Many NFL players have said that the bounty system run by the Saints is nothing new, and that it’s something that happens throughout the league. A lot of people are focusing on how the word about the bounties became public. They’re trying to find out who the snitch is.
Well I’ve got news for some of you: The snitch is none other than former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
In the 2009 season, the Saints battered Kurt Warner and Brett Favre in the playoffs. Next up was Peyton Manning and the Colts, and Williams explicitly said during a radio interview that his defense planned to take shots at the MVP quarterback.
“The big thing is that he throws the ball so early that we’re going to have to do a good job of finding ways to get to him and when we do get to him we’re going to have to make sure he gets a couple ‘remember me’ shots when we get there,” Williams told 104.5 The Zone.
Williams also made it clear he was willing to accept a few 15-yard penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct as long as Peyton felt the hits.
“When you put too much of that type of worry on a warrior’s mind, he doesn’t play all out,” Williams said. “If it happens, it happens. And the only thing you’d like for me to say is that if it happens you hope he doesn’t get back up and play again.”
That attitude is nothing new for Williams. From the moment he was hired by the Saints, his goal was to instill a tough, aggressive attitude with his players. This quote comes from an article published on May 5 2009 in the New Orleans Times-Picayune:
“He doesn’t want us to let up at all on the offense, ” Chip Vaughn said of Williams. “As soon as we got that choke hold, he wants us to squeeze the life out of ’em.”
This was written in a November 2009 Times-Picayune article:
From his first defensive meeting, when Williams’ challenged his players to “Knock ’em the — — — — out!” the mantra didn’t change. He stayed on point, from organized team activities to minicamps to training camp.
“That his style,” safety Chris Reis said. “He likes to play rough. He wants to send a message to the NFL.”
Gregg Williams’ ways were documented all along. If you want to get upset with anyone for letting out the word about the bounties, look at Williams first. Not only did he run the program, he also opened up his big mouth about his team’s nefarious intentions, leading the NFL to investigate.
