What’s worse: Saints’ ‘BountyGate’ or Patriots’ ‘Spygate’?

Jack Wilson

March 5th, 2012
11:24 am

Nothing is worse than signing me, except for maybe my Spring Training so far!

Scott

March 5th, 2012
11:24 am

First

Scott

March 5th, 2012
11:25 am

or Second

Innocent Bystander

March 5th, 2012
11:28 am

Guess this answers the age old question “Ain’t Saints Taints?”

Proud Bird

March 5th, 2012
11:29 am

The expected fines couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch (Williams / Saints). Let’s hope they’re both hit very hard, and that the Falcons can take advantage of it.

tvradioguy

March 5th, 2012
11:31 am

Yes, much worse. One is a danger to the lives of opposing players. The other is not life threatening. If you want to hurt someone and have the financial incentive to do such, you might target an area of an opposing player’s body to do maximum damage. Therefore, the spirit of the good sportsmanlike conduct get’s washed away with something much more sinister.

Dave from Buford

March 5th, 2012
11:35 am

I’ve always considered the Saints cheaters, but that’s beside the point … this is considerably worse than Spygate, but I would really be surprised if it were not more widespread. In any case, we already know that there are teams and individuals who deliberately try to injure opposing players … its obvious and you see it all the time, in both the NFL and college.

Bears Fan

March 5th, 2012
11:38 am

Bounygate is much worse. I just wonder how widespread this issue is around the league.

James

March 5th, 2012
11:41 am

The Patriots were guilty of being douchebags because they cheated at a game, and they paid pretty dearly for it. The Saints thing is worse because football really is a game no longer when you are creating incentive to potentially end another man’s career.

When a player is injured accidentally, you have to accept it as part of the risk these men take (and are compensated well for). When someone is injured on purpose, it’s nearly criminal.

Big Un

March 5th, 2012
11:41 am

Now we know…if you ain’t cheatin’ you ain’t winnin’…..Falcons start cheatin’!!!!!!!!!

ATL Homer

March 5th, 2012
11:43 am

WAY worse. Both are cheating, but rewarding injuries to other players is on a whole new level. You can always count on the Saints to ruin all that is good. I hope they get what they deserve on this one.

James

March 5th, 2012
11:44 am

Although the fact that Evil Bill was directly responsible for Spygate makes him personally a bad guy, the whole-team involvement of the bounty system really puts the that issue over the moral edge.

I don’t imagine many Patriot players were involved in stealing hand signals. That’s all a coaches prerogative.

BulldogBen

March 5th, 2012
11:44 am

BountyGate is way worse.

What is Dree Brees’ yearly salary? Whatever it is, that should be the fine levied against the Saints. Treat it like what they would be losing if an opponent took out Brees as part of a bounty program.

Utterly disgusting.

tonyb

March 5th, 2012
11:50 am

They both are equally bad, but my vote would have to go to Spygate. Barely. Both attack the intregrity of the game in that it affects the competitive balance of the contest.

Saying that, the NFL has to take stern action against the Saints, and any other team found guilty of a bounty system. In the Roger Goodell era of player saftety first (a position I fully support), I would expect nothing sort of severe and decisive penaties. I would not be surprised if Goodell suspends Greg Williams for the entire year.

@CRuleSportsGuy

March 5th, 2012
11:50 am

I feel the Saints’ bounty program is worse. The fact that it encourages more bodily harm, and rewards potential life-threatening injuries strikes a much deeper ethical cord than taping signals. Both are wrong, but the fallout from one is much greater (and worse) than the other in my mind.

George Stein

March 5th, 2012
11:56 am

I think it’s the bounty program, too, because it affects not just the integrity game, but the safety of the individuals playing it. It’s even more harmful now as we continue to learn the effects of concussions and long-term ramifications they bring. Spygate was a problem, but when you consider that the NFL is trying to change the culture of the game (where you aren’t a sissy or some other gay slur for getting a concussion), the bounty program is a major issue.

splendid splinter

March 5th, 2012
12:00 pm

Fine the Saints two million dollars, and two first round draft picks, the defensive coach one million dollars . Nothing less and maybe more. It is criminal and should be treated more seriously than anything that has come before it.

Mark

March 5th, 2012
12:02 pm

The SI legal expert posted on possible legal issues involving civil, criminal and tax law violations involving this case. A GM and a coach not caring out an owners orders to stop this practice. It is reported that the report is 50,000 pages and there are over 18,000 documents involved with the case and player safety is a larger focus now than when Spygate came out.. The bounty case is worse.

bucket

March 5th, 2012
12:02 pm

I’m not really sure you can call either “gate” worse than the other. They are both horrific in my mind for different reasons. “Spygate” helped the Patriots gain a competitive advantage while “bountygate” incentivized hurting opposing players. Football is a violent enough sport when it is played properly without having teams going out to intentionally knock out players and possibly end their careers. I am surprised that the players would go along with this system considering how small a time frame they know they have to make alot of money in the NFL. The strange thing was I told my wife during a Saints/Falcons game last year that I thought the Saints were playing really dirty around the pile. Unfortunately, the referees that game didn’t agree because the Saints could do no wrong and the Falcons go do no right in the eyes of guys with stripes on their shirts.

sam

March 5th, 2012
12:04 pm

To me there is no comparison between the two. The Saints were out to intentionaly hurt people and got financially rewarded to boot. I hope Goodall throws the book at them and makes it hurt them as much as they hurt other people.

sam

March 5th, 2012
12:09 pm

Just thought of an interesting baseball analogy here. Spygate was like stealing signs. Bountygate was like intentially spiking opposing players to take them out. Again, no comparison.

DP

March 5th, 2012
12:26 pm

Bountygate is far worse. Peter King’s column today has some examples of documented late hits by the New Orleans defense on Favre in a playoff game, including getting hit under the chin after a handoff early in the game. Favre says he asked his old teammate Darren Sharper what he was doing after 2 vicious hits during that game. King’s column also mentions a vicious hit by 2 Redskins on Peyton Manning in 2006, tearing his helmet off. Dungy and King ran a replay of that on NBC last season (long before this story on Williams’ defenses having bounty programs broke) and Dungy said he thought it was the hit that was the origin of Manning’s recurring neck problems, that Manning lost some feeling in his arm and almost had to come out of the game.

