Bounties wrong and Saints, Vilma and NFLPA just don’t get it
Jonathan Vilma has some free time to admire this.
(4:10 p.m: Updated and rewritten)
The NFL Players Association needs to re-brand itself, perhaps as the Union of People We Feel Like Representing. Because how is it that a players’ union, whose stated mission includes looking out for the well-being of all its membership …
• Ignores all evidence uncovered in a two-year NFL investigation into a bounty program.
• Ignores the public admission of a former assistant coach, Gregg Williams, who orchestrated and partially funded the program.
• Ignores an audio recording in which Williams is heard instructing his New Orleans defensive players to deliver repeated head blows to the opposing quarterback and running back and then references a specific wide receiver, saying: “He becomes human when we [bleepin’] take out that outside ACL.”
Where’s their union?
The NFL did the right thing again Wednesday. Following the suspensions of coach Sean Payton and other team officials for “Bounty Gate,” commissioner Roger Goodell suspended linebacker Jonathan Vilma for the entire 2012 season and three other players: defensive end Will Smith (four games), linebacker Scott Fujita (now with Cleveland, three games) and defensive end Anthony Hargrove (now with Green Bay, eight games).
It could’ve been worse. The league initially stated “22 to 27″ players were involved in the bounty program. But Goodell, in his own little bounty program, focused on the Saints leaders who contributed money, demonstrated the greatest intent to participate “and/or obstructed the 2010 investigation.”
The union’s immediate response was indignation. It will appeal. I understand a union has members’ backs. But is Drew Brees’ back more important than everybody else’s? How about the guys targeted to be beheaded? Or is the NFLPA just somehow trying to save face after giving so much back in collective bargaining talks?
The NFLPA released a statement saying it has “not received any detailed or specific evidence from the league of these specific players’ involvement in an alleged pay-to-injure program.”
In legal circles, this is called The Bart Simpson Defense: “I didn’t do it. Nobody saw me do it. You can’t prove anything.”
Former Saint Darren Sharper said he read the NFL security report and saw no “proof” that bounty payments made. I love it when people go all CSI on us.
Fear not, I’m sure video of Williams and Vilma handing out $100 bills will surface because don’t you just know the Saints would want it for bookkeeping purposes?
Probably won't see this photo again: Payton, Goodell, Brees smiling
Exactly what would the players union and its muddled-brained leader, DeMaurice Smith, say to Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who was among those targeted for $10,000 bounties by the Saints defense? Rodgers said recently, “I think the line is drawn when people knowingly take money for hits that cause injuries to another player.”
The Saints have now lost their head coach (Payton) for the entire season, their interim head coach (Joe Vitt) for six games, their general manager (Mickey Loomis) for eight games, two of their best defensive players (Vilma and Smith) and a second-round draft pick. Quarterback Drew Brees also remains unsigned and unhappy about being franchise tendered, so there’s a degree of uncertainty about his future.
The Saints will play up the Us-Against-The-World theme. But how can you not look at this and logically conclude that the Falcons have the inside track for the NFC South title?
We’ve addressed this before: Anybody who trivializes the bounty program with comments like, “Everybody does it” (not true) or the NFL loves violence (true, but they don’t love concussions and torn ligaments) is missing the point. There’s a difference between rewarding an athlete for an unscripted play and a premeditated assault.
Payments for “cart-offs” aren’t acceptable. We’re taking about people’s livelihoods. And lives.
There aren’t a lot of people around the NFL who feel sorry for the Saints. Along with the team’s success, New Orleans has been viewed as one the more arrogant organizations for a few years. Nobody wears that crown better than Vilma. He recent demonstrated that by changing the avatar on his Twitter account (@JonVilma51) to the Sports Illustrated cover with his picture and the headline: “Bounty Culture.”
I’m sure that went over well in Goodell’s office.
Clearly, there’s a level of acceptance that hasn’t taken place yet with Vilma or the NFLPA. It’s easy to understand a player who can’t get out of the way of his own ego. But a union that is supposed to be looking out for all doesn’t have that excuse.
By Jeff Schultz
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259 comments Add your comment
SAL
May 2nd, 2012
3:34 pm
kerryb – Yeah, and then got their butts handed to them in their first playoff game that season by Green Bay! Embarrassing! I was referring to this upcoming year.
