Coy Wire: Falcons don’t have a bounty system
Linebacker Coy Wire, the team's former alternate player representative, set up the team's ad hoc offseason training program.
Former Falcons linebacker Coy Wire, who orchestrated the team’s offseason program last year during the lockout, said the team does not have a bounty program.
Wire made the statement to the Buffalo News while discussing the bounty program that was in place with the Bills under Gregg Williams.
He also played for Mike Mularkey and Dick Jauron in Buffalo and said that neither coach had a bounty system.
During his tenure as defensive coordinator of the New Orleans Saints, Williams rewarded players for big plays and also for knocking players out of games, the NFL announced on Friday. Williams, who was recently hired as the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, admitted to the allegations and apologized in a statement.
In addition to Wire’s claims that the Bills’ had a bounty system, The Washington Post, reported that Williams had a bounty system in place while he was the Redskins defensive coordinator.
Williams was Buffalo’s head coach from 2001 through 2003. Wire was selected in the third round (97th overall) of the 2002 NFL Draft and said the program was in place when he arrived.
Wire, 6-0, 225 pounds, compiled 206 tackles, five sacks, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and six passes defensed in nine NFL seasons between the Bills and Falcons. He was released by the Falcons in September.
Here’s what Wire told The Buffalo News.
During his time as Buffalo Bills head coach, Gregg Williams promoted cash bonuses for delivering hits that seriously injured opponents, former safety Coy Wire told The Buffalo News.
“There was financial compensation,” Wire said.
Three other defensive players from that era, speaking to The News on condition of anonymity, confirmed that a bounty system existed during Williams’ time with the Bills. Two of those players said cash bonuses were paid for “knockout shots” that sent opponents out of games.
A 2001 Stanford graduate with a sociology degree, Wire is a tireless reader with deeply held religious beliefs. His academic pursuits, coupled with a life-threatening neck injury in 2007, have led him to study the powers of the mind.
He was selected by his teammates for the Ed Block Courage Award winner in 2009 for being an inspiration to the squad.
Wire has been working on book, “Change Your Mind: 10 Unconventional Secrets to Retrain Your Brain” which is scheduled to be released this month.
With the league emphasizing player-safety, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell is expected to deliver a severe punishment to the Saints.
Wire believes that would be a nice start.
“Goodell has to make an example of this,” Wire said. “All that we know now with brain trauma and head injuries, this isn’t just taking players out of a game. Significant changes have to be made to protect our players. A precedent has to be set now; otherwise, [Goodell] condones it.
“Things have to change. Football will always be football. There will be big hits. I’m saying there’s no need to ruin the livelihood of another man and cause harm to his family and children. That malicious intent doesn’t need to be a part of the way we play.”
The Falcons and the Saints have been bitter rivals since both teams entered the league in the late 1960s as expansion teams.
–D. Orlando Ledbetter, The Atlanta Falcons beat blog
Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.
Tell us what you think about the site
Customer Care »
Vacation stops, manage subscriptions and more
AJC Services
Sections
Other Editions
Visitor Agreement | Privacy Statement
© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
81 comments Add your comment
Big Crimson 75
March 5th, 2012
10:23 am
It’s time to see what Roger Goodell is really all about. He has pushed 2 agenda’s publicly since becoming Commish.
1. His Player Conduct Code
2. Player Safety — particularly concussion related injuries.
Their can be no waffling here. If the Saints are indeed guilty of this Bounty business — then Sean Payton MUST pay the consequences. Payton should receive a MINIMUM 4 game suspension.
The perfect scenario for the Saints is Williams, no longer with the Team, turns out to be the fall guy. If their was indeed a Bounty system going on — Payton knew about it. If he didn’t know about it — then he should be Fired.
Time to step up Mr. Goodell. You can’t play both sides of the fence. Payton, more than any other person involved, should pay the most! He’s the Coach — it’s his Team. His team is accused of intentionally trying to hurt opposing players — the burden of responsibility is on Payton!!
Roll Tide & take the Falcons with you!!
ls1z28chris
March 5th, 2012
11:11 am
Big Crimson 75
Williams the fall guy? This was all him. He’s brought it with him everyone he has gone.
I understand your tired team is sick of losing to the Saints, but don’t get irrational here. Put quality on the field. Stop paying Sevendust and Samuel L Jackson to make lame hype videos. Maybe one day you could have a hope and prayer of being half as good as the Saints. Then you won’t have to hope the NFL commissioner will take care of your competition.
Failcants last in NFC South again this year. Mark my words.
The Man
March 5th, 2012
11:26 am
the players that say it’s happening everywhere are much like the people who said steroids were everywhere in baseball… THE CROOKS. I’m sure that there may be other teams with similar systems (much like there were additional steroid users) but to say every team (and player) tries to intentionally injure another player is pure B.S.! I say, the league strips them of their “title”. This was a clear and horrenedous violation of league rules and future teams should be shown a strong example. Can you imagine the attention it would bring if the NFL had to vacate a Super Bowl Champ? Just suggesting… seriously.
