Drew Brees looks like fool for not acknowledging bounties
Drew Brees' conflict of interest is undermining player safety issues. (AP photo)
Drew Brees has been one of the faces of the NFL, one of the best ambassadors the league has had. He is a premier player at the centerpiece position (quarterback) who led his team to a Super Bowl and also helped heal a city (New Orleans) after a disaster.
But the guy has lost it, and he should be removed from any executive board position he holds with the NFL Players Association. In short, Brees still refuses to acknowledge the New Orleans Saints had any bounty system, even though former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (who orchestrated the whole thing) admits it existed.
“We didn’t get any meaningful evidence, or any meaningful truth or facts,” Brees told NFL.com when asked about any discussion on the bounty program at Monday’s meeting between the league and union. (The league has yet to announce penalties for players involved.)
There are two problems here: 1) That Brees, probably out of loyalty to his team, still hasn’t publicly admitted that the Saints had a program. It makes him look foolish; 2) Because of that loyalty, and an obvious conflict of interest, he should not be allowed to sit in any meeting as an NFLPA executive board member when penalties for Saints’ players are being discussed.
In fact, a case could be made he should be removed from the board altogether. Think about it: One significant reason for the uproar of the program is it undermines player safety. There is evidence of Saints players being told to head-hunt or take out a opposing player’s ACL. But Brees, a union representative, refuses to acknowledge that, despite evidence and confirmation from a figure involved, effectively giving his blessing to the program.
How does Brees rationalize that to his union brethren?
Let’s briefly go through a few reasons why commissioner Roger Goodell has disciplined the Saints organization, Williams, coach Sean Payton and assistant Joe Vitt:
– Via the NFL’s findings, the Saints operated the bounty program for three seasons, largely funded by players but “also occasionally” by Williams.
– Payments were made when opposing players were injured. Specifically, the investigation showed bounties had been placed on four opposing quarterbacks: Brett Favre, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers and Kurt Warner. Defensive captain Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 to any teammate who knocked Favre out of the NFC title game in the 2009 season.
– Via the official NFL release: “Coach Williams acknowledged that he designed and implemented the program with the assistance of certain defensive players.”
– Also via the NFL: “Vitt admitted that, when interviewed in 2010, he ‘fabricated the truth’ to NFL investigators and denied that any pay-for-performance or bounty program existed.”
But Drew Brees wants evidence. He doesn’t look like a leader. He looks like a fool.
By Jeff Schultz
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258 comments Add your comment
dagnabit
April 17th, 2012
11:40 am
Well Pratt; Rocker said his piece in a national publication about a New york subway. Try thinking first.
Steele
April 17th, 2012
11:43 am
Drew specifically admitted there was pay for performance but not pay for injury. Thus far I have not heard from the nfl of one example of pay for injury. The Greg Williams audio discusses hitting players who were injured and points out there specific injury. That occured at the high school level when I played. Knowing whose gimpy and trying to lay a lick on them to make sure they want to be back on the field is just smart defense and done by every NFL team. Again the saints have been hung for this and no one so far can give a factual example of pay for injury. None of this would have gone this far in a real court system. This is all about setting an example by goodell to protect the image of the NFL. Just listen to former players on espn who say Williams audio was not abnormal at all.
kim
April 17th, 2012
11:52 am
You all are putting drew brees down. But he is a really good guy. Anyone takes time out of his busy schedule to go visit a fan who was dying of cancer. Is number one with. He made the fan’s day sorry to say the didn’t make it to see the saints win the superbowl.
too tough
April 17th, 2012
11:53 am
Drewly absurb…Drew is a phony!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Everyone in the NFL is going to be out for the aints…..lol…
wxwax
April 17th, 2012
11:53 am
I think you’re wide of the mark, Jeff.
What is the Union’s role in this matter? To partner with the league? Or to provide an honorable opposition?
It’s the union’s duty to force the league to prove its case. And when the league hands down punishments, it’s the union’s duty to vigorously protect the rights of its players.
Don’t be confused by the roles. It’s not the union’s role to find blame and help punish the guilty.
That is the league’s job. And the union, it sounds like, is forcing the league to do its job properly.
You don’t have to like it. But you do need to understand it.
too tough
April 17th, 2012
11:55 am
steele….quit rataionalizing….ha we were all told to be tough in high school, but NEVER intentionally told by any coach to INJURE someone on purpose…knock um out with good clean hits is one thing! steele you drew boy are rationalizing…lol……
Report: Saints’ suspended Sean Payton barred from any NFL contact – USA TODAY | Amazing News
April 17th, 2012
11:56 am
[...] Atlanta Journal Constitution [...]
Taxi Smith
April 17th, 2012
12:04 pm
“Depends on what the meaning of “is” is…..” God, what have we become??