Pandora
May 2nd, 2012
3:37 pm
No the Saints will PLAY in the Superbowl next year. The Failcant’s will go to the game. The Saints are a very good team. They are not the only team that has done the bounty thing. The NFL should look at other teams..like the San Francisco 49′ers and a lot of other teams. Let’s see how they will look. Everybody knows that the FAILCANT’S is a sorry team. Mike Smith even knows his team sucks! Don’t get confused and think that the New Orleans Saints are down and out because they are not. The only difference is that next season when we beat the FAILCANT’S AGAIN and other teams…it won’t be for pay, but for delight b-a-b-y! Believe it! It will be for free…compliments of the Champions Baby….The Failcant’s will NEVER win a division or championship game! Why? Because they are a bunch of losers and so are their ‘fareweather’ fans…loosers!!!
Like the group Queen says “WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS, NO TIME FOR LOOSERS (FAILCAINTS) CAUSE WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS!”..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
…
IT DON’T MEAN A THING, IF YOU AIN’T GOT THAT RING (SUPERBOWL)…DO WAH DO WAH DO WAH DO! You see your sorry Failcant’s fans…you will NEVER be able to chant either songs…why? Because your Failcant’s team is sorry and you ar loosers!!!
WHO DAT NATION B-A-B-Y! SEE YOU IN THE DOME!
extremus
May 2nd, 2012
3:40 pm
Okay, so the Saints won a Superbowl before the Falcons. But if the accomplishment were reversed and the Falcons had been found guilty of winning it in such a fashion, as a fan who gives a care about integrity and good sportsmanship I have to say in my mind it wouldn’t really count. In fact despite the frustrations of watching my Birds fall flat the past few years in the playoffs, I can at least say (to the best of our knowledge) that at least they’ve been playing clean and fairly, and I’d rather see them lose that way than win by cheating. As talented a football club as the Saints have had the past few seasons, they shouldn’t have felt the need to rely on injuring other teams’ players to win. It’s inexcusable for ANY team, and it’s a badly tarnished Lombardi Trophy that’s on display in New Orleans.
Hopefully there is a Superbowl victory and a parade down Peachtree in the near future for Atlanta. And when it happens, it’ll mean even more because the Falcons went about it RIGHT.
RL
May 2nd, 2012
3:43 pm
The Saints and New Orleans are both filled with lowlifes.
Good riddance to all of them.
GRITTY52
May 2nd, 2012
3:46 pm
I love my state but,let’s face reality we can’t and don’t know how to win the
BIG ONE’S! We just don’t know how to put a foot on another teams throat when we got them down. Braves, Falcons, Dawgs, Jackets, Hawks have spent a gazillion $$$$ and got 2 skins (Braves 95, and Dawgs 1980) to show for it.Killer instinct rules sports and we have absolutely ZERO!!
elroy
May 2nd, 2012
3:50 pm
just as long as mark bradley doesn’t predict the Falcons to win the South they will be ok. That man is a jinx for all city & state teams. Aints fans responding to article have no credibility, so their comments are meaningless. BOOOOOOO-dat, New Orleans Cheats…uh Aints bleaux!
Damage Inc.
May 2nd, 2012
3:58 pm
tee-hee-hee-hee
Chub Rock
May 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
The real punishment has not even been served yet. The real punishment will be taken out on the Saints QB for his team targeting others teams QB for injury. Drew Brees will not play a full season this year even if he does finally get a contract. Must of his time will be spent on IR with his knees getting sewn back together. This is so much bigger than just Falcons-Saints rivalry. The actions of the Saints defense has now made them the blood rival of every team in the league. Kinda like when Margarito cheated on Cotto. When Pacquiao and Mosley fought Margarito, they tried to kill his ass. The same thing will happen to Drew Brees.
nolabigdawg
May 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
kerryb,
O.K. so they are not the media darlings anymore. How am I living in denial about the on field play?
As I stated, I am not a Saint’s fan, but I do admire Drew Brees and that offense is still loaded and lethal. So take your homer glasses off for a moment and tell me how the Falcon offense will out score them? So far the results have not been good. And not just against the Saints. It seems to me that the Falcons have a lot of work to do and should not be relying on the travails of the Saints to guarantee the NFC South for themselves.
Devil's Advocate
May 2nd, 2012
3:59 pm
And why do some fans bang on their chest about football being a violent game so bounties for injuries are okay? If unmitigated levels of violence were okay there wouldn’t be pass interference, holding, unnecessary roughness, or any other contact penalty. The game would be a free-for-all as long as no one jumps offsides.
