Drew Brees looks like fool for not acknowledging bounties

Drew Brees' conflict of interest is undermining player safety issues. (AP photo)

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

258 comments Add your comment

Funny Bunny

April 17th, 2012
8:29 am

That is sad. What is worse is players being referred to as fearless, and B. Belue saying that Heywood’s hit warmed his soul. Go Figure.

Bob Barker

April 17th, 2012
8:38 am

How noble in reason, how infinite in faculties. Schultz is da man!

Rodster

April 17th, 2012
8:39 am

Brees is a good guy. He (or any other player rep) should be automatically disqualified from sitting on any hearing concerning his own team. It’s just an obvious conflict of interest and it puts him in a very bad spot. Either way he looks bad to someone.

StevoDeg

April 17th, 2012
8:41 am

Good read Jeff…Unfortunately, as more and more of this comes out, I get only more sick. I hate the Saints as a whole, but like certain individuals, Brees included. That a team would go this far is just absurd.
Jeff, is there a process by which the NFLPA can remove a player? A vote or something?

Mark in ATL

April 17th, 2012
8:52 am

Drew is a punk….it happened….now move on…obviously Williams knows he was busted because he didn’t even appeal his suspension from the league. Payton thought he was above the rules and the commish slapped him down.

Paddy

April 17th, 2012
8:55 am

It looks like DB “CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH’!!!!

NationalGuardDawg

April 17th, 2012
8:55 am

Who Dat Said that Brees is a “Good Guy? If he is sincere in his statements here, he is lacking intelligence (we know he is a very smart guy). If not, then he is blatently dishonest which makes him not a “good guy” in my book.

LakeDawg

April 17th, 2012
8:59 am

That’s the new way of this country. Obfuscate, deny, turn a blind eye and demand proof without any possible hint of a shadow of a doubt. If that impossible standard is not met, then one can continue to believe what they want to believe in the first place. See it all the time in politics.

bob

April 17th, 2012
8:59 am

if only the Falcons had a bounty program. maybe they would have played better on defense.

meh

April 17th, 2012
9:02 am

Brees is probably afraid the Saints will put a bounty on him if he talks

Joey

April 17th, 2012
9:03 am

“We didn’t get any meaningful evidence, or any meaningful truth or facts,”
********************************************
Sounds like lawyer-speak. Next time he should use the old Clinton line (under oath), “it depends upon what the meaning of is is.”

Listen, Brees, when a DC in the NFL doesn’t even appeal a indefinite suspension, most of us know what is “meaningful.”

Pongo

April 17th, 2012
9:04 am

Hmm, Vilma went to the U. Didn’t they once get in trouble years ago for such a system? 3 years ago on MNF, ray-ray knocks Rashard Mendenhall out for the season, that night Suggs mentions a bounty to the media, all brushed under the rug. I really think this is happening much more than we know, and the NFL is covering up as much as they can. And Williams came up with this program suddenly after coaching all over the NFL? C’mon man!!!!

[...] Harper, Smith, Vilma coud face severe punishment in bounty programSunHerald.comUSA TODAY -Atlanta Journal Constitution (blog) -New York Timesall 597 news [...]

Jack Dennis TN

April 17th, 2012
9:06 am

Enter your comments here

Jack Dennis TN

April 17th, 2012
9:06 am

Off on this one, Jeff.

Burdell

April 17th, 2012
9:06 am

Well said, LakeDawg. I wholeheartedly agree with your synopsis.

Falcon James

April 17th, 2012
9:09 am

Bree’s in a tough spot. They be clearly a conflict of interested. I think he should call Petrino and ask how he should handle the situation. Petrino, first, will tell him to lie and deny. Second, Petrino will tell him to call his boss and apologize for the lie and denying. Then Petrino will tell him he should resign. The last advice will be best the one.

kappellmeister

April 17th, 2012
9:13 am

Hey PONGO – you’re wrongo.

Williams did the same thing in Buffalo and elsewhere. Just got caught in N.O.

ws

April 17th, 2012
9:14 am

Brees knows more about the bounty system than he lets on. After bounty gate came out , and the way Brees has denied it. Makes me think less of him. Williams was man enough to admit to what they done.
It all started with Payton, he should be band for life as well.
When Brees was trying to break passing record BVG should had a bounty on Brees for passing on Falcons . If I was falcon coach , I would had Spoon or Moore take him out.

JB

April 17th, 2012
9:17 am

That team had an incredible swagger, And DB was a big part of it. That organization will never be the same. This coach will be warned and watched when he comes back, and will be told he will be banned from the league if they have a repeat. The team won’t be the same.

dawgfan

April 17th, 2012
9:19 am

I see one quote from Brees that Schultz could be completely taking out of context. The media has been known to do that from time to time ya know.

Just throwing that out there. Carry on.

Doug

April 17th, 2012
9:22 am

People say oh he’s a great guy. I think he’s a dirty rotten bass turd and I am not surprised at all he qb’d the team that did these acts. Ever since his days at purdue, I thought he was a lousy person

Doug

April 17th, 2012
9:24 am

And all I know is roddy white should be glad he lives in atlanta and not ny. Cause we all saw what happened to rocker when he said some things about gays. Roddy gets a pass by the media here though.

jason

April 17th, 2012
9:26 am

can’t say i am surprised. i mean he’s a jock. 95% of them would be living on o buma’s welfare nation if they weren’t athletic.

marquis willingham

April 17th, 2012
9:31 am

Brees is classless. I’ve been saying it from the time he ran up the score to break the record against us. I hope he is removed from every leadership position, and fined as well. And, as a former New Orleans resident (for work), I can say that place is a 3rd world city. Joke of a city, joke of a fan base, and infrastructure that makes the Dominican Republic look like the Vatican.

JB

April 17th, 2012
9:31 am

The far left has done their job with making any comment about Gays a career killer, but as a Christian, I tell people it’s not biblical thus it’s wrong. If you say that publicly , in a school, office, Government building etc, it’s almost an arrestable offense.

JB

April 17th, 2012
9:33 am

Pro athletes not to good with money. The latest is Warren Sapp. Made 60 mil and netted 38 mil during his career and is BROKE. He should of bought a brain with his first check.

PMC

April 17th, 2012
9:36 am

I’ll acknowledge at this point that the filmmaker looks like a self important jerk, especially given his behavior and the timing of his release.

That said, what is Drew Brees smoking? The league has been on this for 3 years, the team has lied about it for 3 years. They only came clean after the league presented the evidence in thier presence. The league asked them nicely and without punishment to stop this for 3 freaking years. It is not in the NFL’s best interest to have one of it’s best coaches not coaching for a year. New Orleans is an extremely popular team. It’s unfortunate that such a smart guy like Drew Brees is still trying to cover up years worth of coverups and lies.

PMC

April 17th, 2012
9:37 am

No one is out to get New Orleans. The league is protecting it’s brand.

jroll1

April 17th, 2012
9:44 am

Drew is riding down that river in Egypt…..D-NILE!!!!

Supes

April 17th, 2012
9:46 am

Drew Brees = Enemy along with all the daym saints….Hopefully they miss the playoffs this year!

Echo E

April 17th, 2012
9:47 am

The issue here is Brees wants to get paid.

Currently he’s holding out of off season workouts because he doesn’t want to be franchised and wants a long term deal. If he blabs about the bounty program (rather than lying about it right now) the Saints are less likely to pay him until next off season (presumably because his stats will drop off this year and they can get him at a cheaper price).

He desperately wants his contract this year, so he’s keeping his mouth shut. He’s a crybaby and a terrible sportsman but he’s not stupid.

D man

April 17th, 2012
9:54 am

I like an incentive bonus program for good play. Extra pay for legal sacks, knock down passes, legal tackles for losses, interceptions, etc…

prattvillenolzfan

April 17th, 2012
9:58 am

Uh Doug……If I remember right, Rocker also was living/playing in Atlanta when he made his infamous comments…….the NY media has nothing to do with this…..Whats your point??????

Jim Osterman

April 17th, 2012
9:59 am

As usual the players close ranks and ignore the wrong done by their peers. Brees should have kept his mouth shut.

Who datter

April 17th, 2012
10:02 am

Drew is asking for evidence not saying it didnt exist what he is saying is that just because a coach spoke of such things it doesnt mean thae players acted upon them. Most of you only wish ill on the SAINTS because they drag the falcons every chance they get. Football is so popular because of the violence. The coach spoke really wreckless, yes but when have the SAINTS ever gotten anyone carted off? ever?

Cody P

April 17th, 2012
10:09 am

All y’all crazy NFL defensive players get paid million of dollars a year to go out and hit as hard and as much as they can. Drew Brees might be a part of the team but he’s in that position for a reason. Everyone just mad because NEW ORLEANS is on the map and we go out there and BUSS HEADS on Sunday’s, get over it people Drew Brees is the top dog and he’s lookin out for his team!!!

Hillbilly D

April 17th, 2012
10:12 am

My Grandpa used to tell me to never miss a chance to keep my mouth shut. That’d be good advice for Drew about now, I think.

jarvis

April 17th, 2012
10:13 am

Haha….Cody is either funny or he’s funny.
Is he pretending to be an ignorant Saints fan or is he an ignorant Sains fan? Either way he gave me a chuckle.

dbird1

April 17th, 2012
10:19 am

heads up saints fans. only 364 more days till you have a head coach again.

Carlos

April 17th, 2012
10:26 am

Totally agree. I used to think Brees was a class act and upstanding guy (maybe), but two questionable things stand in the way. Great article, btw. How can the leader of the team not know. Hmmm, everyone that has been punished has confirmed the existence so this makes Brees look very stupid. Two, the running up of scores for records totally validates this classless organization. I always stated, especially in their “Super Bowl” year that the Saints were playing dirty. Brees, be a true leader, admit to mistakes, and move on. If they refuse to own up, I hope the Commish slams them harder.

MaxxFalcon

April 17th, 2012
10:27 am

Well said! And I think you’re taking it easy on him here. Somebody in the media needs to call him out, I mean the audacity of this guy is unbelievable. Why has nobody put his feet to the fire!?!

Big Crimson 75

April 17th, 2012
10:31 am

Drew Brees is a paper QB — always has been.
Just ask UGA.
The Bounties won the SB b/c of their Coach – then D then – Brees.

splendid splinter

April 17th, 2012
10:40 am

Marquis Willingham got it right – Brees showed his class when he ran up the score on the Falcons. And I agree with Echo. There had to be some motivation for these comments. It usually can be tied to money. Brees is after the big paycheck. While I can’t blame him for that, one does have to get up and look at oneself in the mirror every morning. I guess Brees doesn’t look too closely.