Tumbledown
April 17th, 2012
12:09 pm
I do not know what to think of Brees as I am sure he was under pressure from various sources to say what he did. It is clear, however, that the Saints did not think much of Matt Ryan as they did not place a bounty on him. Further evidence that he is not an elite player.
V Chip
April 17th, 2012
12:21 pm
wxwax – exactly. But don’t expect Schultz or the knee-jerkers to understand nuance and context. Anyone with a lick of sense can see it for what it is: a group (NFLPA) protecting their members (players) from punishment at the hands of another group/employer (NFL) without proof that the punishment is warranted.
Fair
April 17th, 2012
12:27 pm
Enter your comments here
FairGame
April 17th, 2012
12:34 pm
Dear Mr. Schultze,
What high horse did you fall off of? I think you may have suffered severe trauma to your brain.
Please seek medical help immediately!
smashmouth
April 17th, 2012
12:36 pm
Jeff- you put it the only way it could be put- he looks like a fool. I’d like to add that by nature of his position, in his case, he’s to be the unquestioned leader of the team. As such, you’re telling me he didn’t have direct first hand knowledge of this? He cites lack of external proof for his denile when in reality he’s on the inside in a leadership position. Claiming ignorance makes him a fool and a liar. Factor in the contract situation, that he’s got his boot to the throat of the franchise who’s down, down somewhat in part due to his failure to lead (not his fault entirely, but he enabled it to go on) really shows who brees is. Dude, you’re not a Manning or a Brady. You don’t deserve the top pay in the league. If you did, you would have been a leader when it mattered and helped put a stop to this before it crushed your team. Now your’re trying to capitalize for a big pay day. Boo.
hillbillykilla
April 17th, 2012
12:43 pm
Do any of you cornbread eating, unemployed ATL losers know how to read and write properly?
Jeremy
April 17th, 2012
12:46 pm
Hey Jeff, educate yourself to the on-field “evidence” of a bounty program:
So no season-ending injuries to opponents in 3 years…one opponent carted off (an O-Lineman with a FINGER INJURY), and average in terms of Personal Foul penalties upheld in the NFL over 3 years.
FACTS–and they point aggressively to the Saints INNOCENCE of anything more than BLUSTER, and BRAVADO!!
You’re a hack journalist, so you REALLY know what bluster and bravado are. 80% of all of your articles are made up of the stuff…
FairGame
April 17th, 2012
12:57 pm
smashmouth, Do you really think that way? You honestly feel that everyone knows everything that goes on around them? You’ve never been blindsided by a co-worker, employee, friend, spouse, child, family member…? If you can honestly say this has never happened to you, you’re either very young & naive or you’re in heaven.
“let he who is without sin, cast the first stone.” Let the Big Guy do the judging… Please
Jeremy
April 17th, 2012
1:02 pm
Funny no Falcons fans willing to comment on the “ON FIELD EVIDENCE” (or actually, lack thereof) of a “pay to injure” program
Falcon man
April 17th, 2012
1:04 pm
My goodness he plays offense give him a break. If our Nancy boy Qb was half as tough as him we may win more.
Rothschild
April 17th, 2012
1:05 pm
How do Loomis, Payton and Vitt still have jobs, considering that Benson supposedly told them to cut it out. Could it be the owner never did?
Jimmy Crack
April 17th, 2012
1:11 pm
Thank you Mr. Schultz for touching the third rail of the NFL society, the angellic Drew Brees and all his wonderfulness (insert puke).
Remember, just because Matt Ryan’s name didn’t show up on a bounty list or wasn’t overheard on some locker room tape, doesn’t mean they weren’t trying to take him out as well, being a hated rival. What goes around comes around, Drew, and hopefully it will come back around to YOU.
FJeffShultz
April 17th, 2012
1:16 pm
Look someone from Atlanta is writing an article that’s hating on the Saints again. Figures! Get a life Jeff and go back to your day job, writting copy for feminine hygiene products.
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 17th, 2012
1:19 pm
Don’t worry about Brees……………….
Need to worry about how a 72 million dollar investment has yielded an 0-3 playoff record and ZERO points in the last playoff game
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 17th, 2012
1:21 pm
So CHOKE still has not shown gratitude for Blank awarding him a 72 million dollar contract, and show some pride and working out in the weight room to improve on that NOODLE are.