Pandora
May 2nd, 2012
4:01 pm
extremus..hahahahahahahahaha! you are laughable. We went about it right…TRUST me you know that there will NEVER be a celebration for a superbowl for the FAILCANT’S! C’mon..you know it.
For the record…We did go about it right. We won because we DESERVED to win. So go ahead and gloat…it’s so sad that you all are gloating because of the bounty thing. Your name says it all EXTREME! You are on another planet…EVERYBODY knows that the New Orleans Saints team is MUCH BETTER than the FAILCANT’S..it’s obvious..
WHO DAT BABY! ALL DAY EVERYDAY!
GEAUX SAINTS!!! 
WE WILL PREVAIL….AND THE FAILCANT’S WILL CONTINUE TO FAIL!!! LOOSERS..HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! 
WHO DAT BLACK
May 2nd, 2012
4:05 pm
Thanks Mr. Schultz for your clarity in this matter. It just goes to show you that the teams’ fans in this division are more interested in the opponents’ downfall than their team getting better on the field. Just for the record, as a Saints fan, I think Carolina will win the division. We’ll get the Wild Card on our way to hosting the Super Bowl. And the Falcons will clean house and finish with 5 wins. It is what it is. Bounty or no bounty!!!!
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
Fantasyland creeps into Atlanta. Jeff , you must not watch football . The only thing the Failclowns have guaranteed this season is maybe a shot at another winning season . With the Saints depth , they will handle the Failclowns again this year . We went 13-3 without our h.c. last year and now we have your best linebacker playing for us and probably taking the place of the aging and somewhat slower Vilma . Only 2 players suspended-things are starting to look up for the NFC South champions finally. Sorry Failclowns fans but you just can’t keep a good team down! I’m really liking the sound of my soon to be new name –12 of 14
WHO DAT BLACK
May 2nd, 2012
4:07 pm
Hey Chub, you do know that most players disagree with the suspensions? The only ones who agree with Goodell are Saints haters and the jealous Vikings.
Devil's Advocate
May 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
One last parting shot before I head out. Saints fans need to get a grip. They act like they’ve won 5 SBs. As an Atlanta Braves fan I can tell you that before you know it you’ll look back and realize that 1 championship doesn’t mean much a decade or two later. Just saying, the Saints’ window is closing and with these suspensions it’s pretty much slamming shut.
Their best play is to tank 2012, get a Top 5 draft pick, hope Brees returns and pick up in 2013. Otherwise they are falling back to the pack sooner than later.
So stop strutting around like the Saints haven’t choked in the playoffs just as much as the Falcons the past 2 years. At least you guys put up a fight against the 49ers…I’ll give you that much.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:11 pm
@ WHO DAT BLACK-It is sad when ones team is so miserable that the only way they can get satisfaction is from the problems of another team and not the accomplishments of their own. Can you say 0-3 with Smitty Dummytroff and Matty meltdown? I sure can !
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:13 pm
@ Devils Advocate- I’ll bet you are not in any sort of management position!
Jeff Schultz
May 2nd, 2012
4:14 pm
FOLKS — I just completely rewrote and updated the column. Give it a look and let me know what you think. I’ll try to get back some comments soon. J
William
May 2nd, 2012
4:17 pm
This is a beautifully written article, Mr. Schultz. Despite the indignant protests from Saints fans, the door is open for other NFC South teams. A lot of bloggers seems to lose sight of the union aspect that you mention. Thanks for emphasizing the “players” union’s stupidity.
Samuel L. Jackson
May 2nd, 2012
4:20 pm
Wow! The low level of IQ on this message board is astonishing lol. As the saying goes “never argue with an idiot in public because people won’t be able to tell the difference who is who”.
Saints will still sweep the Falcons this year, then what will your excuse be? Now that the Saints aren’t “media darlings” as you claim it… what will the cries be when you lose again?
The Saints still have another 2 yr window as constructed to be extremely competitive. Good luck!
PMC
May 2nd, 2012
4:22 pm
Like many political arguments these days it’s not about what’s right it’s about whose right.
The union is fighting Goodell because they don’t like Goodell, not because he’s wrong.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
Falcons = Fans Always Left Counting On Next Season
WHO DAT BLACK
May 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
To the Devil’s Advocate: When you win in the playoffs as much as we have the past 2 years, you can talk. Oh that’s right, you can’t because the Falcons are 0-2 in the playoffs, with a virtual shutout the last time they stepped on the field against a defense we hung 40 on. Like I said, stop rooting against our team and support yours.