The Manning hit was during Gregg Williams’ tenure as DC in Washington and he had a bounty program there, apparently without the knowledge of his head coach Joe Gibbs. I presume the NFL is reviewing game tapes of Williams’ defenses during his career. If they see a pattern of vicious personal fouls against key opposing players in big games, I think they should impose a lifetime ban on Williams. How does a coach watch his players delivering potentially lethal late and dirty hits and not stop the program?

Sean Payton and the New Orleans GM should each get a year’s suspension for knowing about it and not shutting it down. They should deliver multi-game suspensions to New Orleans defensive players who were involved (running concurrently and regardless of who the players play for now) and take away draft picks. The penalties should be akin to a major probation in the NCAA, severe enough to virtually ensure that the team’s win-loss record will suffer for multiple seasons.

Oh yeah, and make everybody who has been an NFL head coach and defensive coordinator in the last decade sign an affadavit saying they have not initiated or been aware of similar bounty programs, with a penalty of a lifetime ban from the league if they are later found to be lying.

SquillDog

March 5th, 2012
12:26 pm

BountyGate and it’s not even close. My only problem is figuring out how much to ramp up my already strong hatred of the Saints.

Jimmy Crack

March 5th, 2012
12:30 pm

Bounties are dangerous ideas to be putting into the minds of beastly football players. They could result in career ending injuries of star players, and possibly death.

Spygate was simply cheating with film.

doc

March 5th, 2012
12:31 pm

bounty hunting is despicable, even though it is promoted at all levels as jeff alludes to, including pee wee leagues. football is on the precipice of being torn down by itself with the head injury law suits coming its way. this only fosters it. before long waivers will be required to play as an amateur that will maybe give people pause to think how violent and irresponsible it is and that there is real potential for serious long term injury that can only become unmasked over time. this sort of thing if handled lightly will only be one of the continuing nails in the coffin. i think the competitive balance will change quickly in the south division and the saints are going to back up for such behavior.

jeff, i think you have waaaay underestimated the relevance to ongoing legislation and the personal injury law suits that are now out there for football in the nfl and college levels. it will only sift down to where high schools and youth leagues will not be able to pay for the liability that comes with running a program along with support personnel required to make it safe down to trained emt’s and ambulance services attendant at games of all ages. this only heightens the arguments. yes i also believe it has been going on for ages but payment is coming now.

SOGADOG

March 5th, 2012
12:32 pm

Isnt paying someone to injure another person a criminal act? Williams may be in trouble with the real law.

1eyedJack

March 5th, 2012
12:33 pm

Goodell should take away their 1st round and 4th round draft picks…and give ‘em to us as compensation for whizzing on our logo. Damn Taints.

iTiSi

March 5th, 2012
12:36 pm

Actually this could easily be looked at as a type of “game-fixing”. When a player, such as a QB is injured intentionally, and goes out, or is handicapped, the outcome of the game is changed in many cases. If I were Goodell, I would hit NO hard, mighty hard, but would make Gregg Williams wish he had never heard the word “football” again. Wonder how the St. Louis Rams are feeling right about now?

iTiSi

March 5th, 2012
12:41 pm

SOGADOG, you are correct. Not long ago a hockey player was prosecuted for intentionally seriously injuring a player. Maybe some of the players who were injured in suspicious ways by the Saints, etc. will get together and file some huge lawsuits also.

PreyDawg

March 5th, 2012
12:43 pm

Here is the glaring question: Why weren’t there more flags. Any Falcon fan that watches the games at all has been screaming for years that the Saints were dirty. Despite the accusations by the Lions last year, I have not seen a Falcons lineman do something I thought was dirty since we dropped zone blocking.

But the truth is, that the NFL looked the other way on multiple late and dirty hits as well as PI calls that were blatant…why?? Because post Katrina was very good PR for the NFL. I went to New Orleans Twice to help with clean up so I am not down on helping that community. But the PR went way too far. Three years out they were still riding that wave at Saints headquarters and the NFL was along for the warm fuzzy ride.

So the Saints got ALL the calls the past three years. It says here that cost the Falcons at least two road wins against them the past couple of years.

Kramer

March 5th, 2012
12:43 pm

One was set up to cheat to win games. The other was set up to put a player out of a game for the year or his career. I think I will vote for the Saints on this one. Seems like common sense on this one Jeff. Can’t wait to see how saint’s fans spin this one.

Najeh Davenpoop

March 5th, 2012
12:46 pm

Obviously incentivizing causing injuries to other players is worse than stealing signals. But I am 100% sure the Patriots are not the only team that tries to steal signals, and the Saints are not the only team that pays bounties for hitting and injuring opposing players.

wxwax

March 5th, 2012
12:47 pm

Paying a player to disable another player is unconscionable. Doing in Goodell’s NFL is stupid.

As Coy Wire said, you just don’t mess around with head injuries.

Schultz, don’t forget Mickey Loomis in all this. He flat-out lied to the NFL about the bounty program. And then he disobeyed his owner’s order to get rid of it. He’s an arrogant man. I hope he gets a long vacation too.

DP

March 5th, 2012
12:47 pm

If the ownership and management of the St. Louis Rams has a lick of sense, they won’t even wait for the conclusion of this investigation to fire Gregg Williams as DC. He’s already admitted to the bounty program in New Orleans and said he knew it was wrong but didn’t stop it. I doubt he put the bounty program on his resume or talked about it in his interviews with St. Louis. The Rams don’t need potential problems with the league for employing Williams or the hassle of replacing him for some suspension period. Just fire him now.

meh

March 5th, 2012
12:50 pm

bounty gate is way worse. the Patriots were just cheating. the saints were trying to injure people. williams and payton should be fired and any other coach that was a part of it shhould be fired as well.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
12:58 pm

SPYGATE was CHEATING………….BountyGate is just dirty. Players HAVE to HIT each other to play the game and people will get hurt.

Mike

March 5th, 2012
1:01 pm

If Goodell is serious about player safety then he’s gonna have to bring the hammer down. This isn’t just about winning a game, this is about ending careers.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:01 pm

The NFL Hall of Fame is full of players that did some form of Bounty/Head Hunting. Butkus, Ed TooTall Jones, and Ronny Lott.

DP

March 5th, 2012
1:02 pm

I just read an interesting column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which notes that Williams was DC for Jeff Fisher, now the Rams head coach, at Tennesee and they have a very close relationship and the same approach to football. The columnist asks how Fisher could fire Williams without firing himself. According to the column, over a decade, the Titans led the NFL in every kind of personal foul and late hit penalties. Tony Dungee, whose Colts played in the same division with the Titans, has said for years that he thought the Titans had a bounty program.