V Chip

April 17th, 2012
10:41 am

Shultz, you’re better than that (marginally, but still…).

Brees is referring to a pay-for-injury system. The NFLPA has received no proof of such a system. There is proof for a pay-for-performance system, but not pay-for-injury which is being reported. There might actually BE proof, but the NFLPA has not received it.

The fool is the journalist who cannot comprehend the simplest sentences.

Motocross Survivor

April 17th, 2012
11:06 am

Baylen’s daddy is being bad! I’m still stuck on little Baylen though.

Samuel L. Jackson

April 17th, 2012
11:14 am

Big Crimson 75,

A paper QB? C’MOOOOOON MAN!!! Think what you want of the Saints and Brees on a personal level or about their “character” as you perceive it, but saying Brees is a paper QB is a joke. He isn’t playing with Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, or Jerry Rice on his squad. He has lead the NFL in passing yards since 06 playing largely with journeymen talent/undrafted FA’s @ WR. Even Colston (the Saints most consistent receiver) was a 7th round pick. The only stellar athletic talent on the Saints receiving squad is Jimmy Graham and last year was his first year seeing significant playing time. I would argue that no one has done MORE as a QB with less talent

HOLY COW

April 17th, 2012
11:20 am

So quick to pile on aren’t y’all.
I don’t think Brees knew anything. I say this because anytime you saw him pre-game he was next to Payton talking about plays. Post game he was watching tape. Do you really think he had time to be involved with what the defense was doing? Brees is as good as he is because he submerses himself in HIS job not worrying about the other players are doing….that is the coaches job! As far as asking for proof….he is talking as the spokesman for the NFLPA. Why is he doing that? Cause he is on it and all the media wants to talk to him of course!
Yes there is a conflict of interest. I fully agree and that is why people like Jeff Schultz can make a statement like this. If they interviewed someone not on the Saints from the NFLPA and they said, they are looking for proof of what happened and who was involved. Then people would ask about the proof not the player making the statement. If the NFL has proof of which players were involved and how much they were involved then it will come out.
Until then stop whining about guys making side bets about a game where the ultimate goal of the defense is to get the ball away from the other team by pretty much any means necessary. If the guy gets hurt they stop the game SOME of the players feel bad, but as soon as the hurt man is off the field they go right back at it as hard as they did before if not harder to get revenge or make up for the guy they lost.
If you can’t understand bounties I guess you never made a side bet on anything…..

Phlegm Lattimore

April 17th, 2012
11:27 am

Brees’ behavior was learned from a US President. It is now rampant and accepted behavior. Our society is poorer for it.

JP

April 17th, 2012
11:36 am

yes because the NFL never lies….please. show me someone getting injured..and a note from a doctor.

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……

[...] 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.

Charles Buzbee

April 17th, 2012
2:33 pm

Sit behind your little desk and make your stupid comments about Drew Brees. So you make up a dumb story about an upstanding individual. You are the fool. ACJ pays you to write NOTHING! Prove that Brees knew about it, prove that Brees was involved then you have a story all you are writing is your opinion and you know what they say about opinions everyone has one.

JasonS

April 17th, 2012
2:34 pm

Oddly enough the proof is in the pudding: there were no injuries, thus no payments.
They should be punished for trying to have a bounty system. A bounty system that doesn’t work is not a true bounty system.
This is all very foolish. It is also the epitome of posturing and yellow journalism.

RLV

April 17th, 2012
2:35 pm

How exactly is Brees refusing to “acknowledge the New Orleans Saints had any bounty system” just because he said that the NFL has yet to provide him with the evidence allegedly held by the NFL? All of the “evidence” you listed above is contained in the NFL report itself or the testimony of an ostracized coach, not the documentation that the NFL has said it has but refuses to make available. If anything, Brees’ position is consistent (and not in conflict) with that of a player representative; how on earth could he be expected to represent the players effectively if he is not allowed to review the documents that allegedly evidence their guilt? If this situation were reversed and he immediately rushed to judgment against the players solely on the basis of an NFL report without reviewing the background materials on which that report were based, you would likely be ranting for him to be ousted as an ineffective representative, and justifiably so. Any attorney who did what you are asking Brees to do in terms of simply accepting the claims of the prosecution without independently reviewing the evidence on behalf of his client would be disbarred. If you have nothing better to write than this, then please refrain from writing anything at all. This article did nothing to convince me that Drew Brees is a fool, sir; it only served to prove that YOU are.

10 of 12

April 17th, 2012
2:39 pm

JasonS- You idiot savant! Conspiracy to commit a crime is also a crime.

10 of 12

April 17th, 2012
2:49 pm

Drew Brees is a complete fool because he is stupid enough to believe that he’s denial of the existence of proof will somehow mitigate the offense. Roger Goodell has provided proof to the owner of Drew Brees (Benson) and his boss Sean Payton. If Drew Brees does not have proof who cares since he does not have to be provided with anything but a contract to throw footballs. He needs to understand his place in all of this and sit down somewhere and prepare for getting knocked down during the season. LOL Last week Brees said Sean Payton had not provided him with an explanation of what happened now Roger Goodell owes him one. What an idiot! No one owes you anything but a contract to play, get that done and show up to lead your team and let these matters be handled by those in a position to do so.

Jeff "I KNOW NOTHING" Schultz

April 17th, 2012
2:52 pm

10 of 12 We all know you came from your momma and daddy and I for one have no problem with inbreeding. You turned out just fine!

Saints All Day

April 17th, 2012
3:06 pm

This is crap, Yes Brees and the PA is looking for evidence for bounty with the saints. Just because Greg Williams admitted to doing it does that make it that everyone is doing? NOT. Okay every Falcon fan is a Drug user. I said it so I guess there will be a lot of free jobs in Atlanta next week right. Bret Farve, Warner, Ya’ll player WR White said they didnt feel bountied. So many retired players have admitted to this. Falcon fans Really Drew Brees Classless because ya’ll team couldn’t stop a TD from happening. Sit Down. I bet a whole year of pay that Drew want go to a Playoff Game and don’t score a point. Don’t do to others that you don’t want done to you. I have witness Falcons running up the score. We will take this fall because we are strong. Get facts, which nobody has, you can believe eveything Goodell says, he knew 3 years ago but open his mouth now. So why believe someone who is covering his on.

10 of 12

April 17th, 2012
3:07 pm

Jeff “I KNOW NOTHING” Schultz-The funny thing here is..I just came from your moms and everything definitely turned out fine. :) Boy you spell like a wild monkey! Curious George can spell mama boy.

10 of 12

April 17th, 2012
3:21 pm

Some are you buffoons just don’t get it. LMAO!!! The verdict is already in. The judge has spoken. Wow some of you so-called Saints fans really don’t do the city of New Orleans any favors at all by showing up to a blog site and not being able to communicate on a level with humans. I feel like I need a translator for some of this . LMAO!!!

Kevin

April 17th, 2012
3:23 pm

@ Saints all Day…… Learn how to freaking write a comment with correct spelling and maybe some one will pay attention. That must be that N.O education well at work. What a clown!!!!

DawgNole

April 17th, 2012
3:24 pm

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!
____________________

Sadly, his efforts DO work–on the Saints fans.

Whats Important

April 17th, 2012
3:24 pm

Jeff, amen, testify. There is no way Drew Brees should be in this process. That is like a Defendant sitting on his own jury. It makes Brees and the players union look not only foolish, but also that they are not acting in good faith. I don’t believe you need a smoking gun when someone has confessed to pulling the trigger.

fedup

April 17th, 2012
3:24 pm

While I think the Saint’s bounty scheme was terrible, I do not believe that Brees was denying the existence of the program. I read the article that contains the quote at NFL.com, and Brees was specifically asked if the bounty program was discussed at yesterday’s meeting and he answered accordingly. He was not denying the scandal – he was just commenting on what little was discussed at that meeting yesterday. The president of NFLPA confirmed that yesterday’s meeting was not meant to be about the bounty scandal but that it was touched on a bit. If Brees was asked directly if he believed that the bounty scandal happened and he denied it, then he does look like a fool. But that is not what happened yesterday, and I feel it is unfair to suggest that Brees denied the existence of the bounty scheme.

That being said, he should recuse himself from any voting or role in deciding what happens to the Saints players involved.

savannahga321

April 17th, 2012
3:34 pm

I don’t think he looks like a fool. Every one of your points started with “according to the NFL”. All the NFLPA wants is to see the evidence. This is still America, last I checked, and while due process might not apply to Sean Payton, it still applies to the players via the NFLPA. Asking for the facts and evidence isn’t foolish, it’s smart.

Donnie B22

April 17th, 2012
3:36 pm

Hey Jason all of them that would be on welfare attended college and hopefully went to classes, so they can learn how to spell Obama, and not degrade the office of President, Did you mispell President Reagan’s name, Oh thats right you cant spell. Drew Brees is following the true spirit of denial in America, that people all over the country attend too. We should hope that this system is over and pray that no one else faces injury like that.

Saints from Humble

April 17th, 2012
3:42 pm

Jeff,

Expected more from an ignorant Falcon fan. What he is saying is that the players union did not receive any concrete evidence from the players perspective. We already know at the organizational level that a program did exist implemented by Williams. Now the the NFL has the burden of proof of proving the players went along and were involved. Brees is a class act for our city and the NFL. It is true he is in a tough position and quite frankly I wish he was not in this position. However I give him kudos for willing to take on this position for leadership of our team.. Call him a fool if you want, but the bigger fools are the falcons until they master the art of beating the Saints. Hmmm if I am correct I think we run the last 6 out of 8 or something like that and the last two in the Georgia Dome.

10 of 12

April 17th, 2012
3:45 pm

Just as the Failclowns team wants the notariety of the Saints and the winning orginization they have , there seems to be a Failclown fan out there who wants to me by posting under my name . Just as your team is a bunch of schmucks , so are you and just as your team has no imagination , niether do you . Try to put your APS brain to some use and come up with your own name . What a pitiful and sad life you have wanting to be someone other than yourself . Don’t you think Jeff has your e-mail and knows it’s not me making remarks at him? Obviously you don’t which further cements my point in calling you a schmuck.

Big Mo from N.O.