Wow that’s the leadership that will pad on that 0-3 playoff record
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 17th, 2012
1:22 pm
FJeffShultz
April 17th, 2012
1:16 pm
Look someone from Atlanta is writing an article that’s hating on the Saints again. Figures! Get a life Jeff and go back to your day job, writting copy for feminine hygiene products
_______________________________
Well if the hometown qb SUCKS so much, they have to attract interest somewhere
Matt "CHOKE" Ryan
April 17th, 2012
1:26 pm
Jimmy Crack
April 17th, 2012
1:11 pm
Thank you Mr. Schultz for touching the third rail of the NFL society, the angellic Drew Brees and all his wonderfulness (insert puke).
Remember, just because Matt Ryan’s name didn’t show up on a bounty list or wasn’t overheard on some locker room tape, doesn’t mean they weren’t trying to take him out as well, being a hated rival. What goes around comes around, Drew, and hopefully it will come back around to YOU.
___________________________________________
Why on Earth would an opponent want to place a bounty on the player that gives them the best chance to win?
CHOKE would not even get a bounty in little league
NotSurprised
April 17th, 2012
1:27 pm
It would make sense that they would have at least tried to avoid letting DB in on this little scheme, since, being a QB (and being on friendly terms with some of the targets) he wouldn’t likely have been too comfortable with it. He does look a little silly questioning the evidence, though. Just saying he wasn’t aware and recusing himself based on conflict-of-interest would have been good enough. I doubt that this will be limited to the Saints; according to “The Informant” the Kurt Eichanwald book on which the movie was based, SF did this back in the ’80s. It’s probably been going on forever.
SGo
April 17th, 2012
1:28 pm
In a perfect world, you’re right Jeff – about the denying AND having a seat on the NFLPA (and he should step down). But if DB acknowledges he knew of the bounty, clearly the next question would be “Tell us who was involved?” He wouldn’t be able to claim the 5th. You know that amendment that states “I can’t divulge that information Commissioner on the grounds it would obliterate, debilitate, incinerate me.”
Ken Stallings
April 17th, 2012
1:29 pm
Schultz, can you please do some checking on this Brees comment and write a column to educate us on what exactly are “meaningless truths” and “meaningless evidence?” You can tell someone is lying and spinning a story when you can remove words from what’s written without changing the meaning.
Brees could have said, “we didn’t get any evidence, truth, or facts,” and made the exact same point. Adding the fluff merely shows that the statement is a lie. Shame on Brees! He should be sentenced by Roger Goodell to spend two weeks providing patient care for a former football player from the 1970’s who is functionally disabled due to chronic pain or dimentia from the kinds of unregulated hits designed to cause injury that plagued football before Goodell made an honest effort to take the barbarity out of the NFL.
Ken Stallings
April 17th, 2012
1:31 pm
Of course, had Brees just uttered a claim there was no proof, evidence, or truth to the sordid and ugly Saints coaching practices, then he’d been laughed off the stage and publicly called a liar. So, he think he can put lipstick on the pig by using the term “meaningful.”
The people he’s trying to insult now are the fans of the NFL — Brees thinks so little of our intelligence that he thinks such efforts will work!
Just Looking
April 17th, 2012
1:34 pm
Who cares what Brees look like. All I know is that him and the Saints have owned the Falcons.
crackbaby
April 17th, 2012
1:37 pm
Drew Brees leads the offense, Schultz. Only the defense has been implicated. It’s April, can’t you come up with something other than football?
Have an original idea, please. Oh, your a sports “journalist” aren’t you? Sorry.
Jeff "I KNOW NOTHING" Schultz
April 17th, 2012
1:40 pm
Who had more fines in 2010 Saints or Atlanta… winner Atlanta
Who had more fines in 2009 Saints or Altanta… winner Atlanta
Who had more fines in 2008 Saints or Atlanta… winner Saints
Who had more fines in 2007 Saints or Atlanta… winner IN A LANDSLIDE ATLANTA
Who had more fines in 2006 Saints or Atlanta… winner Atlanta
Who had more fines in 2005 Saints or Atlanta… winner Atlanta
Why are you called the “DIRTY BIRDS” Guess you don’t need bounties to be thugs.
Anti Shultz
April 17th, 2012
1:50 pm
What a load. Like the Saints are the only team….its FOOTBALL. S^&T HAPPENS. Who cares
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
1:54 pm
Who will have most suspensions and fines by players and coaches in the history of the NFL for one season? Ding ding ding the Saints are the winners by a knockout LOL. Sean Payton now has the dubious distinction of being the only head coach in the history of the NFL to be suspended for a full season. I am from New Orleans and I am embarrassed by the actions of the team and the fans in their weak attempts to minimize the flagrant breaking of the rules in the name of winning a football game. It’s clear Katrina did not wash away all the trash.
slydog
April 17th, 2012
1:56 pm
he doesn’t look like a fool. he looks like a man of honor and loyalty to his teammates, players he has been through the woods with a time or two. but i guess the media wants their pound of flesh too since the NFL has already has there’s. It is one thing to speak up during the investigation, it’s another to keep running your mouth after the fact and conduct interviews and write tell-alls. that makes you a little boy, IMHO. only females keep clucking like chickens (i am not a misogynist, so don’t start.) BTW, I am a born and bred Falcons fan and loved nothing but the destruction of the NO Saints, but I must keep it real.
kzoodawg
April 17th, 2012
2:00 pm
Huge conflict of interest. Brees needs to step back from this one. There is absolutely nothing he can do here that won’t make him look ignorant or stupid. Williams admitted it. The players executed it. Bad deal. Done deal. Take your punishment, move on and hope it stops and doesn’t happen again.
