What’s worse: Saints’ ‘BountyGate’ or Patriots’ ‘Spygate’?
Gregg Williams messed with players' livelihoods.
Bill Belichick was hammered for taping signals.
The Falcons are about to get some very good news. Their primary competition in the NFC South, the New Orleans Saints, are expected to get slapped by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell for a “bounty” program by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
We can’t be sure yet what the penalties will be, but the Saints are expected to lose some high draft picks. Williams, now with the St. Louis Rams, likely will be suspended for several games, possibly the entire season. Both parties also will get fined — which is sort of like Goodell collecting his own bounty.
My initial thought when I heard about the bounty program actually was not one of surprise, but maybe a little disgust. I don’t condone it. I just don’t believe it’s that uncommon. We celebrate football players for hard hits all the way down to the youth level. So we shouldn’t be surprised that a coach or a player is being rewarded for it — whether it’s a pizza in Pop Warner or $10,000 in the NFL.
Loading ...I might have more on the New Orleans situation in a blog later. But for now, here’s my question (which I openly admit stealing from my pal, Tim Cowlishaw, of the Dallas Morning News). In your mind, is Williams’ bounty program with the Saints worse than the New England Patriots’ “Spygate” scandal?
Both are a form of cheating. Goodell found the Patriots in violation of league rules for filming the sideline hand signals of the New York Jets in 2007. He fined Bill Belichick $500,000 (the largest fine ever against a coach), the team $250,000 and took away a first-round draft pick.
Bounties are cheating on another level — a dirtier level. If a player feels extra motivation to take a cheapshot at the opposing quarterback because he’ll be rewarded for it — and that quarterback is then carted off the field — the offending team certainly has gained an illegal edge. A case can be made that what Williams and the New Orleans Saints did actually is worse because now we’re not just talking about winning a game, we’re talking about endangering an athlete’s livelihood.
That’s why most believe Goodell will hit the Saints and Williams hard.
What are your thoughts on this? Is “Bountygate” worse than “Spygate,” and do you consider the Saints cheaters?
I’ve also posted a poll on the topic. I look forward to your thoughts on this.
By Jeff Schultz
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190 comments Add your comment
WHO DAT BLACK
March 5th, 2012
4:49 pm
I hope everyone on this blog that thinks a bounty is bad gets one put out on them. Just think, you’re walking down Peachtree and then… BAM!!! Oh wait, that just happened (gay man gets jumped). Not anti-gay, just sayin’.
If anyone thinks that this is worse than stealing, don’t forget that every team in the NFL pretty much does the same thing. It’s called a performance bonus!!!!
This is just another plot by Goodell to stop the Saints from hosting the Super Bowl. First Manning gets hurt FOR THE SEASON after playing in 190 straight games and he barely gets touched so spare me the bull, and now this.
Sincerely Yours in Apathy,
WHO DAT BLACK!!
PS: Cam Newton and the Panthers will win the NFCS Division, Dirty Bird Losers!!!
reckingball
March 5th, 2012
4:49 pm
Former DC, current HC, and GM….Fine $1million each, suspend for the entire 2012 season, starting today.
N.O. saints……..Fine 5$million, cancel their first 5 draft picks in the upcoming draft, #1 pick for the next 2 NFL drafts.
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
4:56 pm
BiggDwagK…..you dislike Bounty plays? You don’t like players to attempt to purposefully hurt another player? Please tell me what should have been done to CORDY GLENN and BEN JONES for tackling FAIRLY and gut punching him in the UGa Auburn game then? WHAT should God Fearing Richt should have done? Suspend them for a game maybe?
whodatforever
March 5th, 2012
4:57 pm
The only problem I have with this “bountygate” is the money involved. If I was a head coach and my defensive coordinator is encouraging our players to knock other players out, I don’t have a problem with that is freaking football. When you sign your contact you are signing your life away, your going to get hurt. You will have lifelong problems bc of the contact you will endure thats just part of it
reckingball
March 5th, 2012
4:58 pm
NFL Commissioner……..Fine himself $2million, for allowing his official to NOT call, such a large number of personal fouls, and assorted other penalities that the saints committed(especially 2009), since Katrina hit their city.