PMC
May 2nd, 2012
4:23 pm
Nice rewrite Jeff.
PMC
May 2nd, 2012
4:26 pm
The worst problem with Unions these days is that they have lost thier direction. They don’t seem to understand that both they and the parent organization are in it toegther. It’s not a war between the NFL and the NFLPA. They whole idea is that everyone gets paid the most that they can get.
That can’t happen when you have lying deceitful jerks paying eachother for ruining or potentially ruining the careers of other union members.
It’s entertainment, entertain.
Brad Lewelyn
May 2nd, 2012
4:26 pm
…The Saints will play up the Us-Against-The-World theme. But how can you not look at this and logically conclude that the Falcons have the inside track for the NFC South title?…
Because they lack talent, drive and intensity. Bucs and Panthers have a better chance at winning the South then the Falcons.
Samuel L. Jackson
May 2nd, 2012
4:27 pm
How is losing on the road to the # 2 seed choking? I thought the Falcons had the market cornered on choking when they lost AT HOME by 27 to the 6 seed, but obviously that wasn’t good enough so they decided to lay down to the Giants and couldn’t even score an offensive point.
Since 2008 (when Mike Smith and Matt Ryan started), the Falcons have 0 playoff wins. The Saints have 4.
What do Falcons do when a coach tightens up??? When a QB chokes up? TELL ME MOTHA$%&&! WHAT DO FALCONS DO?!?!?!?!?
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOH LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY EGGS!
Larry Nalls
May 2nd, 2012
4:35 pm
I’m somewhat surprised no criminal charges have been filed. Outside the NFL, this Bounty action is usually deemed premeditated assault.
realitycheck
May 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
The Falcons and the AJC need to quit worrying about the Saints and deal with their own problems. Regardless of what kind of season the Saints have, the Falcons are still a big ZERO in the playoffs, and i don’t see that changing anytime soon. Falcons 7-9 to 9-7 next year! Biggest offseason move was getting another Eagle castoff in his 30’s. LOL!
Chub Rock
May 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
WHO DAT BLACK- LMAO so now you have asked every player in the NFL and gotten a response? GTFOH with that BS. There will be punishment levied on the field. Must players who were not directly affected by the bounty program are going to side with other players or be indifferent. There will always be the labor versus management aspect to these matters. The purpose of a Roger Goodell is to decide was best for the league as a whole. His judgement clearly states the New Orleans Saints broke the rules but make no mistake about it other teams will be headhunting the Saints this year so be prepared. I’m not a Saints hater. Quite frankly, it’s typically the fans that get so ignorant that makes you want to hurt one of them. It’s football man…a game. I love the game but it’s not my life anymore. Some fans act as though they are on the field making plays LOL. It’s hilarious to me. I come to the games in New Orleans and I expect to see tough guys like I see in this blog site. I guess when they get a look at me they figure it’s a lot less risky being tough on the blog site.
Larry Nalls
May 2nd, 2012
4:38 pm
“Kill the Head and the Body will Die”….pretty obvious to me.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
NO PROOF Thats how
Chub Rock
May 2nd, 2012
4:40 pm
Must=Most
BigBadBartkowski
May 2nd, 2012
4:42 pm
It is fitting that the Taints only Super Bowl win is now Tainted with this. Haha. How long before the NFL breaks out the asterisk? They will be back where they belong in their paper bags before you know it when Brees doesn’t come back.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:43 pm
Chub Rock- So you’re saying you ‘re some sort of bada$$ or you ‘re just a 400 lb pile of welfare lard. I’m guessing the latter!
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:45 pm
@BBB- it’s ok to be jealous of our SB win , just try and not be bitter about your SB LOSS . After all , it is ancient history
Chub Rock
May 2nd, 2012
4:48 pm
The players don’t hate each other nearly as much as the fanatic type fans spread hate. The players want to beat their rivals but it doesn’t reduce down to the sissified level of calling each other Aints and Failclowns LOL. That behavior is strictly for the fan that gets his face painted before games and buys season tickets but can’t afford to send his kids to college.