ME
March 5th, 2012
11:29 am
glad to hear from an EX-player that ATL didnt run that kind of dirty game…im a defensive loving fan, but the thought of going out there with intent to seriously hurt someone to pad ur own pockets when ur already making millions is disgusting…and i dont care that “its done all over in football”..it doesnt make it right…
ls1z28chris
March 5th, 2012
11:53 am
Hahahahahaha. Atlanta can’t win its own Super Bowl, so now they want the NFL to vacate the one won by New Orleans.
You people are pathetic.
Look out for that tornado.
Pandora
March 5th, 2012
11:55 am
EVERY team has a bounty system. Did you REALLY EXPECT the Falcons to ADMIT to it? Give me a break. I have watched their players purposely try to hurt their oppents main players in every game. So I don’t belive this crap!
Samantha
March 5th, 2012
11:56 am
Please Atlanta can’t even win 1 game in the playoffs. They are just sorry and pitiful. This is a very sorry article. It also shows you how the Failcants’ are subservient to the New Orleans Saints! They are such haters…hahahahahahahaha!
Samantha
March 5th, 2012
12:04 pm
First of all the Saints will NOT lose their Superbowl Championship behind this allegation. Secondly, if they call themselves stripping the Saints (Which will NOT happen EVER) then they may as well strip the other Super Bowl Champions for the same reason…even if that were the case..the Failcants will still be a very sorry team and just embarrassing for the City of Atlanta…they will still and are still the very last team in the NFC South division. They are just pitiful and sad. And to all of you people who are saying that most players don’t do that…please…just get your head out of the sand and look around you. It’s a part of football. It’s a part of the game. Why else do you think that Matt (run like a girl….lay down so he won’t be tackled) Ryan do what he does whenever a real player tries to tackle him? Because he knows his team mates try to hurt their opponets on a regular basis. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! GEAUX SAINTS!!!!
Tell it like it is
March 5th, 2012
12:09 pm
you know the Falcons didn’t have a bounty,you can’t pay them enought to hit somebody!
Hudd
March 5th, 2012
12:14 pm
It’s come uppance. I thought you were smart. You always say you are anyway.
G
March 5th, 2012
2:00 pm
Some of you guys look real stupid trying to defend illegal activity. The bounty program existed with the saints (today) and the purpose was bigger than just big hits. The league has a problem with the intent to injure a player to the point of him being removed from the game. So, I guess if someone actually died…….the owner would pitch in the pot too. Who dat…..
DawgNole
March 5th, 2012
2:14 pm
Samantha
March 5th, 2012
11:56 am
Please Atlanta can’t even win 1 game in the playoffs. They are just sorry and pitiful. This is a very sorry article. It also shows you how the Failcants’ are subservient to the New Orleans Saints! They are such haters…hahahahahahahaha!
____________________
A lengthy investigation shows that personnel from your favorite team have cheated and been involved in illegal/criminal activity. And you laugh about it? No wonder Saints fans are considered trash.
G
March 5th, 2012
2:19 pm
Consequences?
1. Gregg Williams will be suspended indefinitely (essentially blackballed)
2. Sean Peyton will be suspended for 8 (reg. season) games and fined $100k.
3. Players involved will be fined and suspended at least 4 (reg. season) games
4. saints will lose draft picks for at least one year
5. Vacate the Lombardi
DawgNole
March 5th, 2012
2:23 pm
ls1z28chris
March 5th, 2012
11:53 am
Hahahahahaha. Atlanta can’t win its own Super Bowl, so now they want the NFL to vacate the one won by New Orleans.
_____________________________
The extent of the well-deserved punishment coming to your team will in no way be linked to what Atlanta wants. And based on the humor you find in the Saints deplorable activities, you and Samantha must be sleeping together.
Atlanta Falcons | Skinny Post
March 5th, 2012
4:29 pm
[...] Here are the details of the NFL’s bounty investigation 03/04 – ajc.com Falcons Blog Coy Wire: Falcons don’t have a bounty system 03/04 – ajc.com Falcons Blog Players fined at least $15,000 by NFL (PA SportsTicker) 03/04 [...]
Falconidiot
March 5th, 2012
5:39 pm
I guarantee they had a program when Chuck Smith was in there and it’s about time we get another started. Bunch of soft like there head coach players. The NFL is destroying this game. Maybe they can change the field to moon walkers.
4NOLA
March 5th, 2012
5:42 pm
Of course these, NO PLAYOFF WIN LOSERS would have something to say! Its football for heaven sakes,,there’s 32 teams in the NFL, I doubt the Saints are the only team with a bounty!