So if Fisher’s Titans played against a Williams coached defense on another team, did they have a no bounty agreement, or did Fisher put his offensive players on the field knowing that the other defense would take every opportunity to injure them with plays outside the rules?

what of it?

March 5th, 2012
1:07 pm

I think intentionally inflicting physical injury is a little worse than stealing signs. At least no one’s career is threatened with the latter.

JJ12

March 5th, 2012
1:08 pm

I can’t believe this is even a question. Spygate was way overblown when it happened. Most don’t relaize that the Patriots where penalized because they ignored a rule, the taping in and of itself could have been legal if done correctly. This whole bounty thing is lowe than low.

Andy

March 5th, 2012
1:11 pm

I think the NFL will make an example out of the Saints. The way they emphasize player safety and health, they can’t let this go with a slap on the wrist. The will get the nuclear bomb and I hope they choke on it.

LawDawg

March 5th, 2012
1:12 pm

Is there any indication that the bounties did/did not apply to cheap shots or just clean hits?

I find this to be mostly a non-story and I imagine that most players already have a financial incentive to make nasty hits if they can (media exposure leading to bigger contracts and/or endorsement deals, or simply higher name recognition for someone near the bottom of the bench and more playing time). People watch the NFL for big hits. Guys like Ronnie Lott are in the Hall of Fame for destroying anyone who came over the middle. There is plenty of incentive to put a hard hit on someone without a small bounty (small by NFL salary comparison).

This is just some junk to spill a lot of ink by bored-to-tears sports media who otherwise would have to cover the NBA or NHL. If this came up during the season, it would barely merit attention.

Andy

March 5th, 2012
1:13 pm

I am also tired of the city of New Orleans feel good story Saints lifting spirts “Who Dat” BS. Get over it. The Saints are a bunch of thugs and dirt bags.

LawDawg

March 5th, 2012
1:14 pm

what of it?: The entire existence of the NFL is for players to intentionally inflict physical injury on each other. I fail to see where the bounty program adds much extra incentive when you already want to knock a guy out of the game every time you hit him.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:19 pm

If you don’t want to get fed to the LIONS in the Coliseum then don’t be a Christian Martyr.
If you don’t want to get shot by Drug Dealers then do be a Cop.
If you want to make average money, use your education, and not risk bodily harm then don’t get rich, risk injury, and live for the roar of the crowd by playing football.

Not trying to inflict injury during a football game while winning is like not trying to kill the enemy and still win the war.

Bryan G.

March 5th, 2012
1:22 pm

I think Spygate is worse because it actually involved the Pats trespassing at other teams’ practices. This issue with the bounties is (a) probably widespread and (b) frankly just incentivizes something that teams were doing anyway. You think James Harrison, et. al. aren’t already trying to knock QBs out of games with or without a bounty?

JJ12

March 5th, 2012
1:25 pm

This is how the uninformed spread wrong information, the Patriots where never at other teams practices. The was a rumor started by a boston paper which was later retracted. Spygate is the most overblown witch hunt in the history of sports.

Larry

March 5th, 2012
1:28 pm

Jeff,

Please tell me you’re joking!

One involves a camera while the other involves a deliberate, calculated, compensated and predetermination to maliciously injure or maim another human being. This is like asking if a perjury or forgery is more serious than a rape or aggregated battery!

Come on, man!

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:28 pm

lets just get teams full of Deion Sanders as players. All Speed and nobody will ever get hit again.

OWB

March 5th, 2012
1:29 pm

Really? You start a blog of which one is worse? God you def are a san fran stupid liberal idiot.

doc hollywood

March 5th, 2012
1:33 pm

This is all about NFL PR. The league is all about money and they are worried about the soccer moms of the world not letting their little tykes play the game as it is perceived to be too dangerous. Every defenseman on every team is trying to take people out on every play. This amount of money here is pocket change to these guys and is way overhyped.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:34 pm

the other involves a deliberate, calculated, compensated and predetermination to maliciously injure or maim another human being.

LARRY
you just wrote the BEST definition of Football, Fighting & War I have ever read. Since you don’t like Football, Fighting & War please go watch Soccer, Basketball & Chess.

GT Alum

March 5th, 2012
1:35 pm

It’s not even close. Yes, football is a violent game, and players are going to get hurt playing it. But systematically trying to hurt opposing players is unnecessary and dangerous, and a coach having a system that enciurages players to injure opponents is far worse than just the cheating aspect. You’re not only affecting someone’s career, but their long and short-term health. How many concussions and other injuries that have long-term impacts might’ve been inflicted because of this system?

It will be interesting to see what penalties the league imposes, but there’s also been the mention of possible criminal charges, and that could be interesting as well. I don’t how likely a local DA would be to bring charges against the local sports team for something like this, but that would be a further deterrent.

Vacate the Aints’ Super Bowl win!

Jeff

March 5th, 2012
1:37 pm

SpyGate—- that was cheating. What the saints or (Aint’s) did was to have to pay extra for the players to actually or finally tackle somebody. which is wrong too. Especially when they were already getting paid….

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:37 pm

doc hollywood….these guys bet and lose more playing poker on the plane flights.

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
1:37 pm

The bounty stuff is definitely worse than videotaping the practice sessions of other teams. I’m no Patriot apologist, but they were simply trying to figure out what schemes and plays their opponents were working on, which could sway results come game time. Providing financial incentives to injure your competitors is on a different level entirely. Worst case scenario is that you end someone’s playing career, and possibly diminish their quality of life for good.

GT Alum

March 5th, 2012
1:39 pm

Soccer can be pretty violent, too, UOAD. Don’t you remember the head butt? And there’s violence both on and off the field in soccer. Baseball is probably less violent than soccer. Tennis and golf are really nonviolent sports.

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
1:39 pm

@OWB: How on earth did you get to political persuasion from this topic?

JJ12

March 5th, 2012
1:41 pm

AGAIN people, there was never any videtaping of other teams practices by the Pats, that was a rumor that spread that was later disproven.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:41 pm

If it happens after the start of a play and stops at the whistle with no penalty involved then it is FOOTBALL. If you don’t want to RISK this then don’t take at a minimum of $450,000.00 to play the game and go work at Xerox or something.