Look at all the late hits on Farve in the NFC Champ game of ‘09, that were never called, and Goodell never did anything about it.
whodatforever
March 5th, 2012
5:02 pm
The only problem I have with this “bountygate” is the money involved. If I was a head coach and my defensive coordinator is encouraging our players to knock other players out, I don’t have a problem with that is freaking football. When you sign your contact you are signing your life away, your going to get hurt. You will have lifelong problems bc of the contact you will endure thats just part of it. The fact that cash rewards were involved is wrong but other than that all you vaginas need to understand its a dirty game. It’s a rough game and New Orleans is obviously the only town that gets it. Mr. Goddell is a pansy and soo are these new rules protecting players is for pansies. It’s football!!!! I mean we have ufc and boxing where people can become mentally challenged bc of the hits they take. But no one is throwing a fit over that bc there not little girls. The payments were wtong and
BobDawg
March 5th, 2012
5:06 pm
Football in general is in Big Doo Doo, Jeff…. The NFL is awash in Concussion law suits and Goodell now has a “perception” problem with this latest mess involving the Saints. I think once the concussion stuff plays out, parents may direct their kids into other sports that are deemed safer and less violent. Just my 2 cents….
whodatforever
March 5th, 2012
5:10 pm
Its football you little girls geezz. People who box or fight ufc are literally beating the shit out of each other and getting paid for it. But if you tap Aaron rodgers on the head after he throws the ball you get a fine and a flag. The bounty payments are wrong, but the motivation behind those payments is just the culture of football. As a defense your job is to stop and destroy the offense. And as a saints fan I have to say our defense is pretty bad and the only reason we have had any success is bc of Brees and our offense. So to say we cheated is just dumb bc our defense obviously did not have any kind of advantage
Jeff
March 5th, 2012
5:11 pm
Gregg Williams is lucky his attacks were on people — the penalty for harming dogs is much more severe.
Bonannie
March 5th, 2012
5:25 pm
Bounty hurting is much worse than spying. A fellow athlete could have a career ending injury – totally altering his life and his family circumstances – that is absolutely horrid. I know players get doubled teamed to circumvent their play but I thought players knew better than to try to really injure one another. It’s really horrific that a coach encouraged and rewarded hurting players — he should be hurt and hopefully his pocketbook will be!
Jerry Glanville
March 5th, 2012
5:25 pm
Goodell – leave the Who Dats alone and let them boys play ball. OTSS.
bob
March 5th, 2012
5:39 pm
like none of you idiots don’t cheer when your guys knock the s*** out of the other guys! What a bunch of hypocrits.
Tommy Nobis Fan
March 5th, 2012
5:40 pm
I have no doubt that bounties have existed all over the league for years. What will burn the Saints is lying to the NFL bigwigs and not stopping when they first promised to. The GM should be gone and Payton should be held to the same penalty as Williams. He gets the big bucks and is responsible for his coaches behavior and practices.
Festus
March 5th, 2012
5:48 pm
Which is worse? Intelligence gathering or attempted murder? What are you smoking Jeff? Williams and that thug from Detroit Suh should be banned for life.
OldTimer
March 5th, 2012
5:50 pm
SpyGate was an insult to the system, BountyGate was an insult to your mother.
Which one is worse?
Depends on what you think about your mother.
SickandTired
March 5th, 2012
6:01 pm
The saints situation is much worse. Williams should be banned for life. Sean P. should be suspended for 8 games. The saints should have no draft status this year at all and no number 1 pick next year. Fine them 5 million dollars and call it a day.
78pbass
March 5th, 2012
6:17 pm
life time ban for DC Williams. 1 yr suspension for Saints HC. 1 yr supension for all Saints players found to be involved an while Godell is at it… take away Saints Super Bowl title.
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
6:22 pm
Since we now know most of the fans of football of this blog are Pu..ies then what is the SOLUTION to the Bounty and Injury and People saying they should SUE? You made more in 1 year than most people make in a decade so stop crying.
How do we slow the injuries? Ditka said it and I will say it in similar fashion.
get rid of HELMETS and the injuries would go down. The helmet has allowed players to play more reckless than ever before. Smaller Motocross racing like shoulder pads and chest protectors too. Eliminate more SAFETY equipment and the players will not be a reckless.