April 17th, 2012
3:47 pm

Until The Falcons win anything,may I introduce you to shuuta(stfu). Who Dat 4 life

JAS4802

April 17th, 2012
3:47 pm

Schultz is way off base. This is another case of a punk writer who’s never played the game trying to impose his “sports knowledge” on someone. The truth is, this stuff goes on everywhere. Williams has done it at every team he’s coached. And the truth is, the bounty was never about maliciously going out there and trying to injure an opposing player. This was a motivational tool for this defense and a way for the coaches to identify certain individuals they wanted to focus on. It goes on at every level of football….even Pee Wee. If a kids hits an opposing player – LEGALLY – and that kid gets hurt or taken out of the game he gets a sticker for his helmet afterwards. Its no different. These are grown men out there ramming into each othe with the force of a car crash 30-40 times a game. Violence is a an embedded into the fabric of this sport. It lies at the very core of numerous positions on the field, including the offensive line. To say you are shocked about any of this is to say that you are full of bull or a niave, Madden game playing, fantasy football, jock sniffer who wouldnt know a safety blitz from a safety pin. That goes for you to Schultz.

Jalanbisma

April 17th, 2012
3:52 pm

For all of you Brees bashers regarding his comments of proof, if you paid attention and listened to what he said instead of pulling the Fox Network trick of soundbites, you would understand what he and all Saints fans want to see: video proof that showed Saints players illegally hitting players that were not called at the time or fined after the NFL viewed game tape. If the league was so certain they were trying to intentially hurt the opposing players, why didn’t the league suspend any Saint player in the past 3 years? Harrison of the Steelers and Suh of the Lions are two high profile players that actually put guys out of the game with OBVIOUS cheap shots, and the paid the price.

Look, there is no denying (and Greg Williams admits it) that he was running a “bounty” program. It just doesn’t seem that they (the Saints defenders) took all of his rantings literally. Either that or they are just horrible football players (and that is very likely the case) who can’t tackle or don’t want to tackle because they (like most players these days) are so intent and focused on making the “big hit”, jump up and down like it is the greatest thing ever, make Sportscenter highlights and be famous (or infamous).

nfl fan

April 17th, 2012
3:54 pm

the saints did wrong and they have been punished for it. But don’t call the city names and say cruel things about all things new orleans. if this would have happened to your team you would try to defend them. some of the things being said about drew are just dirty. he is in a bad position. unless anyone really knows him can you say what kind of person he really is?
it is just strange saints were the only ones caught when practically everyone says there are bounty systems all over nfl. another strange thing why did tape come out very day of saint’s appeals?

Boo Hoo

April 17th, 2012
4:03 pm

Umm Jeff, Brees doesn’t have to admit anything…he’s not there to make you happy Mr. GODell koolaid drinker. Just because the NFL says all of the things you listed it’s true right? Why won’t the NFL present their proof to the NFLPA? Good try on the article anyway…it’s written like a true FalCANT.

JJ

April 17th, 2012
4:09 pm

Just a bunch of Saints hating Falcon fans on this board. Well I got news for you, Saints sweep Atlanta this year again without Payton and the defensive players that will get suspended. The Falcons are just that bad.

MattyIceNotProBowlMaterial

April 17th, 2012
4:15 pm

Ok. Coming from a Colts fan, can’t really fault Brees for sticking up for his team and wanting evidence (with the exception for Vilma and Harper). True, he is in a bias position due to his position in the NFLPA true, but I think he is in NY more for his team’s sake than the NFLPA. I mean as a team captain he kinda has to support his team through thick and thin. Even if it means costing him a bit of his rep. Also, I think he may be in NY to try to prevent Goodell from going off the wire with suspensions. (Vilma, Harper, and Jenkins definately) There is little to no evidence to support severe punishment for the rest of the current D. If the rest does get severe punishment, I think Drew just wants to see that evidence. If anybody disagrees that’s cool, but its not like everybody thinks that Goodell if 100% trustworthy with judgment. Hell I mean Suh and Harrison repeat MAJOR INFRACTIONS and only get a MAX 2 game suspension. Come on, Really?

Turbo

April 17th, 2012
4:15 pm

Hey Jeff, when the union exposes the snitch as a disgruntled former employee who likely forged a majority of the documents he turned into the league, and that punishments were dished out based on said documents, are you and the rest of the uninformed sports journalists of the world going to apologize for not doing your job? and by job, i mean doing some kind of reporting that isn’t cut and paste from ESPN dot com and/or shock jock dribble pieces? thx bud!

MattyIceNotProBowlMaterial

April 17th, 2012
4:17 pm

BTW I think series goes 1 and 1 between ATL and NO.

jsmitty

April 17th, 2012
4:18 pm

Schultz you are naive or dumb or more likely both. He can not admit in public any knowledge because of law suits. Especially because of his connection to the NFLPA. From when I was a 10 year old football player through high school, we were taught to “take out” opposing players, through getting in their head to make misstakes or physically hurting them so they can play well or at all. The idea that every team is not doing this in some way is naive

elaborde

April 17th, 2012
4:20 pm

keep talking Atlanta fans, watch the who dat walk. you’ll be singing a different song this fall

Turbo

April 17th, 2012
4:25 pm

PEOPLE,

he wants the league to produce evidence because most of it was handed to them by former defensive quality control coach Mike Cerullo. Cerullo lost his job and blames Loomis/Payton for sabotaging his chances at getting more work in the league. the kicker? he was a defensive coach for the saints in 2009, one of the years in question. Not only is he a guilty party, but he’s also a former employee w/ a wild conspiracy and a vendetta. most of the evidence he turned over probably has forgery written all over it. Brees wants the league to hand over this information for the obvious reasons stated above.

Louie Arceneaux

April 17th, 2012
4:25 pm

Saints fans are not denying Williams said what he said and others said what they said. What Brees is saying is that there is no evidence that any of the talk turned into action on the field. Just check out the fact that no players were carted off and the Saints received no more penalties for defensive hits than any other teams.

WhoDatKell

April 17th, 2012
4:35 pm

With all the players names in the bounty, I see Matt Ryan wasn’t included. They probably collected the bounty money for those games and donated it to charity. Since the Brees/Payton era, we have owned you sorry Falcons. We have the better team, better team, and better fans. That’s evident in Curtis Lofton (your leading tackler) saying he wanted to play for a winner and a passionate fan base. That, in itself, says a lot about your team and the fans. The Saints defense is so scared of that Atlanta offense after that 2 point offensive explosion in the playoffs this past season (Sarcastic cough). We own you and no one can deny that. Now excuse me, I have a meeting to attend. I’ll have to put my phone on “Atlanta Falcon” mode…….NO RING.

Michael Smith

April 17th, 2012
4:36 pm

I am really surprised at the IQ level and journalism of these sports writers including Mr. Shoes or schultz.

Questions to you :

1. Have NFL made all these so called evidence public ?
2. If yes, have you read all the reports ?
3. If not, how do you know all words coming out of commish is true ?
4. How many players have been carted-off the field in 3 years?
5. Do saints lead in league penalties in last 3 years ?
6. How do you prove that a hit was malicious and the intent was to intentionally hurt the players?
7. What are the details of financial transactions for the bounty ?
8. Is there any video or audio evidence of Vilma funding that 1OK or other what NFL has been blabbering about ?
9. How many of those hits were illegal ?
10. How many were flagged ?
11. Why did NFL wait for 3 years to punish saints if they were so concerned about players safety ?

Lets think logically here…in court, you need to provide evidence to defense attorney and grand jury to prove somebody guilty. In this case, how do you punish somebody without providing sufficient evidence ? How do you as a journalist believe somebody so easily ? SP and GW confessed as they do not have any other go. They cannot afford to fight a legal battle here with the league. So what would you do ? accept, take a punishment and move on.

Trailboss

April 17th, 2012
4:38 pm

I’m just glad our team is not involved in this and as far as to Bree’s being a leader he should step down if nothing else he’s not fair so how could he judge another team when he can’t judge his own fairly. For that reason he should step down and get pass this but not without Bree’s doing the right thing. STEP DOWN.

Patrick

April 17th, 2012
4:40 pm

You are taking his comments out of context. He said: He knows of no instance where it can be proven that players participated in the bounty. He didn’t deny the system, or the bounties, he denied there being any proof of any player accepting money for injuries inflicted. Right or wrong morally, if Goodell suspends players based on their coach telling them to hurt people, and those players not doing it, he opens the floodgates.

jjf

April 17th, 2012
4:41 pm

You can’t seem to discern fact from fiction. Schultz seems to pick certain parts of Drew Brees’ statement in order to have a story. Drew Brees isn’t denying that a bounty system was instituted by GW. He is merely stating there is not evidence that the PLAYERS acted on it. By the way; the 49ers game that the GW audio came from….Saints had no penalties the entire game.

Brees is a BUM

April 17th, 2012
4:57 pm

Drew Brees is a self-centered, selfish, son of a (oops can’t say it like I want to) who is more worried about his stats than his own team. Case in point. A few years ago,last games of season. Aint’s playing Panthers. Until this point the team that finished last in the division went on the next year to win the division. Last play of game, I think inside the Panther’s 50 yard line. A td pass wins the game. Knowing he needed X number of yards to set a record that piece of garbage threw a short pass across the middle instead of going in the end zone to win the game. This cost the Falcon’s the division title and a first round bye !!

someone

April 17th, 2012
5:04 pm

i think Jeff is foolish for believing that Drew and the rest of the Saints have a bounty system in place. sure everyone heard of the recordings of Greg W hyping his team to play and to take someone out of the game, but if anyone really watched the games against the 49ers last year, there are no evidence of the players targeting a specific player and a particular body part of anyone. the reason i pointed out this game is because this audio was made right before the 49ers playoff game. so sad that many journalist will say or do anything with pure speculation for the sake of money and promotion… now let me here all of you thrash me for this…lol

TrueBeliever

April 17th, 2012
5:09 pm

You all make it so easy for the media to sway your opinions! Drew Brees is not denying that a pay for performance took place. As in interceptions, sacks, fumble recoveries etc. Other teams and players have admitted to such as well. What he is saying is that regardless of what knuckle head Greg Williams was spewing out of his mouth, no player went out and maliciously injured an opposing team’s player. Answer me this Mr. Shultz, how many players of the opposing teams were carted off the field during the time frame in question? Drew is saying that no player actually received money for injuring someone!! Yes they heard what the coach was saying, but blew it off for what it was (rhetoric) and carried out their jobs professionally. 6 other teams had more personal foul penalties than the Saints during the years in question. Have they been investigated?