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
1:43 pm

The amounts don’t matter. Any financial incentives for (potentially) illegal play undermine the rules of the game. Furthermore, compensation that is not included in th player contract may violate the salary cap, which is key to the competitiveness and parity that helps the NFL stand out from other professional sports.

Najeh Davenpoop

March 5th, 2012
1:44 pm

“This is all about NFL PR. ”

Exactly.

Roger Goodell, the biggest phony in sports, cares deeply about NFL injuries… until it comes time to talk about 18 game seasons, which he fully supports.

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
1:44 pm

@JJ12: Well, whatever the Patriots did, it was not nearly as bad as paying players under the table to injure opponents.

Larry

March 5th, 2012
1:54 pm

5150 UOAD,

If you’re equating football with war you have some serious issues.

And I did play the game…and carried a gun too!

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
1:56 pm

The NFL is the poster child for successful professional sports. All of the other leagues would kill to have the sort of TV deals and mass appeal that the NFL has. What is the single biggest threat to the unprecedented success of the NFL right now? It’s devastating injury to the players, which cuts careers short (either by choice of the player or not) and is currently manifesting itself as a large class action lawsuit.

The league has every reason to make sure that injuries are kept to a minimum, and that when injuries occur they take place within the scope of the rules. If a team is encouraging illegal play through illegal payments, then the NFL would be crazy not to come down hard on the violators, because this issue is currently causing major PR and legal problems, and might wind up costing the owners a lot of money. Regardless of how you feel about hard hits, this is the reality and you have to expect the league to respond swiftly and sternly in order to protect the interest of the owners.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
1:57 pm

Larry Football has been equated with WAR for better than 100 years. Where the F have you been?

abby normal

March 5th, 2012
1:59 pm

BountyGate is far worse in my opinion. To have a policy in place that rewards players for intentionally injuring other players is unconscionable. There is no way to justify it. SpyGate was bad but it did not have the potential to end someones career. Goodell has the opportunity to sent a very strong message to the rest of the league and I think it should be a combination of heavy fines, loss of draft picks and the year-long suspension(without pay) of Williams, Loomis and Payton.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
2:01 pm

get rid of HELMETS and the injuries would go down eventually. The helmet has allowed players to play more reckless than ever before. Smaller motorcycle like shoulder pads and chest protectors too. Eliminate more SAFETY equipment and the players will not be a reckless.

Die Hard Falcon

March 5th, 2012
2:01 pm

NO question, the bounty program, the part about knockout hits and ending games/seasons, is WAY worse. This is someone’s health and livelihood. Cheap shots by a classless team. I echo many sentiments about them getting all the calls post katrina, it seemed like the Falcons were consistently getting screwed on calls especially when brees was going for the record last year, classless.

LawDawg–I would have to disagree, players aren’t always trying to injure someone when they hit them, some guys on some plays sure, but mostly they just want a solid, legal shot and stop them from scoring, I don’t think that the majority of players/teams are trying to injure someone, what goes around comes around.

Go Falcons!!!

Karl Childers

March 5th, 2012
2:10 pm

I’ll tell you what’s worst of all. Lazy journalists who insist on adding the word “gate” to other words as some kind of universal shorthand description for a scandal. Watergate was forty years ago. Give it a rest, dude.

Great Falconi

March 5th, 2012
2:22 pm

The Patriots’ spying is worse than what the Saints were doing. Most teams don’t do what the Saints have been doing, but defensive players have been pooling money together for years for bounties/bonuses. I don’t like cheating, so Belichick wins this one.

rivercard

March 5th, 2012
2:25 pm

Spygate was cheating – worse in my book.

Unless someone confesses to making an illegal hit that they would not have otherwise made due to bounty, I will side with LawDawg and 5150. This is much ado about nothing and something chicken hawk sportswriters can get all self-righteous about.

That being said it is against the rules and the coaches being involved was idiotic. Loomis and coaches have some rough times ahead.

IlliniBrave

March 5th, 2012
2:27 pm

My obsessive hatred for the Saints now has an object! Thank you, all the d-bags down in NOLA for giving us a justification for despising your team.

rivercard

March 5th, 2012
2:28 pm

Schultz or anyone on the board -

Please explain the success of Peter King to me. Other than access to info , he has 0.00% insight into the game of football and his writing is dreadful and boring.

Boom Dizzle

March 5th, 2012
2:33 pm

Bounty Gate is without a doubt worse. Spygate is simply cheating with film. Bounty Gate you are messing with people’s lives potentially. You already are getting paid to hit people, why the extra incentive to be a d-bag?

TheAntiMe

March 5th, 2012
2:35 pm

I don’t believe this bounty business for a minute. After all, the whole team must be pretty tight with the Man upstairs (and no I don’t mean Roger Goodell) since they are Saints. If this is true then New Orleans should be forced to change the name of the team from the Saints to the Drunken Goons.

Donte

March 5th, 2012
2:40 pm

Spygate was just a miscalculated attempt to LEGALLY tape signals by going around or wording rules differently. Bountygate was paying players to INTENTIONALLY injure other players, no matter what the cost. Bountygate was worse. But the Patriots and the Saints are still 2 of my favorite teams, and 2 of the best teams.

CAPT-ATL

March 5th, 2012
2:47 pm

Rivercard, it is about who you know, not what you know. Heck, Obama is the President. That proves the point in itself, but I agree, PK lacks the talent to capture a reader or paint a story. As a Falcon fan, it is my duty to dig (just as as Saint’s fan, your duty is to dig at playoff records and the Vick scandal). A wise woman once said…. “Bounty, the quicker picker upper. Rest her soul, but Nancy Walker was a prophet. I’d be lying if I said this has not made the offseason more enjoyable.

mutiger

March 5th, 2012
3:00 pm

IMO, Bountygate is worse because it violates any and all beliefs in sportsmanship. As much as I hate the Patriots and question the full legitimacy of their titles because of Spygate, all teams try to decipher their opponents signals during the game. The Patriots just took it the next step and stole them before the game (for the record, I’m not defending them). Both the Patriots and Saints were cheating to gain an advantage (stealing signals vs. injuring star players), but the Saints’ method threatened (and in some cases, ended) the careers of players. That is inexcusable. Kurt Warner, Troy Aikman, and (to some extent) Brett Favre, all lost their careers to Gregg Williams’ defenses. There is even a good chance that the hit that knocked Peyton out this season (’06 vs the Redskins) can be traced to these bounties. Williams should be banned for life.