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
6:29 pm
sorry “the players made more in 1 year”
Runner-
March 5th, 2012
6:44 pm
Seriously? The Saints act is borderline criminal while the Patriot’s is just good old fashioned cheating
Doc Hollywood
March 5th, 2012
6:49 pm
5150UOAD is right they bet more on one game of cards on the plane, Ive played with them many times. It’s no more than a ploy like locker room postings. Nobody ever said they were paying for illegal hits.
oldschoolfootball
March 5th, 2012
6:51 pm
Why present the question, both will keep their rings. Something the choir boys of the rising up birds do not have. If they put soe bountes out or become intimidating maybe they will earn one.
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
6:51 pm
runner-…what Pro Athletes make to play a kids game is CRIMINAL.
bucky
March 5th, 2012
6:54 pm
Hey TOAD, When you put players Names for Bounty…It’s not the same as let’s go out & hit “Em Hard!
$$ for Injuries is bad for the game & shows how classless ‘Aints Fans/Team IS!
GTPhenom
March 5th, 2012
7:02 pm
This is kinda biased seeings as this is being asked to a group of people who are probably 85%-90% Falcons fans, who are ironically rivals to the same team that has beaten them out for the NFC South in two of the past three years and was more than happy to rack up Drew Brees’ passing yards in the most recent meeting. Of course to this population the Saints issues are going to be worse. And they are bad, yeah. But this is a physical game. And I honestly doubt this started as anything serious and as a certified “bounty” program. Hitting is part of the game, and injuries come with it. Now trying to take players out is wrong. And the guy who organized it (in this case it looks like Williams), should get the hammer . . . hard. But all you can accuse Payton or the GM of is being negligent. Bad, but worse than knowingly taping signals for an upper hand? Nah, not to me. And before I get bombarded with the typical “You are a Saints fan” crap, I’m a Steelers fan through and through. And what I’m saying is me trying to be neutral on this issue. On the surface, while the bountygate is bad, you can only punish the guy who organized it in Gregg Williams. With the Patriots, hell, half the organization was in on the spygate issue. So, to me, violating the moral integrity of the game is a helluva lot worse than simply telling players to go hit someone hard in a contact sport.
David
March 5th, 2012
7:02 pm
Danny O, been here longer than you’ve been alive. And been a Falcons fan since there were Falcons. Don’t your dare tell me what a real fan is, and don’t you dare tell me to get out of town. Seriously? You sir are an idiot.
bucky
March 5th, 2012
7:13 pm
SEEN/TOAD, Jerry Jones will hire your coach once the ‘Aints distance themselves from him. It will be a short drive from home for him!
Lionel
March 5th, 2012
7:15 pm
Football is a violent sport. A bounty system is not going to make someone hit the quarterback or wide receiver any harder. The point of the game is to cause turnovers. So you have to be aggressive. If a player makes an illegal tackle, they are penalized, ejected, fined, and/or all of the above. This is na overhyped story. Nothing to get excited about and not the last time it will happen. Teams will just hide it better. Vikes, Lions, and Falcons fans… Stop whinning already… It’s getting old
Joe Tess Fish House
March 5th, 2012
7:15 pm
U all quite UR whining. The Flacons did not loose those game cuz the Saints cheated they loss them cuz they had 2 many waisted free agent sighing and fist round draft buts.
PacificNW Falcon Fan
March 5th, 2012
7:23 pm
I’m sorry..don’t mean to inject Michael Vick into the discussion, but the Saints’ organization is facing the same problem he did in 2007. Forgot the severity of their actions for a second, both MV and the Saints flat out lied to the Commisioner. According to earlier reports, the NFL in early 2010 instructed the Saints to stop the bounty system and they said yes…a flat out lie to the face of the commisioner. It’s never the crime but the cover-up. Not just G. Williams but Micky loomis and Sean Payton should have their asses handed to them by somebody. As a Falcons fan, I love this because I am tired of being emotionally manipulated, by the likes of ESPN, into being a Saints fan because of Hurricane Katrina. Plus idiot gm Loomis franchised D. Brees as if he were going to sign with someone else. Please TD sign Nicks from them and don’t screw up this off-season because it is going to be a long one for the Saints.
bucky
March 5th, 2012
7:26 pm
Well said Pacific!…This is NOT the 1st Time!…They will pay!
William
March 5th, 2012
7:28 pm
Belicheat and his co-conspirators are far worse than the Saints.