KeepTheDomeLoud

April 17th, 2012
5:11 pm

Wonder why Mattie Ice not on list? HMMMM

Dene

April 17th, 2012
5:22 pm

wow, Just wow.. Do I detect a huge amount of bitterness here? Sounds like I am hearing a bunch of people that are 2-10 against the Saints for the last six years. It’s ok, your worship is duly noted.

Eric

April 17th, 2012
5:26 pm

He wont look like a fool when he plays the Falcons twice this upcoming season. Relax peps, it’s April. Come this fall it will be all about Football. What will it say when the Saints, without their Head Coach, come into North Georgia and beat the Falcons once again? What will be the excuse when the Saints claim the NFC South? Think about it and we will talk about the results the Monday or Tuesday after the game. Utnil next time, peace…….:-)

whodat70816

April 17th, 2012
5:27 pm

Jealousy makes people say crazy things….
Especially FailClown fans and bloggers!

Not acknowledging there was a bounty program may in the opinon of Schwatz make Brees look foolish….

But Ryan not being able to pass a ball more than 20 yards makes Noodle arm look just as foolish….

Not being able to convert 4th inches several times makes Smith and the entire falcons offense look foolish….

Scoring 2 points in a playoff game….looks foolish.

And getting swept this upcoming season by a team whose head coach is out for the season….

Well, lets just say will make the entire FailClowns organization and fan base look foolish.

laura Burch

April 17th, 2012
5:27 pm

Drew Brees is The best qb in the Nfl,HANDS DOWN.To all the “haters”You just show your ignorance, as for Atlanta ..Ha Ha, If I were you, I’d hate us to.

bjon

April 17th, 2012
5:28 pm

saints are going to have it tough this season, no doubt. thank goodness they can count on the 2 wins against the falcons. hopefully both of those games fall in the first 6 weeks when they are coach-less so they can count on the wins…

Parade of Knuckleheads

April 17th, 2012
5:37 pm

The sAints
need to pull out the paper grocery bags again.

Parade of Knuckleheads

April 17th, 2012
5:41 pm

New Orleans is the armpit of the south.

Joe Martina

April 17th, 2012
5:46 pm

Brees has never denied that there was a pay for performance program. He is looking for proof that there was ever a program that was directed at intentionally injuring players. Many current and ex NFL players have admitted that the Greg Williams speech was standard fare in locker rooms, aimed at motivating players, not injuring opponants. What he is getting at is if a player has had a concussion or an ACL tear or a sprain or any injury, is that player fully recovered, or will he not be at full capacity after a few hard hits. Would a boxer not try to knock the stuffing out of his foe? The next thing we know, the commissioner will have the players’ moms standing on the sidelines with washrags and band-aids. The Saints were nothing more than scapegoats in the commissioner’s quest to turn the NFL into a Powder Puff league.

Falcon James

April 17th, 2012
6:47 pm

It crack me up that all these looser saint fan want to come to brees rescue. Although Brees is a so so QB. These idiotic saint fan be living in disney land trying to defend him. Jeff article hit the nail square on the head. Brees not fooling nobody except his miserble fan base.

Mumaniac

April 17th, 2012
6:52 pm

You do realize this is the unions stance, and not just Drew Brees dont you ? It is the NFLPA itself who has taken the stance that the NFL has not provided it evidence that a pay for injury system existed in New Orleans. Dont let your hatred for the Saints confuse the facts. Goodell himself asked the NFLPA to be involved in helping come up with a punishment for the players involved assuming they would just take his word on the evidence. I have 100% confidence in the NFLPA being neutral in this situation as it involves players on both sides of the bounty gate situation, those allegedly targeted, and those who did the alleged targeting. If they say they have not received evidence that proves this went on, I believe them 100%, and it really brings a lot of questions on the whole situation.

SaintsWillWin

April 17th, 2012
6:56 pm

Why didn’t you mention that the Saints had ZERO (0) penaltys in the 40-whiner game you mentioned?

If Goodell was really concerned about player safety, why did he let the Saints continue for THREE years before stopping them?

The only players that were knocked out of games played against the Saints during the period in question was PatriCheats RB Faulk in ‘09 when the Saints destroyed them on MNF; a perfectly legal hit, and the hit on Kurt Warner in the ‘09 playoffs, another perfectly legal hit.

Goodell is trying to head off a wave of lawsuits coming his way by showing that he is doing something.

Doyle Hargraves JR

April 17th, 2012
7:07 pm

Arthur Blank has a bounty program. Yall think that Bobby Latrino dropped that bike because the wind (or that girl) blew him off, or the sun blinded him? THAT AINT TRUE! It was one of Arthur’s attack deers. They were stalking him for years and finally caught up to him. He keeps them in a stable near Flowery Brunch and Dirk Kutter is training them now. Go back and look at what happened to Ron Coleman, Vick and Jimmy Williams. If the Falcons end up on Hard Knocks I am going to contact the producers and tell the world the truth about this.

Doyle Hargraves JR

April 17th, 2012
7:09 pm

FIRST on page 4! LLYFF

Who Dat

April 17th, 2012
7:23 pm

hahahahahahah this article is pathetic. Hey Jeff, how bout you write on how pathetic the Failcons are. They will never amount to anything. Try to stack their team and still can’t win a playoff game. Then the next offseason they get nobody. Just face it, your team is worthless.

James McNeill

April 17th, 2012
7:51 pm

The article proves that Brees is much smarter than the author of the article. The Saints players have allegedly (not been proven) to have participated in a so-called “bounty system”. The Saints management has been disciplined. At this point, Brees is representing the accused players as an NFLPA representative. Why in the world would ANY union representative (with the Saints or not) say anything prejudicial against the players to the press?

According to Schultz, all Brees said was ““We didn’t get any meaningful evidence, or any meaningful truth or facts,”. He did not say anyting about the bounty system, nor should he. The players must be proven to have participated and ,apparently, the NFL failed to provide meaningful.

The real question is whether the players participated in a bounty system willingly. A transcript of the tape reveals a coach that is basing their employment on “production”. In the same breath, he refers to player injuries. So the question will be whether the players were coerced to participate. Legally, it is questionable whether a player can be suspended if coercion involved in the alleged misconduct. I believe that the NFL is thinking twice about suspending players in a situation that team (Saints) clearly had institutionalized and could easily have coerced participation.

I believe the penalties will be, after appeal, limited to fines unless the NFL can produce the “evidence” that Brees has correctly pointed out as lacking.

Jeanette Acker

April 17th, 2012
8:35 pm

I am losing respect for Drew Brees!! Why doesn’t he come clean?

Falcon James

April 17th, 2012
9:22 pm

LMAO.>>> all saint fan are pathetic. Next we going to see the saint fan proclaiming Patrino was innocent. Caint wait to see those post!

SCFalcon

April 17th, 2012
9:45 pm

Is there any call for an investigation into NFL officiating? How did the Saints get away with these vicious hits with so few penalities. I fully support the sanctions against the Saints, but if the NFL wants to clean the slate look at their own employees too!

Alexander

April 17th, 2012
10:26 pm

Why are so many people ignoring the fact that so many other players (many former players under Greg Williams on different teams), say that this is common in NFL locker rooms. That there is always a pool for big plays, big hits, etc. A hit that “knocks Brett Favre out of the game”, could have been a search for a perfectly legal hard hit. That’s not a bounty, that’s “pay for performance”. Which is definitely against league rule, no matter how common players around the league admit that it is. But just because a rogue coach on his way out of town makes a horrible and unsportsmanlike speech before a game, is no reason to label the entire organization as thugs. Is it because some people in the organization lied to the league? If so, where was this uproar when Bill Belichick was caught lying? And the Saints must have been very bad at this supposed multi-year pay for injuries gig, because I’ve never once heard of a single injured player who has been a victim.

scfalcon

April 17th, 2012
10:34 pm

Brees says he did not know yet he was in meetings and hotels and on buses and planes with these guys. To think Vilma and others did not kid around about this out loud in a team setting is a farce. Anyone who played team sports knwos the first group you want say it to afer you knock out someone like Favre is your teammates and even more to your star quaterback on an offense focused team. Roddy White will tell you when he gets a new shirt so who thinks these guys dont talk about everything? Also, does Brees have earplugs in when Williams and Payton are yellling it in the locker room?

Nola Cola

April 17th, 2012
10:34 pm

Let me clear about THIS : Atlanta Falcons fans (and we’ll include the Georgia Bulldogs, for good measure) are JEALOUS of the Saints (and LSU) ; it burns your a** up that your arch-rivals from NOLA and Baton Rouge are consistently winning CHAMPIONSHIPS , while your garbage teams continue to SUCK (2 POINTS in a playoff game —- how impressive ; and we won’t even talk about the SEC Championship Game, where you got spanked in your own stadium)……………… Quit hating, because you make yourselves look even more RIDICULOUS than you already have !!!!!