Najeh Davenpoop

March 5th, 2012
3:05 pm

“Please explain the success of Peter King to me. Other than access to info , he has 0.00% insight into the game of football and his writing is dreadful and boring.”

You may enjoy these. They put up a new one every week.

heartofdarkness

March 5th, 2012
3:06 pm

My feeling is, if the object of the game is to injure players, arm the players and even things up for the smaller guys.

bali

March 5th, 2012
3:06 pm

take off the skirts and let em play ball…..sure other teams are doing the same,saints just got the fine..tired of 7 on 7 drills being passed off as football…maybe the falcons need to get some bounty action going

chewyandrw

March 5th, 2012
3:08 pm

SpyGate is far worse. If you look at what the Saints did it in the time frame of which it was done, it was 99% clean, hard hits. Its not like he (Williams) was asking the players to do Three Stooges moves or take brass knuckles on the field with them. This happens more often than people think on all levels.

kimmer

March 5th, 2012
3:13 pm

Lets see….what is a worse form of cheating…..

a) Incentivizing players for knocking out an opponent while subject to the rules of the game on the field (unnecessary roughness, late hit, illegal block, etc, etc.) and off the field (fines, suspensions) that are intended to protect players. Never mind that a players can and do the exact same thing with no incentive.

or….

b) Surreptitiously stealing signals so that you know what play your opponent is about to run.

Anybody with half a brain would say b)

Bounty hunting may be unseemly, dirty, unsportsmanlike or whatever but it doesn’t give one team a tactical advantage which spying most certainly does.

5150 UOAD

March 5th, 2012
3:15 pm

Like RAY LEWIS doesn’t play to HURT players.
These are the Sweetest players on Defense in the modern era and they NEVER tried to HURT anybody.
Doug Atkins (DE) 1953-1969 Elvin Bethea (DE) 1968-1983 Junious (Buck) Buchanan (DT) 1963-1975 Willie Davis (DE) 1958-1969 Fred Dean (DE) 1975-1985 Richard Dent 1983-1997 Chris Doleman (DE, LB) 1985-1999 Art Donovan (DT) 1950-1961 Carl Eller (DE) 1964-1979 Len Ford (DE) 1948-1958 Joe Greene (DT) 1969-1981 Dan Hampton (DT-DE) 1979-1990 David (Deacon) Jones (DE) 1961-1974 Henry Jordan (DT) 1957-1969 Cortez Kennedy (DT) 1990-2000 Bob Lilly (DT) 1961-1974 Howie Long (DE) 1981-1993 Gino Marchetti (DE) 1952-1964, 1966 Leo Nomellini (DT) 1950-1963 Merlin Olsen (DT) 1962-1976 Alan Page (DT) 1967-1981 John Randle 1990-2003 Andy Robustelli (DE) 1951-1964 Lee Roy Selmon (DE) 1976-1984 Bruce Smith 1985-2003 Ernie Stautner (DT) 1950-1963 Arnie Weinmeister (DT) 1948-1953 Randy White (DT) 1975-1988 Reggie White (DT-DE) 1985-1998, 2000 Bill Willis (MG) 1946-1953 Jack Youngblood (DE) 1971-1984 Chuck Bednarik (C-LB) 1949-1962 Bobby Bell (also DE) 1963-1974 Nick Buoniconti 1962-1974, 1976 Dick Butkus 1965-1973 Harry Carson 1976-1988 George Connor (also DT, OT) 1948-1955 Chris Doleman (DE, LB) 1985-1999 Bill George 1952-1966 Jack Ham 1971-1982 Chris Hanburger 1965-1978 Ted Hendricks 1969-1983 Sam Huff 1956-1967, 1969 Rickey Jackson LB (also DE) 1981-1995 Jack Lambert 1974-1984 Willie Lanier 1967-1977 Ray Nitschke 1958-1972 Les Richter 1954-1962 Joe Schmidt 1953-1965 Mike Singletary 1981-1992 Lawrence Taylor 1981-1993 Derrick Thomas 1989-1999 Andre Tippett 1982-1993 Dave Wilcox 1964-1974 Herb Adderley (CB) 1961-1972 Lem Barney (CB) 1967-1977 Mel Blount (CB) 1970-1983 Willie Brown (CB) 1963-1978 Jack Butler (CB) 1951-59 Jack Christiansen (S) 1951-1958 Darrell Green (CB) 1983-2002 Mike Haynes (CB) 1976-1989 Ken Houston (S) 1967-1980 Jimmy Johnson (CB) 1961-1976 Paul Krause (S) 1964-1979 Dick (Night Train) Lane (CB) 1952-1965 Yale Lary (S) 1952-1953, 1956-1964 Dick LeBeau (CB) 1959-1972 Ronnie Lott (CB-S) 1981-1994 Mel Renfro (S-CB) 1964-1977 Deion Sanders (CB-KR-PR) 1989-2000, 2004-2005 Emmitt Thomas (CB) 1966-1978 Emlen Tunnell (S) 1948-1961 Roger Wehrli 1969-1982 Larry Wilson (S) 1960-1972 Willie Wood (S) 1960-1971 Rod Woodson 1987-2003

They are ALL in the hall of Fame for playing Sweet and not trying to KILL the QBs, RBs & WRs during the game

Lighten Up Francis and leave your Skirt at home.

Colin

March 5th, 2012
3:34 pm

Spygate took on a life of its own, that strayed far from reality. People wanted to believe that the Patriots were aware of team’s gameplans and Tom Brady knew every defensive play before the snap. The reality is that teams can videotape/steal opponents hand signals from designated places in the stadium like the pressbox. The Patriots were doing it from the sideline instead. An infraction worth punishment, yes, but not to the extent that some media sensationalism portrayed it to be. If you focus on the facts, then I don’t know how you could consider intentionally trying to hurt another player in the fraternity of the NFL anything short of repulsing. Bountygate gets my vote.

Von

March 5th, 2012
3:38 pm

To the Falcons and they’re fans, the NFL coming down hard on the Saints is the only way you can beat them. Why isn’t anyone talking about the guy who leaked the story in the first place? That’s what I want to know.

Whatever

March 5th, 2012
3:59 pm

Don’t see how this benefits the Falcons or hurts the Saints if the Rams coach is suspended for few games. So they lose a #1 pick? We gave ours away voluntarily.