The NFL didn’t want to get embarrassed by the fact that the Patriots CHEATED their way to multiple Super Bowls ..
The Patsies are the Barry Bonds of the NFL!
Asterisk indeed..
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
7:35 pm
buckey………WE ALL KNOW THE NAMES…………QB, WR, punt/kickoff returner, NG, MLB, RB the names change but the positions stay the same.
Harry
March 5th, 2012
7:41 pm
http://blogs.ajc.com/hawks/wp-includes/images/smilies/icon_wink.gif
Bomb Iran
March 5th, 2012
7:54 pm
gee let’s see. i video tape someone getting hit in the head or i actually hit someone in the head. yeah real tough choice which one is worse.
Chef Boyardee
March 5th, 2012
8:39 pm
Bountygate? Like the paper towel?
Mets R Best
March 5th, 2012
8:59 pm
Hey Braves fans. I’m back.
Admiral Obvious
March 5th, 2012
9:02 pm
Bountygate! Hopefully Sean Smug Peyton will get fired
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
9:08 pm
I don’t want to hear a single DWAG fan say a word until you say some thing about this……….you dislike Bounty plays? You don’t like players to attempt to purposefully hurt another player? Please tell me what should have been done to CORDY GLENN and BEN JONES for tackling FAIRLY and gut punching him in the UGa Auburn game then? WHAT should God Fearing Richt should have done? Suspend them for a game maybe?
Don Corleone
March 5th, 2012
9:10 pm
The Saints bounty system was done under my supervision and protection.
Supersize that order, mutt
March 5th, 2012
9:27 pm
The Aints cheat worse than my beloved Yellow Jackets, who should fire Coach Johnson immediately.
Chuck
March 5th, 2012
10:01 pm
Quit crying, morons, and pretending like this doesn’t happen at every level of organized football in some form or another. Typical Falcon fans.
5150 UOAD
March 5th, 2012
10:50 pm
Supersize that order, mutt………..You know SuperS NEVER posts on ANY blog but the TECH BLOG. You are trying to STEAL his man and be a but and people on this Blog don’t know that name and you are just childish.
What’s worse
March 5th, 2012
10:57 pm
think this one is fairly obvious, spygate didn’t intentionally have guys hurting others just so they could get a payday (and i don’t mean the candybar).
bountygate, by far
Sargent Carter
March 5th, 2012
11:54 pm
Really believe that the Saints are the only team with some form of bounty being offered or Pats only team spying? Then I have some real estate in downtown Detroit that is selling like hotcakes…call soon before it is all bought up…bring your life’s savings..act now before it is too late!
ls1z28chris
March 6th, 2012
12:06 am
What is worse? The Sandy Springs Journal-Constitution pretending it is an Atlanta paper, or the pitiful franchise that resides down GA-400 paying Samuel L. Jackson every year just so its team can pretend that people care?
Last place in the NFC South. Again.
ls1z28chris
March 6th, 2012
12:08 am
Oh crap, what was that? It looked like Roddy “Down Low” White just dropped another pass.
colodcol
March 6th, 2012
12:13 am
The NFL did and still does ALLOW VIDEOTAPING!!!! The ONLY THING THE PATS DID was to tape from the sidelines, instead of the stands or the “designated taping spot” which was and continues to be legal…so the comparison is…..Pats taping from a spot 30 feet away from where it would have been legal and all teams did it…OR a paid bounty system to injure players when there is absolutely no ambiguity in the rules about how heinous and unacceptable that is….COME ON….it’s so fun for all the haters to pile on the Pats and call them cheaters, but there is NO COMPARISON- this “Bountygate” is disgusting. “Spygate” was a 30 foot technicality.
5150 UOAD
March 6th, 2012
12:30 am
colodcol….go in your mom’s closet and dress in her panties and high heels you WUSSIE.
the truth...
March 6th, 2012
1:11 am
Wonder if any “ex players” who might have had their careers shortened at the hands of Payton’s Thugs….might see this as an opening to bringing a Personal Injury Attorney in on their behalf ??????
In this day of concussion awareness, surely it won’t take long for one of the wise and crafty litigators to see a golden opportunity…………would be a difficult case to defend on the Saints part I’d think……
In a city where Voodoo is considered an accepted belief and celebrated to some extent why would anyone be surprised….
….after aren’t they are the “….Aints”