Nola Nate

April 17th, 2012
10:47 pm

Atlanta, Georgia …… a city and a fan base still in denial of the bitter reality that they SUCK ; based on that incredible 2 point performance by the Falcons in the playoffs, coupled with the Georgia Bulldogs getting SPANKED in the Sec Championship game in their OWN stadium ; I would imagine you shouldn’t be saying ANYTHING to the fans of New Orleans or Louisiana —— at least until you stop CHOKING when it matters the most !!!!!

otownsaint

April 17th, 2012
10:50 pm

Why would any Saints fan back Petrino you idiot? Your statement makes no since whatsoever! You Saints haters are the pathetic ones! For any of you to call Brees stupid or nieve amongst other name calling are just ridiculous and so obviously biased! Brees or anyone for that matter would be foolish to not question the so called evidence that the dictator Goodell claims to have. So I guess everyone should just take his word for it and by the way Greg Williams speech does not prove anything and what were the players supposed to do when they are employees and your boss is giving you a speech? Use some common sense if you have any. Fact is you can claim you all know all these facts about the “bounty scandall” when you actually don’t because the players union hasn’t even been presented with anything of any concrete proof. So stop acting as though you do and you also are just speculating when you say Brees has to know about all of this. None of us know. That is the truth! IMO the commish has gone completely out of control and has overstepped his bounds by far. You have to keep something in mind this guy is playing with a lot of people who have power, money and the means to bring him down if he isn’t careful. He should be looking over his shoulder if he knows what’s good for him. I can’t wait til he com es to New Orleans for the Superbowl…. He will be in for a big surprise! We are very passionate about our Saints and he will find out that we are like no other fan he’s seen. The restrictions he has put on Peyton are just ridiculous! Can’t talk to anyone on any team is absurd to say the least! He wants to have a reason to not reinstate him next year…what an ass! Can’t stand him and he should realize no one and I mean no one is untouchable! He’s walking around with his chest puffed out right now like his sh*t don’t stink! It’s also a conflict of interest when you work for 32 different entities that can benefit from crippling the Saints organization….that will IMO lead to a lawsuit at some point. Falcon owner told Goodell that he did the right thing….what a surprise! Saints have beat them 10 out of the last 12 games since 2006 when Peyton arrived….can’t put together a good enough team to beat Saints so stick it to them to give us an advantage. and they’re not the only one’s I can assure you! This whole thing stinks! Don’t forget haters our offense is second to none. Our defense hasn’t been all that good in years! So don’t get your hopes up for 2012 season! Oh and by they way the author of this article is an idiot! Stupid article!

otownsaint

April 17th, 2012
10:55 pm

otownsaint

April 17th, 2012
11:09 pm

Jeff Why wouldn’t you publish my comment? You’re too stupid too counter I guess? You suck!

ls1z28chris

April 17th, 2012
11:37 pm

Trololololol, Shultz. You write an article talking about why Brees should be embarrassed, yet aren’t you the guy who penned a story about the Falcons being Super Bowl contenders after they trounced the Colts last year? We all know how that turned out…

Tom Burris

April 18th, 2012
12:30 am

Enter your comments here

Tom Burris

April 18th, 2012
12:32 am

and you Mr. Schultz are a complete douche bag, along with all you POS dirty bird fans. Ya’ll just jealous with your no tallent havin, choke artist team! If you wanna call them boys a team!

Bill

April 18th, 2012
12:37 am

Jeff, you have proven that you have zero credibility and aren’t qualified to have a column much less write on important matters. Drew Bree’s is doing exactly what a player representative should do. He is asking to see and hear official evidence that specific players participated in the so called bounty program. Is he a fool for asking for that? He would be a fool not to and the fact that you can’t understand that is incredible.

10 of 12

April 18th, 2012
1:12 am

All male Saints fans meet at my house. I’m due for a good throat stretching session. I have already drained Nate Nolan of all his man strength so who is next. Feed me Saints fans feed me. I’m so glad we Saints fans can have a blog site to meet up in for our special man on man activities. Ah yes love is being covered in Saints man sauce and fleur de lys. WhoGay???!!!

J-Dog

April 18th, 2012
1:16 am

Guys, Drew has already admitted that there was a “Pay for Performance” system in place. He is merely arguing on behalf of the NFLPA for the league to distinguish between that and a “Bounty System”. The NFL says they have the eveidence, but is not required and will not to date share this information. This is big deal that affects the Saints players that will be punished and players on all teams that run afoul of the new precedences being made. It affects all sorts of thing like the salary cap that you rarely hear mentioned. Good Ole Natty Ice mught not be able to buy his O’Lineman Rolex’s at the end of the year for “Protecting” him. While most people would just prefer to point the finger at the Saint’s, dont be so quick to mis-judge yourself and own favorite team. GW, SP, ML, JV, are under contract and do not have Coaches Union to fight the legal battles. And lets be honest, they knew about the SF pregame recording long ago. GW threw himself on his sword because he knew his best bet at Coaching in the next 2 years. the only reason the others appealed wasnt because they thought they could get leniency…it was to do all they could to have more time to get the team in order. Dont worry. Assuming we sign Brees, his un-sportsman like reputation will save a couple of 40-Burgers for ya.

J-Dog

April 18th, 2012
1:19 am

you silly little dirty bird poop droppings are so pathetic that you cant read between the lines.

J-Dog

April 18th, 2012
1:22 am

would even publish my first comment that have order and logic. throw up some drivel and there it goes….right up on the net. this blog is furthering the decline of our society by allowing these……to speak. Thank you AJC.

ScooterBlack

April 18th, 2012
1:26 am

Jeff, celebrate all y’all want. The truth is Roger Goodell has too much power and he’s rolling in it like a pig in the mud! Remember that most owners did not vote for him, and it took five voting rounds to finally elect this a$$hole.

Jimmy Halston

April 18th, 2012
1:48 am

Maybe next time you write an article calling a man a fool, you should use a picture of him other than one of him giving a speech at his own celebrity golf tournament which raises money for charity. It really makes you look like a chump. Jeff Shultz = Classless

JJ1654

April 18th, 2012
2:32 am

I think Drew is just standing up for what is most probably the truth. I’m not even a Saints fan but I just dont believe this incident is a one team thing. No doubt there was a “pay for performance” progam within the defense but I honestly think Gregg Williams was a rogue coach telling players to hurt other players. I’ve listented to that audio tape several times and I never heard anyone else in the room make comments or agree with him when he mentioned certain players or injuries. The NFLPA even states they have reviewed game tape and see no deliberate video that shows any players attempting to intentionally hurt another player. I think the NFL is using the Saints as a scapegoat to set the tone throughout the league to avoid future lawsuits. They need something documented to say they acted on issues like this to cover their a$$.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 18th, 2012
4:42 am

I am sick of you Atlanta fans still crying about DB running up the score on that game. He is an awesome quarterback and y’all could only wish to have such a talented player. Get over it! The Saints will prevail and still kick some dirty bird butts!

Falcon James

April 18th, 2012
4:47 am

To even make a suggestion that the NFL suspends a GM and a head coach for season to “set the tone” is absolutely ridiculous. The NFL is a business first. There is no way in a million years they would expose themselves to that type of liabilty.

Mrs. Davis

April 18th, 2012
7:19 am

Drew made a statement and everyone’s so quick to talk mad crap! Ya’ll aren’t on the INSIDE of any of this- and Drew NEVER opens his mouth without good reason! Instead of focusing on what you DON’T like- read up on who he is as a PERSON! As for the dude who wrote this- You’re dumb! He meant PHYSICAL evidence. Not Heresay. Get over it!

Bogeyman

April 18th, 2012
7:55 am

You are misinterpreting what he said. He is saying there were no meaningful facts presented in regards to “players.” These are meetings to discuss player sanctions and there has been no specific evidence in regards to specific players.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
8:37 am

Drew Brees must have (or should have) political aspirations in La. because from those coming here to faithfully defend him without question, we now can all see how someone like Obama can be re-elected………be afraid, be very afraid.

Saints R.E.A.M.

April 18th, 2012
9:25 am

Nothing to read here. Drew is just the type of guy you want on your team. Defending them till the bitter end. Make all of the accusations you like….but if Matt Ryan squealed about something that put the team in more hot water…you would crucify him. Your sure wouldn’t pat him on the back and say now there’s a great team leader. Hypocrites, enjoy your fun with the Saints Bountygate issues…….it won’t score you any more points in a playoff game!!!

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
9:34 am

Player gets seriously hurt by another player
Player’s union, on behalf of injured player and safety concerns, demands rule changes from NFL
NFL changes rules, adds punishment for violations
Player 1 gets seriously hurt by player 2 violating rules
player 2 states i was just playing the game
NFL fines/suspends player 2
Player’s union defends player 2 against NFL fine/suspension
Player 1 sues NFL because they didn’t do enough to protect him, union supports

Wow….what a racket!

scfalcon

April 18th, 2012
9:36 am

One one hand Brees and the rest of you Saints fans say it happens on every team. On the other hand, he had no knowledge. So he knows it happens in Detroit, but not his own locker room?

scfalcon

April 18th, 2012
9:39 am

You need a bounty on your two Daddys….Marshawn Lynch and Alex Smith.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
9:47 am

scfalcon @ 9:36……saint fans will not understand that logic……you just jealous and a hater they will say…..haha

Kevin Pomet

April 18th, 2012
10:06 am

Get off your high horse and quit being such a wuss. It is violent sport and they get paid millions of dollars to put their ACLs at risk everday. Don’t tell me you can be foolish enough to believe this doesn’t go on in every locker room and in every game. Every team wants to knock the other team’s better players out of the game. It means they want to hurt them not injure them – show me evidence of an injury or a bounty to injure! Salute Brees for backing up his teammates who participated in a dumbass coach’s ’system”!

WhoDat4Eva

April 18th, 2012
10:06 am

2-10 against the Saints in the last 12 games, hahahaha. You guys are all jealous that your team sucks big time, hahahahaha.

Dan

April 18th, 2012
10:26 am

You can’t attack Drew Brees and not the rest of the player safety committee or the NFLPA, since they agree with him. Sorry dude, but this is horrible journalism.

Dawg Haus

April 18th, 2012
10:34 am

Very surprising that a guy like Brees would not face the music.

Bourbon Street dancer

April 18th, 2012
11:35 am

You are are just jealous that your QB is no where near what Brees is as an NFL QB.

This is no doubt a vendetta by Arthur Blank against the Saints with help from Rich McKay through the NFL.

10 of 12

April 18th, 2012
12:36 pm

WhoGay4eva- You are a lame retard. I hope some of your Saints fans are girls because it’s just not healthy for men to hang off a man’s sack like some of you do Brees. Let the man walk for pete sake.

Cathy

April 18th, 2012
1:16 pm

The kind of evidence Brees would like to see is the Saints players not exactly doing what Williams told them to do, no matter the pay incentive. Punish the incentive. Punish the encouragement from the coach and participation by players for engaging in talk about targeting for pay. But, who paid whom for what? Anybody really get paid? It was the formal version of what the Giants said about targeting 49ers players. But people with not a hint of irony, humility and and strong strain of hypocrisy want to pretend a long and wrong culture was invented by the Saints in the year 2009. Call Brees whatever you want, and maybe he shouldn’t be on the exec. committee, but I understand the evidence he wants. Even what you laid out here as the “clear and irrefutible” evidence, wouldn’t stand up if there were any kind of due process for the accused. People could defend themselves against the charge of lying and the blown up and careless label uniquely being placed on New Orleans for locker room hype all too common across the league. And a coach who used a pathetic idea when you couldn’t really turn them into thugs and savages for fear of fines, penalties, or their on human resistence to suddenly breaking legs, busting ACLs or head hunting in the literal sense.

Mr. Brown

April 18th, 2012
1:29 pm

The NFL has come down with the Death Penalty for the Saints.