Patrick Romano WAR DAMN EAGLE

March 5th, 2012
4:05 pm

Kudos, Larry has it right,

Jeff, Come ON MAN!

One involves a camera while the other involves a deliberate, calculated, compensated and predetermination to maliciously injure or maim another human being. This is like asking if a perjury or forgery is more serious than a rape or aggregated battery!

Come on, man!

BiggDawgK

March 5th, 2012
4:18 pm

What a surprise that 5150 the poster who thinks death and rape are something to make fun of would be in favor of bountys. He is the perfect spokesman for ga text and coach chop block.

Pamela

March 5th, 2012
4:21 pm

You know it really doesn’t matter if the Saints lose their 1st draft pick..big deal! We are still going to beat the pants off the FAILCANTS…I have seen first hand the FAILCANTS doing that to all of the teams they have tried to play. It’s so sad and sorry how you FAILCANTS fans are really so excited thinking that you have one up on the World Champions Saints…this has YET to be proven, then you must understand that we still will beat the brakes off of your sorry team EVERYTIME we play you all next season! GEAUX SAINTS!!! WHO DAT???

rivercard

March 5th, 2012
4:29 pm

Najeh- Thanks. I needed a good laugh.

Matt the Brave

March 5th, 2012
4:30 pm

But was it worse than Watergate, or Monicagate, or Iraqgate, or Obamagate? Ug. Please please please stop using -gate for every scandal. It’s just lazy reporting.

Peter

March 5th, 2012
4:31 pm

Bountygate, and the fact the Saints players and coaches have totally disrespected the league, each player on the other teams, and their family’s.

David

March 5th, 2012
4:32 pm

Did not take long for the no class Taints fans to show up on the blog and start spewing their garbage. Ever been to a Falcons/ Saints game in the Georgia Dome? Saints fans are by far the worst, most low class fans by a long shot. I am among a good many people I know that will not go to a Falcons/ Saints game. Way to many thugs in the stands, just not a safe or fun family environment. How do they get tickets? Must be able to exchange for tickets and transportation with food stamps in NO I guess.

BiggDawgK

March 5th, 2012
4:38 pm

Pamela

Obviously you are already drunk just like most of the trash that calls themselves taint’s fans. The nfl handed your thugs a free championship because it made a good story and everyone pitys y’all. I find it strange that all the trash in that cespool of new orleans are happy that they live off the handouts of everyone else. You still are too stupid to see or too ashamed to admit that the taint’s didn’t earn anything at all. LOL LOL LOL LOL It was a gift and instead of thanking the nfl the taint’s spit in their masters face.

I’m sure Goodell is an understanding guy who won’t be angry and vindictive after the taint’s made him look like a chump for allowing them to cheat. The taint’s are finished.

hush child

March 5th, 2012
4:41 pm

to bad they got caught…damn!

KNOW YOUR SPORT

March 5th, 2012
4:42 pm

5150 UOAD, FYI ED” TO TALL” JONES IS NOT IN THE HALL OF FAME.

Danny O

March 5th, 2012
4:42 pm

David: Please get out of Atlanta. We don’t want or need you repping our town. It is because of people like you that Atlanta is consistently mocked for having such poor fans. If you’re too scared to go to a Falcons game because of the visiting spectators than you’re not a real fan. Real fans show up and get loud to support their team.

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”

Grayson Scott

March 6th, 2012
5:37 am

Spygate is worse for the integrity of the game. Period. Numerous teams have been using a bounty system for a long, long time. But other than the Broncos, when they had Bellicheat Jr. as their coach are known to have blatantly cheated via videotaping. Case Closed!

Buckeye

March 6th, 2012
6:40 am

Hey dogs

Sounds like Hashbrowns-gate is getting disrespected!!!!!

Scott B

March 6th, 2012
7:00 am

The Falcons–
DAT Who!

Bud Wiser

March 6th, 2012
7:16 am

Oh come on Jeff, this is no big deal because it’s the Saints, man!

The Saints ….. darlings of the national media, ESPN in particular.

The Saints … everyon’e love story after Katrina, how they rebuilt and revitalized the very heart of New Orleans (now when was that, 25-30 years ago?).

Now let me say this – I’d trade straight up for 50% of a Drew Brees against 100% of Matty Frights, not to mention the off-the-field community and family guy you’d get as well.

Sean Payton is shoulder-deep in this as well, and should be equally reprimanded by Goodell, but he probably won’t. The NoFunLeague has its scapegoat in Williams, and the soner this is swept under their golden carpet, the better.

The same train of thought and logic that led to the dismisal of the late Joe Paterno at Penn State for the actions of his subordinates is here.

Watch and see.

All bluster, little action.

Road Scholar

March 6th, 2012
7:29 am

Whoever devised the plan for bountygate for each team should be outright fired. Anyone accepting the payout should be suspended for a year, regardless of position. We’re talking integrity of the game here.

Mike Jordan

March 6th, 2012
7:34 am

One aspect of this entire issue that is not being discussed enough is the failure of the Saints were told to investigate the existence of a bounty program and shut it down if it existed. Their failure to carry out this enforcement of policy and league rules demonstrates their belief in their invulnerability and superiority. These delusional beliefs have been evident since Payton and Brees arrived.

Fred C. Die Hard WHO DAT!!!!

March 6th, 2012
7:58 am

If My Saints was Intentionally trying to injure other players then that is the referee job to penalize the in the game.I believe the Media as always blows things out of proportion.The Saints won every game fair and square. All you other die hard fans would feel the same!!! As for you HATERS you Teams just could not be this great!!! If you don’t want you QB hit then tell your ofensiveline to block.All players get paid to do a job wheter its with stickers or Cash. These our Men !! GLADIATORS of the modern era. It is still called TACKLE football not flag.So i think All Haters take a chill pill. We as PROUD WHO DAT FANS knows it does not matter if the nfl fines us or take away our draft picks.The SAINTS and THE WHO DAT NATION will still DOMINATE !!!

tfalcon

March 6th, 2012
8:16 am

Yea u guys gonna dominate,ur working out randy moss today are u wondering why if not its because colton,meachem will be gone and thier looking for a cheap replacement which is cool.But down play this all u want the loss of Nicks from wanting his payday is going to hurt ur O line play,which in turn will hurt ur run ,pass play plan and simple.
For any of u fans that dont admit that then u are so blind,We will
be glad to see just how dominat u guys will be

papa rider

March 6th, 2012
8:39 am

I think Williams should be borrowed from football for life. Football is already a tough sport where players can have carreer ending injuries. I think the Commissioner should make an example out of Williams. If it is proven that others in the Saints organization were aware of the practice and did nothing to stop it, they should also be borrowed. There should also be suspension of player who collected the bounty for several games..