SeenThisB4
March 5th, 2012
5:47 pm
And the end of this story is “Falclowns: STILL NO PLAYOFF WINS”
Saints R.E.A.M.
March 5th, 2012
5:49 pm
Gregg Williams is on his way to suspension for a full year. St. Louis will be looking for a DC. Mainly because he has done this on several different teams.
Isn’t it funny that the Falcons have no bounty system but easily launched more “cheap shots” on the opposition. Saints were not penalized or fined often for any real vicious hits. How ironic!
4NOLA
March 5th, 2012
5:58 pm
U got a very good point @SaintsR.E.A.M
mrzizzle
March 5th, 2012
6:53 pm
na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey hey, Sean Payton Bye! Good luck with your new job search in the CFL! Your lack of class has shown through!
Rightrepair1
March 5th, 2012
7:02 pm
Give it a guess here….. Sean Payton will miss 1 game and pay a fine, Greg Williams will miss a minumim of half the year, Big Fine, and probationary staus… the ain`t will be fined, and more importantly, may lose some first and second round picks in consecutive years… Losing picks will make it hard to rebuild over the long haul..
Rollo Lawson
March 5th, 2012
10:16 pm
As much as I hate the Saints, it pains me to see our fans on here gloating. If the Saints are guilty, the whole organization should be punished. As a Falcon fan, however, I’m more concerned with fixing our sorry arse defense, getting Matt Ryan to show some intestinal fortitude, and giving our offensive line a dose of talent and a kick in the pants.
Good News: Atlanta Falcons Didn’t Have a Bounty System at atlanta.hoops227.net
March 5th, 2012
10:37 pm
[...] Wire, former Atlanta Falcons linebacker and prankster, confirmed in an interview yesterday that Atlanta did not conduct a bounty system under the current regime of Mike [...]
Ws
March 6th, 2012
6:51 am
The NFL is in this as must as coaches using it. I watched the games, you watch the way ref’s call. You can tell which team NFL wants to win. If I can see on TV, you know these pros can see and knows what has been going on. Over the years I have saw Matt Ryan take some dirty hits, no flag> You let a player even fall close to Bree , Manning and Brady you see flag out. I saw Brady get the ref to throw a flag against falcons a few years back. Falcon never touch Brady. He was knock down close to Brady’s leg.
I saw them get grimes for pushing off and take a int away from falcons, and saw alot of bad calls. Looks like they make up call as they go. Replay, is crooked as well. You watch replays, annoucers will stay play will be reverse, and ref comes out and say not enough evidence. Yet whole tv audience saw it. Ref didn’t. C’mon man. They think we all are dumb. They need to change name too the WNFL.
NFC championship game the year Saints were playing, You could see the Saints hitting Farve after he had threw ball. It went on all game ref didn’t call. Same when Card’s play them. They cheat shot Warner all game.
The first year Smith took falcons to play offs. Falcons had got back in game, NFl didnt want falcons to win. Cards defense line was off sides the whole game, even hit turner when Ryan turn to hand ball off to turner. Caused a fumble the Cards picked up and took to end aone. Cards players said after game Card ’s said they were reading Ryans snap count. They were very good, They were accross line before the o-line. That is very quick.
Who does Goddell think he and his boys are fooling. williams and a few will take fall. But the ones responsiable will still be calling shots.
Saints R.E.A.M.
March 6th, 2012
7:59 am
@ Ws….dude someone’s in your head. How can you enjoy watching NFL football??? You’ve got more conspiracies swirling around in that noggin of yours …..seek help.
Falcon13
March 6th, 2012
11:15 am
Im more concerned about our team and how we can fix our sorry @$$ defense,,$h** we shoulda had a bounty too, if it meant a superbowl title…
It looks as if having the Saints punished, will give us the only opportunity to move pass them,,pretty sad if you ask me,,This shouldnt be the highlight of our upcoming year..Wishing punishment for the competition just so we can get ahead,,WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO WIN IT ALL ANYWAY! So what is this saying about Falcon football???
10 of 12
March 6th, 2012
9:04 pm
And after this year it will be 12 of 14… still sux to be a failclown fan!
dcb
March 7th, 2012
8:47 am
I may not like the concept of a reward or bounty being offered for a hard hit. But, the issue of rewards or bounties needs to differentiate between legal hits and late hits. No punishment of any kind should be assessed on a legal hit – whether or not a reward or bounty was involved. And no punishment of any kinds should be assessed on any hit that wasn’t flagged by on on-field official at the time.
Paul (You doesn't have to call me Johnson).
March 7th, 2012
9:11 am
Sean Peyton should be required to wear an A’ints brown bag over his head at all games in 2012.
10 of 12
March 7th, 2012
4:15 pm
Mike Smith should also- that peroxide look is so 80’s