To date, no coach in the history of the league has been suspended for even a single game. Sean Payton gets 1 year. A year!

Perfect.

I warned everyone about Goodell, a long, long time ago. So my conscience is clean.

This guy is not just not that smart, his ego is apparently the size of Montana.

It’s all about HIM, and what HE has done to improve player safety, and about how HE was “lied” to, and HIM, HIM, HIM!

I don’t know if Sean Payton and the Saints “lied” to the commish during this “investigation.” The league just implies that they did. The 10,000 page “investigation” and report on this matter, is not yet downloadable via PDF for us to make our own conclusions. And it never will.

So if YOU just want to take this league’s word on it, then go ahead.

Most writers, columnists and talking heads who cover the NFL, have done just that, applauding the penalty as “harsh” but “right.”

It’s like they are sitting with their legs crossed on the floor watching and clapping for the NFL’s little puppet show. The real story, is that the NFL is running scared – very scared – about these concussion lawsuits. So throwing the Saints under the bus is a cheap price for some litigation insurance.

Which means, I’m just rooting for the lawsuits now.

I hope this league gets it’s ASS handed to it in court, in a little Chinese takeout box.

Of course there’s a reason why many supposedly “independent” media outlets/journalists/pundits/talking heads are just mindlessly applauding the draconian penalties. It doesn’t pay to be against this league, and this commissioner, in any way…… ANY….

Not that the NFL could get a columnist fired, but if you cover the NFL, who wants doors closing and calls going un-returned just because you have staked out a hard position that makes the NFL look bad?

Luckily, a few smart people out there aren’t just buying Goodell’s punishment hook, line, and sinker.

Randy Galloway of the Ft. Worth Star-Telegram cuts to the chase….

When Goodell was finally finished, the New Orleans Saints were placed in a commissioner-induced coma for the 2012 season, and the beating was so severe recovery after even one season is certainly not guaranteed, or even expected.

Oohs and aahs were heard from a shocked yet pleased national media, and this was followed by appreciative standing O’s in print.

That’ll teach ‘em. That’ll also send the message that the NFL is no place for organized violence if it comes in the form of “bounty” incentives. Goodell stopped that stuff, huh?

The Saints, as an organization, received the toughest overall penalty in the history of the league, and the toughest in any sport since the death penalty ruling against SMU.

We can, of course, use that SMU thing as a guideline, because 25 years later, the death penalty has never been used again by the NCAA, which certainly indicates to me that any form of cheating in college football ended immediately when the ruling came down in 1987.

At least I can’t recall any cheating scandals in college football, can you?

Based on Goodell’s explanation, he said he was lied to by the Saints when the “bounty” investigation first began, and that his original order to end the bounties was ignored for two years.For that — the lying, and ignoring orders — Goodell obviously blamed Payton more than anyone else in the Saints’ organization.

Again, we’ve only heard Goodell’s side of the “lying” story, and because he’s the NFL version of judge, jury and also the appellate court (appeals are accepted by the NFL, but Goodell hears the appeal of his own rulings) is it wise for anyone found guilty to speak up in protest?

REACT: Thank you, Randy. THANK YOU. That’s EXACTLY it. For numbnuts who say “well, Payton hasn’t disputed any of this….” just think about it. IT DOES YOU NO GOOD! Not only do you have to re-try your case in front of the same guy who just bashed your head in, it makes you look feeble and dishonest trying to explain just YOUR side of the story, when the NFL is withholding some 10,000 pages of information that might actually make your side of the dispute look a whole lot better.

And of course, the worst, most nauseating part of the whole story, is the “player safety” issue. My sweet ass it is. Dave M. in Ohio properly dissects that one…..

This Sean Peyton thing cracks me up. I’m actually fine with the severity of the penalties.

What do I care?

But it’s funny how the “narrative” quickly becomes distorted. For every Jaworski or Platscke who says…”I applaud the move..it’s all about player safety” I just want to rip my hair out.

No.It.Isn’t.
If you were really concerned about player safety you’d drop that 18 game nonsense and mandate the newer/safer helmets for all players. You’d mandate mouthguards (the real kind proven to reduce concussions) and you’d fit the helmets properly so they can’t be removed like baseball caps. I know I sound like I’m channeling Easterbrook here and that troubles even me. But that’s the truth. Safest equipment available and less overall contact by way of fewer games.

That’s step #1.

Now onto his real motives and the illogic of the ESPN argument…Follow me on my logic train for a moment. The NFL new about this Saints stuff at least a couple years back. Their investigation fizzled without corroboration and all parties were warned to knock it off. Am I right? Peyton, Loomis, Benson? All warned to stop this a couple of years ago. But they were warned privately so as not to give the league a black eye on the issue. If you care about player safety then you do something at THAT point in time. Not now.

Now?

These penalties are as much, if not more, about having lied to the league, ignored the league, embarrassed the league. Ignoring the issue…failing to punish it THEN automatically negates the player safety cover for this. This is the parental equivalent of overlooking shoplifting of your tween and then sentencing them to 15 years in the pen when you find them still doing it years later.

And again if this is all for PR?, fine. Who cares? But just say so then is my take. You want perjury type penalties in place? Fine? Put in place automatic year-long suspension “lying to commissioner during investigation” penalties if you want to. What I can’t stand is the lack of consistency and feeling that the NFL deals with each new scandal from the seat of their pants. And it all comes back to Playmakers. They can’t acknowledge the craziness that happens on their watch, let alone PLAN for the inevitable consequences.

The NFL needs a starting point of penalties (with a range), a fairer appeals process, and to get their arms around what might happen next. How can these guys appear to get caught flat footed by every little thing?

REACT: Great points here about how the NFL’s FIRST instincts, were to keep the warnings ultra-PRIVATE, so as to avoid embarrassment. In other words, player safety was the LAST thing on their mind. Keeping a shiny gloss to the image of the mighty “Shield” was, however, the FIRST thing on their mind.

Also, the equipment issue is a huge one. The league’s crackdown on “illegal” hits is admirable – in theory – but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. And it’s the piece that costs the league the LEAST amount of money. In fact, it MAKES them money! Fine the players! There, that was easy! Not pushing for 18 games would COST money. Playing just two pre-season games would COST money. Purchasing and mandating new high-tech helmets would COST money. The league has very little interest in any of this.

Player safety. Pffftt. Get outta here with that.

The “net-net” of all of this, is that the league as we once knew it, is gone for good. It was once a legitimate sports league, operated by a central authority that knew the limits of its legal and ethical boundaries. There were rules and they were known and agreed upon. The Commissioner’s power was not as over-arching and limitless as it now, obviously is.

The league existed to make money before, of course, but now it’s lust for more and more profit, and less risk at any cost for its member teams is beyond insatiable.

The league is also in the greatest peril for lanscape re-shaping legal verdicts on multiple fronts that it has been for many years. Let me summarize them.

Player Lawsuits vs. NFL on concussions (actual and numerous)

Cowboys/Redskins Lawsuit on Salary Cap Penalty (possible)

Collusion Lawsuit by NFLPA (possible)

Blacklisting Lawsuit by Gregg Williams (possible)

And these are just a few of the legal storms currently on the extended radar. What we still can’t account for, is the “unknown unknowns” as they say in military terms.

In other words: “The shit we haven’t even seen coming yet.”

I will still watch NFL football, because the GAME is awesome. Fast, hard hitting, unpredictable. It’s a spectacle. And the athletes are just freaks.

But I am not going to worship the league like I once did. I won’t likely buy the NFL Sunday Ticket again either. I don’t need to burn an entire afternoon on Sunday when it’s 75 and sunny in September sitting in my mancave watching three TVs.

A good game at 4 p.m., plus highlights of the other games and then the Sunday nighter. One more for good measure on Monday. That, along with my local “free” NFL team on over-the-air TV is quite alot.

Plus, I hear there is something out there callled… “a highlight package.”

Hmmm. Do tell. Sound interesting.

Have fun with all of this stuff Roger. Looks like you and lawyers are going to be busy.

So just because my boss tells me to do something and I listen to him but I don’t act on it. I just go out and do my job, make legal hits, what are you saying I did wrong? If I received money for a big hit, how is that any different from other players saying they passed money around the locker room?

Chris Mortan

April 18th, 2012
1:30 pm

It totally amazes me to see all NFL team fans that are 1) either in the same division as the Saints or 2) lost to the Saints in a playoff or any meaningful game talk about how the Saints cheated, lied, bounted, or whatever after players in an NFL game. Are you guys that weak as a team that you have to come up with excuses as to why you lost and the Saints won? Lets face some facts here. ALL NFL teams try to take out players to win a game. The NFL is a violent sport otherwise it would not be as popular as it is today. At one time I remember NFL networks showing all the hard hits in a game during halftime on a Monday night. It is not touch football people, it is Tackle football people! You want your opponent to think about what will happen if they catch the ball over the middle. When did this EVER change? Are defenses suppose to now play in a prevent defense for fear of hurting someone? Lets just let them catch the ball and we will kindly place them softly on the ground. Boy, I would love to pay $2000 for a season ticket to see that. If you really want to read THE TRUTH about the culture of NFL football, I encourage everyone to look up Jason Whitlock’s article on the Saints about three weeks back. He tells the TRUTH. Also, how many players in MLB as pitchers are not told to throw a ball at a batter? Hummm, Lets start suspending managers and players for a year for that. And the NBA? Oh, its just a technical foul. a few games suspension in a season over a hundred games long. Should we suspend the coach for a season? Just saying. Where are we going to go with this? Its football. Now get a life. If you dont like to watch, switch the channel. If you dont like to play, dont accept hundreds of millions of dollars to play and expect no injuries to take play where performance pays those millions in the first place.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
1:31 pm

Cathy………Do you think the union wants a safe environment for their members? If so, what are their recommendations? So this is not an issue at all?

WhoDatChick

April 18th, 2012
1:33 pm

Good Lord! All of you Falcan’t fans need to sit the hell down. Drew Brees is a model football player, father, and man. You can’t hate on the man because you guys are sitting with Matty Choke behind the Center. Goodell is trying to take us down. Not going to happen. We look forward to kicking your @$$e$ again this season.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
1:37 pm

Chris………Did the saints violate the rules? Were they warned to stop? Did they stop? Did they lie about it? Did they confess to it?

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
1:49 pm

Drew Brees had to know something…….or Sean Payton and /or Loomis are idiots for having an illegal program that no players were involved. Which is it?

