tragedy, by winning the 2009-2012 super bowl. Players and fans around the world in disgust, will look at this team and it’s organization. This all shows in the reactions of former and active player’s of the NFL, stating how they feel this was an act of betrayal.
Just like any other story in sports, it started out small then became one of the biggest stories to have ever hit the National Football League. The moment Sean Pamphilon released the audio tape of Gregg Williams addressing his defense, the night before their big game against the San Francisco 49ers. This tape showed how detailed coach Williams was and what he was expecting from his players. After hearing Gregg Williams tell his team to “hit the head, early and often.” You knew right then this was bigger then anyone could’ve imagined.
With the NFL and Rodger Goodell working so hard on trying to keep the players safe at all costs. Even adding new fifteen-yard penalty’s if you hit another player in the head. So by putting bounties on opposing players is one of the worst ways to disrespect the NFL and what it is trying to accomplish. Not only does this scandal put a bad name on the organization, but it shows their sportsmanship for the game.
Battista, Judy. "Tape Reveals Coach asking for injuries." New York Times. 5 April 2012: 1. Print.
Clayton, John. "The Scandal Punishment." ESPN. 10 April 2012: 1. Print.
Fox, Ashley. "Goodell drives his point home." espn.com. 2 April 2012: 2. Print.
Ketcylan, Armen. "Frmer players sickened by NFL saints bounty Scandal ." . 10 April 2012: 1. Print.
Perez, A.J. "Q&A with filmmaker Sean Pamphilon." . 19 April 2012: 1. Print.
Smith, Nate. "NFL's goals take big hit." Sports Illustrated . 26 April 2012: 1. Print.
Yasinskas, Pat. "Goodell offers rules." . 23 April 2012: 1. Print.