I'm Gumby, Dammit

March 6th, 2012
8:43 am

I couldn’t help but notice that Seen this B4 hasn’t joined in the conservation. He’s probably busy cleaning Payton’s soiled laundry.

saintsation777

March 6th, 2012
9:00 am

Now even though the bounties were disgusting and stupid especially for a sorry defense as my Saints have been the last 3 years, I can’t remember seeing any QB or WR taken off the field at all. Especially Atlanta who had all their players on the field when they lost 5 of 6 during that span. The offense had nothing to do with that disgusting Greg Williams when they poured it on you all and other teams. SOund like petty jealousy to me. When Vick was caught with dogs I supported him and felt sorry for you people at the time.

Samuel L. Jackson

March 6th, 2012
9:08 am

Honestly some of the posts on here made me laugh. Have you seen the Saints defense play the last 2 seasons? Anybody on the Saints defensive unit who collected a “bounty” should immediately issue a refund! The Saints D was awful!!

Furthermore, lets see some proof of guys carted off injured due to late hits by the Saints. Other than Favre in the NFC title game (which if you watched the whole play and not Favre being hit Bobby McCray was pushed into Favre’s legs by a lineman) who was injured?

The Saints were regularly flagged for late hits in the 2011 season, most of which were horrible calls. Several of the calls were later recinded by the NFL officiating committee and fines were not issued. I know this is a Falcons website so I get it, but I am a bit confused about the national media making this out to be like the Saints were crippling players (they weren’t) and the hits they are showing on ESPN were all legal hits and didn’t draw flags. I could understand if the Saints defenders were diving at players knees or head hunting in the secondary, but again the Saints have been wretched defensively. The Saints were probably more afraid of opposing offenses than the other way around ha ha

Larry

March 6th, 2012
9:11 am

Does the word “Battery” or “Assault”bring any fear into the conversation. If you intend to hurt someone and succeed isn;t thst illegal buy not only NFL rules , but local and country wide law. Could the offenders be arrested? I think some DA’s may be already looking at films and woundweing if this is punishable by law.

globeflyer

March 6th, 2012
9:20 am

Bountygate…..not even close.

Ken Stallings

March 6th, 2012
10:00 am

Perhaps the quality of football at all levels, and the integrity, would be improved by changing the mindset of what constitutes a good tackle. The bonuses (whether pizza or $10,000) should be for a form tackle — you know, when you hit the guy square, wrap him up, and put him on the ground. That type of tackle is less likely to be broke, and less likely to cause injury.

The kill shots used to get on the ESPN highlights, but ESPN stopped showing them because they recognized they were generally poor tackles and often caused injury to one or both players.

Looking at the epidemic of poor tackling up and down football today, it seems a lot of it is the encroachment of going for the glamour hit where the defender stands tall over the guy he just knocked to the ground. Looks nice for the papers and the video highlight shows. But, too often the offensive player gets knocked back a bit, but still on his feet running. Or, in the effort to deliver the kill shot the defender whiffs and the offensive player blows right past for 20 more yards, or a TD.

EGM

March 6th, 2012
10:05 am

Spying is by far the worse. Spying hurts the fairnes and integrity of the game.

Freddie Blassie

March 6th, 2012
10:06 am

Oh my! Football players trying to knock other players out of the game? Why it’s barbaric! It makes me want to see the opposing teams hugging each other and sorting out their feelings about each other.
The only bounties being paid are to all the parasites living off the game and changing the rules to impair defenses because the focus groups tell them they’d like more scoring. Cannot even think about hitting a quarterback! A ballcarrier was thinking about running out of bounds and you tackled him?! Fifteen yards! A mean defender bumped a receiver when he was 5.43 yards from the line of scrimmage.
You people are candies. Rules are changed so that you cannot bump pass receivers after they are five yards past the line so they have an advantage, but pass rushers get to the quarterback and tackle him hard. What do we do? Let’s change the rules so that linemen can hold. The pass rushers are still tackling the quarterback! What now? Penalties for hitting the passer with a helmet or tackling him too hard.
Bounties have been around forever. Actually putting the guy out of the game is very tough to do and collecting on a bounty is damned impossible.
Simon and Garfunkel are the rules committee.

Cannonball Butler

March 6th, 2012
10:10 am

It’s only a scandal because it was made public. It won’t stop other teams because it has gone on for years and you can not stop it completely. If players take it out of the locker room to another venue does that mean it goes away? The only scandal is that the Coach/GM may have been openly encouraging this. With or without their approval it happened and will continue to happen.
One could even argue whether or not it is cheating. If someone is hit hard and gets injured does that mean a bounty was on someone? Face it-these players are paid by owners, to do what they were doing. Unless a player is flagged for a penalty how is it dirty?
Football is a tough sport. People get hit and fans, and the media, glory in the hits. It is the closest thing we have to blood sport.

Jimbo

March 6th, 2012
10:31 am

They should strike off the Superbowl win, take the tropy and rings away from all the players. Fire the coaches. Hang the owner by a noose in the French Quarter. Implode the Superdome. – I bet anything that the Falcons have a similar program in their defensive team rooms, so they should suffer the same consequences – Oh, I’m sorry, no Superbowl win, rings, or trophies to take away…

Sid

March 6th, 2012
11:01 am

Not much of an article here and it seems you know it “I might have more on the New Orleans situation in a blog later”. I’m delighted for the penalties soon to come the Saints way and the muzzling effect it has had on the A hole peeshwank NO bloggers who live to infest.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
11:08 am

If you think Bobby McCray’s hit on Kurt Warner was not meant to maim or injure you are an idiot. McCray was thinking bounty when he hit him……………….the cheapest shot I have ever seen on the field.

Cannonball Butler

March 6th, 2012
11:15 am

I believe Warner called that a clean hit.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
11:18 am

Jimbo

March 6th, 2012
10:31 am
They should strike off the Superbowl win, take the tropy and rings away from all the players. Fire the coaches. Hang the owner by a noose in the French Quarter. Implode the Superdome. –
************************************************
It’s gonna be fun………….We’re just gonna laugh our butts off. Enjoy Jimbo.