Hey, FAILCANT fans

April 18th, 2012
1:57 pm

Your only hope to beat the SB Champion Saints was for something like this to happen…sad thing is, hope is not a strategy so you still have no chance….your organization is pathetic….even with the faux bounty scandal, Saints are still a great team and feared and will win the SB this year….truth hurts, doesn’t it rednecks and ghetto dwellers….stay classy…..

P.s. Lofton sends his regards and looks forward to finally being with a WINNING team…he is now a WHO DAT…lmao….loosah Falclowns…..rise up….FALL DOWN!

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
1:58 pm

Ms. Chick that is pretty arrogant being that this is a falcon blog. Kind of silly of you actually. Saints are a good team, I think the Falcons are good too, but your team screwed up. They lied. Your players sound silly defending what your coaches and GM and being punished for.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
2:06 pm

A saint fan telling others to stay classy…….? …..not that is funny!

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
2:10 pm

*now that is funny!

WhoDatChick

April 18th, 2012
2:22 pm

Mr. Redcoat if you are a fan of the game, you know that players are loyal to their coach, 100%. Maybe the Falcon’s don’t have that kind of loyalty, I can’t tell. I know over here, the players, coaches, owner, fans, the whole State of Louisiana defends our coach and our team.

I am just sick of every other team and half assed sports writer trying to demonize my team. Everyone does it; we were just unlucky enough to have a coach who Goodell despised. Can’t help the fact that Payton is 20 times the man, Go-To-Hell is. He couldn’t take it and decided to hang us out to dry for something that happens LEAGUE WIDE!

Since you posted nicely, I won’t rip you, but if we are being absolutely honest, the Falcons are not even in the same class as the Saints. We have been rivals since I was a little girl in the 80’s and that’s the game I look forward to the most every season. You guys have the players to get there, but something is missing to bring it home. I am not impressed with Matt Ryan at all, never have been.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 18th, 2012
2:36 pm

Well said Who Dat Chick!! Personally I don’t give a rats A$$ if this is a Falcon’s blog! The Falcon’s have and always will be SORRY!!!! As I said before the Saints will dig there way out of this and have a winning season this year! As much as I hate it that Coach Payton will not be with them, they will get beyond all this negativity and be the winning team they are. So, Falcon fans put a sock in it and get ready for you 2 losses!!!

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
2:59 pm

Ms. Chick……thanks for not ripping me….hahaha…..but 100% loyal in the case of rule breaking when someone could have his livelihood taken away is not seen as admirable. Payton shouldn’t have lied about it and if that is how you measure someone, we do have a very different outlook of things.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
3:10 pm

Kim……….It will be seen if your saints will prevail on the field………but there will now ALWAYS be that air of cheating and lying with your organization…….there is nothing you can do about that.

C from Marietta

April 18th, 2012
3:23 pm

A) He knew. If you think he didn’t. You navie.
B) Who cares ? This article was a waste of time.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 18th, 2012
4:12 pm

@ red coat……do you really believe the Saints where the only team doing this??????????? Thankfully no players where carted off the field while this was going on. It’s over! They are paying for it. But, I still believe in my team. They have too much talent and they WILL prevail. I can’t wait for them to show everyone.

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
4:44 pm

Kim…..It doesn’t matter if anybody else believes that other teams had bounty programs, it’s still wrong and a rule violation. The worst part was the lying. There is simply no excuse for it. Yes, thankfully the “cart offs” didn’t happen but the evidence indicates some players received pay outs, that means some of the targets were reached. I guess we will have more on that later.

DM

April 18th, 2012
5:17 pm

The only thing sad is the NFL is picking on one team…seriously…I have often suspected as well as all close followers of the game that Pay per performance (Bounty) existed. I would love for the whole truth to come out and what other teams have done. Oh wait…we can’t do that? There would be no NFL to play a season. :) Fell free to trash me, but only if you can prove to me that other teams did not do the same. Oh and that would be more proof then the Commish had when he attacked the Saints.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 18th, 2012
5:31 pm

@DM….I am 100% behind you. Other teams where doing it. And no it is not right, but it is what it is. I am really tired of hearing about it. Punish the rest of the Saints players and move on! But, it would only be right if the other teams where outed as well. We know that will not happen.

Mike mccoy

April 18th, 2012
5:59 pm

I find you also being bias just a little am I right? Tell me you don’t have a hint of a smile Mr. Atlanta Falcon. Hearing all the evidence does not make you stupid it makes you practical. So slow your roll my friend your Falcons will do good this year

redcoat

April 18th, 2012
6:15 pm

DM/Kim……..I’m sure any other team found running what the saints were will be dealt with even more severely now……should have stopped when warned …….right? DM, can’t prove a negative, so i guess you will never be satisfied, just bitter. Blame the ones who lied!

CHA-CHING

April 18th, 2012
7:22 pm

Stop hating! Every Falcon fan in Atlanta wishes that they had Drew Brees at QB. The Saints offense is the best in the NFL. Thats why they win some playoff games. They’re defense sucks, so how can the bounty be the reason for they’re winning ways? Yall wish yall had him on your team instead of “Matty Lice”(he sucks!0.

Laurie

April 18th, 2012
7:54 pm

Most of you idiots don’t know anything about what went on in New Orleans. You guys r just haters!
Because the Saints have a real chance to win the Superbowl in their own back yard. Saints are SCAPEGOATS for the NFL. Green Bay had the same thing going on in 2007, so why did he not do a thing to them, since he is so concerned about the players health. Why not release all the documents you have. I have read that most of the so called evidence was made up. So all you haters there is a lot of stuff out there. Keep on with the hate we as Saints fans can’t wait for this season.
Most of this guys writing this stuff hate the Saints too! WHO DAT!

jthiebaud

April 18th, 2012
8:23 pm

Aw, you guys are just upset because the Saints swept you last year, and made your team look like a bunch of nincompoops when Brees surpassed the passing yardage record.

jthiebaud

April 18th, 2012
8:32 pm

Mr. Schultz,
When Mr. Brees commented that the NFL had not provided any “meaningful evidence”, he was referring to a specific meeting which he attended as a representative of NFLPA. He was not speaking as the quarterback of the Saints, nor was he expressing an opinion of his personal beliefs regarding the situation. This is the difference between professional comportment in the execution of a duty, and personal interest being allowed to diminish such professionalism. After reading your slanted commentary, I think you should aspire to the excellent example made by Mr. Brees.
Also, men who wear rectangular eyeglasses should not cast stones about looking like a fool.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 18th, 2012
10:43 pm

Jthiebaud you are right! The Falcons have been upset since the last game when Drew hit his record and didn’t stop putting points on the board. Well, guess what?? If that had been ole Matty boy he would have done the same as well as any other quarterback in the NFL! I never did understand their crappy attitude about that! The Falcons and their fans are a bunch of cry babies!

Saintsation

April 18th, 2012
11:54 pm

You people are very stupid and not very intelligent talking all of this crap about drew Brees being classes! absurd !! So classless is running up the score if that is the case then there is a lot of classless people out there!!! Offense scores points. Defense is suppose to stop them right … Yes … Right !!! I bet if it was your teams qb you wouldn’t talk crap about him right!!! Get a life and educate youselves!!! Please !!!

Onlywishyoucouldbe#1

April 19th, 2012
12:00 am

This hilarious, how bout you guys beat us on the field.. At least score more then 2 Points in a playoff game, when ya dumped everything ya had on Julio.

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
4:48 am

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
4:57 am

But I’ll summarize, y’all are horrible fans to your own teams so no one is surprised to find y’all trying to sling mud at a top tier QB. But what do I care? I don’t. Not bout y’all or this “fool” of a writer. Sweet pun!

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
6:25 am

Ca-Ching….. the “hater” thing is old and juvenile and totally predictable when there is nothing you can defend
jthiebaud……that’s laughable, a very convenient excuse, spoken like a true politician and we know how politicians are….haha
Kim…….the cry from saint land has already been heard from past losses so NO set the standard on whining as you continually provide proof on this blog……Thank you
Saintsation……..another juvenile remark, post says it all
Dreggsta……..I didn’t click your link, but see you provided a clue how much you care by even posting a comment here…….very laughable, do you argue with yourself much I wonder?

In conclusion…..all your posts, and especially coming to this site to do it, still doesn’t change what the saints have done and as I already posted, there will now ALWAYS be that air of cheating and lying with your organization…….there is nothing you can do about that.

Jason

April 19th, 2012
7:36 am

I am a Saints fan. It’s fun coming to ATL and watching the two teams play. I also come to Augusta to the practice rounds of the Masters every year. ALL NFL fans beware! If GODell can do this to the Saints, then your team may be next. This punishment is brought on because Drew and the NFLPA stood up to the machine. GODell couldn’t do anything to him, so what’s the next best thing? Think about it.

Kim_Who Dat Fan

April 19th, 2012
8:50 am

I’m out for now, but I will be back at the end of the season to say I TOLD YOU SO! Here is my prediction Saints/Patriots Super Bowl XlVll. Yes, that’s what I said! Drew Brees is going to get his contract, we have a new Defensive Coordinator(who has alot of experience under his belt) and the Saint’s have signed some good defensive free agents. Plus, we still have the draft. Mostly they are going to be hungry to show everyone and including GODell they can’t be stopped!!!! See ya in New Orleans 2013!

Matt "CHOKE" Ryan

April 19th, 2012
9:05 am

ANNUAL FALCANTS PRESEASON PREDICTIONS:

1. They will go 12-4

2. They will go deep in the playoffs

3. They will go to the superbowl

POST SEASON PREDICTIONS:

1. The refs wanted the other team to win

2. Matt is still young (5th season)

3. The offensive line didn’t protect Matt

4. The receivers sucks

5. Turner is too fat and slow

Translation: CHOKE is a BUST :)

BOO BOO And TT

April 19th, 2012
9:36 am

LOL at all of the new orleans aint fans arguing with each other on page 2, how about YOU all do us a favor and get off our blog site and get out of our city….. Been to new orleans a couple of times, it was okay, but if you take away the french quarter… What do you have? NOTHING!!!!!

E-rock

April 19th, 2012
11:10 am

Point not made! If u were at that meeting then you may discuss this but since you were not how do you know what was Introduced during that meeting. Yes those are facts and some opinions. Some of it is one man’s word verses another’s. Yes some may be considered evidence but just like in a regular court if the press assumes something or sees something but it is not produce adequately in that court then it is not true evidence. Stop assuming you know everything! You don’t know exactly what evidence Bree’s is looking for in evidence, maybe something that has not been pulled and yanked on by the media.