And Drew’s boy might be able to kick the ball a mile but his accuracy is way off.
Daisy
April 17th, 2012
2:02 pm
How the heck do people like you get jobs? You’re a total idiot! This has to be the stupidest thing I’ve ever read!
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
2:03 pm
Anti Shultz- And that load drips off your face. The game is a violent one no doubt but only one team was stupid enough to turn it into a bounty program. Who cares you asked? Roger Goodell cares and the rest of the 31 teams in the league. There will be an unspoken bounty program on Saints players in the 2012 season, you better know that LOL. Who will care? NO one…because it will be done the right way. Players have been delivering their own form of justice for years so don’t think the 2012 season will be anything different. Brees in his denial, is only making it worst for himself when he steps on the field.
Saints4Life
April 17th, 2012
2:06 pm
10 of 12, you are not from New Orleans, so please stop posing! I’m from New Orleans and I’m still a fan and will always be. Of course I’m not approving what they did, but they did it, was punished for it, so now let’s move on and play ball….it’s over. There are plenty of football players on other teams who would love to have fans like ours…including Atlanta. They jump off of the bandwagon every time adversity hit the team, wonder why you still see a lot of Michael Vick jerseys all over Atlanta….they can’t even get behind the quarterback they have now, because their still wishing they had MV7.
Daisy
April 17th, 2012
2:06 pm
@10 of 12 – I highly doubt you’re from New Orleans….because all the people I know from NOLA don’t talk about Katrina like that…..my guess is you’re just another pissed fan from another team that is butt hurt and need an ivory tower to vent! Geez…try harder next time!
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
2:08 pm
Daisy- You should not take offense with people who are able to gain meaningful employment. I hear there is work in New Orleans in your field of expertise, though I do believe they expect you to supply your own mop and bucket. Good Luck!
V Chip
April 17th, 2012
2:12 pm
10 of 12
It’s clear you’re NOT from New Orleans.
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
2:15 pm
Daisy or David-Whatever your parents named you when you born. I don’t have to prove to a piece of trash like you where I’m from. Katrina was a tragedy but some of the trash in the city did need to be washed away. You have actually helped to prove my point. Next time go lay down by the levee.
Jeff "I KNOW NOTHING" Schultz
April 17th, 2012
2:16 pm
10 of 12 You need to swallow first then wipe. If you were from Orlinz good to see the trash got taken out of town.
That dude
April 17th, 2012
2:17 pm
HAHA, Shultz you’re the FOOL. To all you Failcon fans, just be prepared for two more losses at the hands of the Saints, and be prepared for your noodle armed quarterback to choke yet again.
OK now that I have the little bit of biased fan speech out of me… Shultz, you have a point, but what has been more upsetting has been this demand by Brees to be the highest paid QB. Dude should take teh 18 mil a year and play ball.
As a Saints fan I am obligated to say this although I appreciate the rivalry and passion between both out fan groups… FALCONS SUCK. lol. Hope you guys have a good season and everyone stays healthy.
Kevin
April 17th, 2012
2:20 pm
You have to love all the NO trash coming on our site to slam the Falcons. You cheated, you got caught and now deal with the punishment. If your truly a Aints fan go back to the cesspool that they call N.O and leave our beautiful city.
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
2:22 pm
V Chip- Born and raised. In Shreveport right now! I don’t give a $%!+ what you believe so save it.
That dude
April 17th, 2012
2:25 pm
Calm down Kevin, if you truely come from a position of dominance then you can speak with deference and not ignorance. No reason to call NOLA a cesspool. That is my home, and I live in a very nice neighborhood. If your home is truely superior then there is no need for you to be defensive right?
SimpleDawg
April 17th, 2012
2:25 pm
He has gone from cool to stone cold stupid.
10 of 12
April 17th, 2012
2:29 pm
Jeff “I KNOW NOTHING” Schultz- I could buy you today and sell you at a cheaper price boy. Learn how to spell OK boy. I don’t speak that ignorant language you and your homeboys speak down in the hood OK boy. STFU and go get your GED so you can find a job somewhere.