Conspiracy Theory

March 6th, 2012
11:31 am

The really interesting thing will be when policing agencies (local police, state SBI, FBI) start to investigate this. Looks like a conspiracy to injure/maim others, a felony in most jurisdictions. Some folks are going to jail over this…The time when governments would look the other way just because it is a sport is over. Reference: Penn State.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
11:55 am

Cannonball Butler

March 6th, 2012
11:15 am
I believe Warner called that a clean hit.
************************************************
Warner didn’t call it “clean”, he called it legal.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
12:04 pm

Conspiracy Theory

March 6th, 2012
11:31 am
The really interesting thing will be when policing agencies (local police, state SBI, FBI) start to investigate this. Looks like a conspiracy to injure/maim others, a felony in most jurisdictions. Some folks are going to jail over this…The time when governments would look the other way just because it is a sport is over. Reference: Penn State.
*************************************************
Is this Mel Gibson?

The correlation with Penn State is weak.

Rest in Peace JoePa.

Tango Sierra

March 6th, 2012
12:04 pm

Todd Grantham makes Williams look like a piker by comparison. If you’re looking for sleaze, look at UGA.

trademark

March 6th, 2012
12:48 pm

The Saints Trolls are the only ones stupid enough in the entire world to try to defend this….congrats, you have redefined the term brainless.

5150 UOAD

March 6th, 2012
12:52 pm

trademark……….not so. As long as it is a LEGAL Hit with no penalty flag then it is GOOD FOOTBALL. Please don’t think ALL Defensive players are not trying to take the other guy out. IT IS THE GAME.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
12:55 pm

……………….and the hits just keep on playing. Brees is mad about the franchise tag, he might be there this year but guess what………..if he won’t sign it he would be worth the 2 first round draft choices.
***********************************************************************
trademark

March 6th, 2012
12:48 pm
The Saints Trolls are the only ones stupid enough in the entire world to try to defend this….congrats, you have redefined the term brainless.

High Five trademark, couldn’t have put have been said better.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
1:01 pm

There we go, a legal cheap shot.

tardawg

March 6th, 2012
1:17 pm

DP you ought to be working for the NFL you got the right ideas, we were discussing this at work and not only should williams be banned from the NFL I can’t imagine a college would want him he might be get to be a high school coach but programs I’ve been around wouldn’t hire him to coach our pop Warner programs.

5150 UOAD

March 6th, 2012
1:17 pm

SID go pull up your skirt and pull down your panties and sit while you pee you lil girl.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
1:19 pm

A legal cheap shot took out Ovie’s knee. Yeah, good football.

5150 UOAD

March 6th, 2012
1:32 pm

SID it is FOOTBALL not powder puff of lil league. the NFL keeps SCORE. This ain’t everybody wins and gets a trophy crap. You are not playing the game so don’t worry about it. The Players assume the risk because of the benefit of the money. They went to college and could be using their education to work earning money in some other industry.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
1:35 pm

5150 UOAD

March 6th, 2012
1:17 pm
SID go pull up your skirt and pull down your panties and sit while you pee you lil girl.
*************************************************
Wow, an intellectual butt whuppin’. You seem to have that sittin’ down to pee all figured out.
Here are some of your awesome comments:

5150 UOAD

November 23rd, 2011
7:08 pm
Have a happy Thanksgiving Ken.

5150 UOAD

November 23rd, 2011
8:08 pm
Jabster………….Sorry but I don’t care what a bowl is ranked. I want to go to a bowl in a town I want to visit. I like Nashville. Don’t care much for Orlando, Miami, or Jacksonville.

5150 UOAD

November 23rd, 2011
9:33 pm
Sorry Spike I would not travel to El Paso. I would stay in Atlanta before heading to Texas for that bowl game.

5150 UOAD

November 24th, 2011
10:10 am
Super Committee……………….why did you marry a Tech girl? You wanted a Lady? You wanted a Lady with Brains? I bet you wanted a lady with Classy. Most of all I bet you wanted a lady and not some drunk chick that has given more rides than a MARTA Bus

5150 UOAD

November 24th, 2011
10:17 am
If Tech’s Defense plays like a UGA Coed on a Friday night at a Frat house we will be in trouble.
I know both teams can score. It really comes down to who can hold on to the ball.

5150 UOAD

November 24th, 2011
10:19 am
Same to you Supersize. I guess I will watch the Lions game later
***********************************************

Intellectually I feel so overmatched, please oh please don’t pick on me. MORON

Sid

March 6th, 2012
1:38 pm

A cheap shot, legal or not, is still a cheap shot.

Sid

March 6th, 2012
1:39 pm

5150 UOAD

March 6th, 2012
1:32 pm
You are not playing the game so don’t worry about it.
******************************************************
OMG, I didn’t know you were a real football player. WOW!!!!!

Patriots are real saints compared to the Aints

March 6th, 2012
1:46 pm

Don’t trust a man with three “G’s” in Greg(g) (Willams)….Pats at

hechler & Koch

March 18th, 2012
12:30 am

hey sid stfu u troll im not even a saints fan and even i KNOW bountygate and spygate were both overblown by media and idiot fans like you! spygate and bounty gate have been going on since the mid 80’s you imbecile little punk

What’s worse: Saints’ ‘BountyGate’ or Patriots’ ‘Spygate’?

190 comments Add your comment

About Jeff Schultz

We’ve Moved!

One Subscription. Total Access.

Search this blog

Recent Posts

Archives

More from the AJC

Categories

Blogroll

All AJC blogs »

Tell us what you think about the site

Subscribe »

Customer Care »

AJC Services

Sections

Other Editions

Guides

Affiliates

Advertising

AJC Sites

Special Reports

Blogs

Opinion

Blogs

Topics

Features

Blogs

Topics

Features

Topics

Features

Features

Blogs

Topics

Features

What’s worse: Saints’ ‘BountyGate’ or Patriots’ ‘Spygate’?

190 comments Add your comment

About Jeff Schultz

We’ve Moved!

One Subscription. Total Access.

Search this blog

Recent Posts

Archives

More from the AJC

Categories

Blogroll

All AJC blogs »

Tell us what you think about the site

Subscribe »

Customer Care »

AJC Services

Sections

Other Editions

Guides

Affiliates

Advertising

AJC Sites