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
11:25 am

@ redcoat: like i care if you clicked the link. is your response worth one of mine? for fun yes but unlike you i don’t take things personal. no one cares if you don’t change your mind. you’ll always be a hater & you’ll always be lame. just like all your comments. you need to be corrected factually tho. the saints “will now ALWAYS be that air of cheating and lying with your organization” (your quote). it will have that air to you & some others but not to everyone. especially when other players have said bounties have existed elsewhere, prolly even your beloved team too. do try to stop being a douche, if you can.

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
12:06 pm

Dregga……….a now predictable and laughable response by all saint fans it seems….nothing personal to me, you seem to be expressing bitterness toward me when your team screwed up. Yes i know that everyone will not think of the “air”, but what is done is done. You will see it less mention as time goes by, but it WILL always be there. Defending poor behavior is just what has me fascinated. Dregga, I’m sorry your team screwed up. If the saints take a nose dive this coming season, I hope you can handle it.

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
12:13 pm

yeh the saints won the SB by cheating. lmao. that interception tracy porter put on p. manning was a lethal hit to the colts chances of making a comeback. he def shoulda got a performance bonus for that play. indeed he did get paid bc he can tout that on his resume.

Bigdog75

April 19th, 2012
12:16 pm

Mr. Shultz – If you have ever played football before then you and as well as any person reading this blog, knows that coaches tell there players to get hard hits. Football is and will always be a rought and tough sport. If we take these hard hits out of the game then we might as well take off the equipment, tie a flag around our waste and play touch or flag football. As far as Drew Brees, the man is busy learning and worring about his offense and what he needs to do to get the offense in the endzone. When I played, i never even heard what the defense were doing. We were getting ready to play. Leave the man alone. He knows only one thing………touchdown! If you look at your article a little closer, lets see who the real fool is. WHO DAT!!!!

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
1:09 pm

michael

April 19th, 2012
1:26 pm

I guess we should all just take Roger Goodell for his word, right? Just bend over and accept his will and his word, and don’t ask any questions, right? Until he shows his evidence, this is all just heresay. FFS you would think that you all forgot about one simple thing, which is DUE PROCESS.

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
2:13 pm

dregga…..I see you still don’t care by posting….haha, What did i digress from exactly? The saints won a super bowl, falcons sux, everybody was doing it, you a hater, your just jealous,….that kind of stuff you mean?

Micheal……i guess he had enough for the coaches and GM……..3 yrs and warnings and some kind evidence I think and Goodell did it all by himself and made this whole thing up…..you don’t think player’s were involved?

Beth

April 19th, 2012
3:01 pm

Go figure….you Atlanta people are haters because the Saints are better than the cry baby Mike Smith and the Falcons!!!! LMAO!!!!

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
3:26 pm

i don’t care. i just enjoy posting bc i get enjoyment from it. go look up the definition of digress. after that then i’d hope you could gather what i meant. stop being infantile. you intionally mispelling my name is lame. ain’t no one here can talk smack better than me so don’t try to get on my level. as for the dirty birds, i haven’t once bashed them. i like them actually. just like i root for sec teams in college. i root for nfc south teams when it’s one of us in the post season. so again, stop being childish lol. i rem watching matt ryan play for BC. chill out & takethe panties outta your ass. i ain’t worried about my saints. i was a fan when they were the aint’s & i’m a fan now. every team has their issues & this overrated bounty crap is just that, overrated. you wanna jump on a bandwagon that’s you. just know you sound idiotic doing so.

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
3:26 pm

Beth………dregga would say your digressing……….the subject is Brees looks like a fool for not acknowledging the bounty program with subject matter to back it up…….anyway the hater thing has been said Beth, Now what was it that Mr Schultz wrote that you disagree?

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
3:44 pm

Dregga…….was my digression from what you were saying or the point of the article? I don’t do the spelling checking thing to well thing either. If i was stepping in your smack talk territory , I’m sorry to have upset you like that. I’m sorry that the article has negative issues toward your team to which you can’t justify in any way. We have some common sentiments as far as regional NFL and college teams go, But I think you need to take your on advice on the chill , panty checking ,bandwagon, and idiot thing.

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
3:50 pm

Enter your comments here

DREGGSTA

April 19th, 2012
3:51 pm

^^^ that’s for you red!no, beth isn’t digressing. redcoat is. lmao. the redcoats are coming the redcoats are coming. what a douche. it’s ok redcoat. apology accetpted & deposited. the advice was for you tho. it won’t work for me.

redcoat

April 19th, 2012
4:00 pm

dregga……you were doing so good there for a while and now you have lost it……..you are digressing you know….

Who Dat all the way!

April 19th, 2012
9:17 pm

That’s crazy and really, the whole article is an opinion because instead of saying he thinks the saints had no bounty program, or you could say he was supporting his team, and he had no part in this so there is no reason why you can say this about him. He is a honest quarterback and has earned his way here. Anyway, they’ll still make it to the playoffs.

BC

April 19th, 2012
11:18 pm

It all started with Williams long before he came to the Saints. It just so happens that the Saints are the fall guy. Makes me wonder if they just don’t want a home team in the Superbowl.. If this came out years ago why are they now speaking out…..

redcoat

April 20th, 2012
6:06 am

BC/who all………..you’re sounding foolish too………what in the article don’t you agree specifically?

sawyer bateman

April 20th, 2012
1:47 pm

Ok its funny that the second something negative goes down on a player as elite as Drew brees stupid people sit and say how horrible stupid and un qualified he is people you will never be as good of a leader player and person as drew brees is that is all i have to say imagine someone that only focuses on the positive and then look at what drew has said about the bounty he is so far above you guys that you even stoop to think that he has” lost it” Literally how stupid do you get i can’t believe that you can call yourself a professional writer when you publish a piece of work as terrible as this. Do you think that drew would ever stoop to your level ha no way bro! why do you think Brees is Elite, because he has a mind that is more positive and advanced then any of you peoples will ever be watch him come out next season and blow you guys all away guarantee you won’t see another post as stupid as this one he’s lost it give me a break you go out and try to tell your team through the media that you still believe in them and find a better way to do it then this man is doing right now.

redcoat

April 20th, 2012
2:36 pm

Mr. Bateman…..It is very admirable of Drew Brees to continue to look so foolish on behalf of his team.

Gellieman

April 20th, 2012
6:25 pm

Hey jeff, you seem to be an expert. Exactly how many players were involved? And no, i dont want a range, i want a number. Oh wait, you are being influence by other media outlets! how typical.

JBizzle

April 20th, 2012
11:18 pm

Sounds like another angry Atlanta fan…. zzzzzzzzzzz. Jump on the bandwagon, bash Brees now. Don’t recall any bounties on Matt Ryan…. oh yeah, your O-line LET us take his head off. Stop whining. You will always be second best in the NFC South. Deal with it

redcoat

April 21st, 2012
7:50 am

Gellieman………….More foolish remarks , an exact number? what’s that? That number is coming soon.

JBizzle………Angry sounding? and your rant had nothing but the typical juvenile saints retort of “my team is better than yours,na na na na” bitterness. You seem angry.

The evidence that your coaches and GM are being punished seems to be overwhelming, since they “confessed” So are they idiots too? Are you saying no players were involved even with what has been reported? Brees not even acknowledging a bounty program? Doesn’t that sound foolish?

Ok your response….. my team beat your team, we won a SB, Goodell has it in for us, everybody else is doing, you just a hater, falcons sux, your just jealous……….which will it be? Did i leave one out? I guess that’s all you can do when you have nothing else.

falcons

April 21st, 2012
12:12 pm

I dont think it really matters, the saints D sucked already. Drew’s gonna be back and that means trouble. Why should he acknowledge the bounties either? The only thing we can prove is Williams wanted them to do those things. I haven’t seen anything saying the players actively participated in it. There is no evidence money exchanged hands…. im just saying

Donna Eckhart

April 21st, 2012
10:08 pm

Enter your comments here

Guest

April 22nd, 2012
4:04 am

Great hit piece, Jeff Schultz. You are a scumbag journalist. YOU are what is wrong with this country.

In the tank for Goddell, no doubt. Now, offer up some facts, not just your exalted opinion.

redcoat

April 22nd, 2012
7:19 am

falcons………..Brees, Leader of a team or just the offense with no communication with Defense? Odd don’t you think? “I haven’t seen anything saying the players actively participated in it. There is no evidence money exchanged hands…. im just saying” So they were just “talking bad”, they really didn’t mean it? I’m adding your “defense sux” to the excuse list.

Guest……..So is lying a good thing? Covering up rule violations that promote player injury a good thing? No conflict of interest with committee leadership in this? You don’t see that point?…….. Unbelievable!

SJS Eagle 85

April 23rd, 2012
3:42 pm

It’s not Brees’ place to confirm or deny the existence of any bounty program. All of the associated Saints employees have been implicated and/or punished at this point and at no time has Drew Brees’ name has been mentioned as a party to knowlege or existence of a bounty program prior to the NFL’s investigation.

BdT

April 23rd, 2012
7:51 pm

This article takes what Brees said out of context. What he said was that in regards to the allegations against the players (Vilma, Smith, Harper), rather than the allegations against coaching staff, they haven’t received any “meaningful evidence.” At this point we’ve all heard the crazy rant from Gregg Williams, but nothing has been produced suggesting that his speech had any effect on the players or that anyone ever cashed in on the bounty. The incident involving Vilma offering $10,000 is, as of yet, unsubstantiated. That’s all Brees said. If anyone looks like a fool, it’s you Schultz.

redcoat

April 24th, 2012
5:59 am

Eagle 85……punishment has been handed out with evidence, please explain “meaningful”. Is Brees calling a lot of multiple sources……. “unmeaningful”?

BdT……..a coach of your team admits a bounty system existed……Brees, leader of the team, does not acknowledge it existed. Surely he knows players are involved……..why would the coaches even accept what has been dealt to them if no one participated for how many years? Evidence wasn’t “meaningful” against the coaches? Brees should be running for a political office when retired. All of them sound like fools too, don’t you agree?

What’s your take on the conflict of interest?

Unbelievable!

redcoat

April 24th, 2012
6:01 am

i forgot to add that Brees is a great quarterback!