Parade of Knuckleheads
May 2nd, 2012
4:49 pm
Bring out the old brown paper grocery bags for the
2012 sAints
GT Grad
May 2nd, 2012
4:49 pm
the one thing a Tech and UGA fan can agree on: Falcons football
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:50 pm
Then you just flip flopped on your earlier comment. So ,do they not hate each other or will they be headhunting each other . Stupid and drunk is no way to go through life son!
BigBadBartkowski
May 2nd, 2012
4:52 pm
I am not jealous of a Super Bowl win that took people to put bounties on players in order to get them to play to a (dirty)level they could win. It is a disgrace to football.
realitycheck
May 2nd, 2012
4:53 pm
BBB……..He will be signed……..book it!……..you are just another bitter ATL sports loser.Good luck with clumsy noodle arm Matty Melt!
RFlagg
May 2nd, 2012
4:54 pm
Head Coach – Gone for the year
Assistant Head Coach – Gone for 6 games
Defensive Captain – Gone for the year
Defensive Line Sack Leader/#2 In Team Sacks – Gone for 4 games
General Manager – Gone for 8 games
Star QB- Unsigned and unhappy
QBs Saints will play, in order – RGIII, Matt Cassel, Cam Newton, Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers, Josh Freeman, Peyton Manning, Michael Vick, Matt Ryan, Carson Palmer, Alex Smith, Matt Ryan, Josh Freeman, Tony Romo, Cam Newton.
Looking at that lineup and what we know now, I’m starting to listen more to the crowd that says the Saints may not break 8-8.
Mike Franklin
May 2nd, 2012
4:55 pm
My viewpoint:
The problem here is that ANY criticism is going to be seen as team-fan oriented. IE: Falcons’ fans are not going to give an honest approach to their main NFC South rivals. As such, our opinions, regardless of their worthiness, will be set aside at best, and shot down in anger at worst.
Standing off to the side is the league… that, while honest in reporting this horrid violation, has gone overboard in protecting the Saints and itself. In sum, it really IS like the fox guarding the henhouse. For any worthy accounting, we really need a US congressional investigation… but in this economy and because representation is more often bought today than voted in, there is little chance of this happening.
The outcome is that Sean Payton will return and so will almost every one of those found most guilty of violations. In the end, the Saints will be forgiven from within, the league will go on as if nothing happened and someday, we’ll see this all happen again.
WHO DAT BLACK
May 2nd, 2012
4:56 pm
Also, to Mr. Schultz,
The NFLPA is doing what they should be doing, which is protecting the interest of all of it’s players. It’s funny that you seem to believe that the Saints should be the villains and everyone should be against Vilma and Co. You should check Twitter more often, or better yet, check this out from nola.com:
http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2012/05/new_orleans_saints_other_playe.html
It’s pretty much league wide that the players disagree with you, Goodell, and the jealous fans that think these penalties are too harsh. I would agree as well. My take is that he couldn’t get 22 players on the hook so he went after 4 players that were in the media’s eye as far as involvement. The guy who knocked out Kurt Warner in ‘09 (Bobby McCray) got no suspension. Of course, he hasn’t said much via Twitter or to the media, so if we got fined or suspended, most people including yourself would say, who???? But, I guess that’s the way it is.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
4:57 pm
RFlagg- i’ll take that bet all day long if you’re man enough
WHO DAT BLACK
May 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
Hey Chub, check twitter and follow the players. Anyone who can read can see that my point is clear.
Also, anyone who can read knows that a lot of people get shot and killed in New Orleans. Watch what you ask for. People at the games aren’t looking for a fight, but if you are looking for one, meet some guys that hang out in the back of the projects a few blocks away from the Dome. They’ll take good care of you.
BigBadBartkowski
May 2nd, 2012
5:03 pm
League wide isn’t 25 players. That isn’t even half of a team. So 25 out of roughly 1700. Not one of them a QB, excluding the only one that couldn’t have had a bounty on him(Brees). It is just the unsilent minority spouting off.
10 of 12
May 2nd, 2012
5:16 pm
Ok Flub pebble- I’m ready
CAPT-ATL
May 2nd, 2012
5:18 pm
just speculation on my part, but reports all say that Benson cooperated fully allowing investigators access to Saints servers and email. I handle security for my company and Video from all facilities around the country are stored on local servers in our ATL HQ’s. That said, if money changed hands inside the locker room, meeting rooms, just about any room at the Saints facilities other than Showers and bathrooms, then the league has that digital video. Anyone with a wonderlic score of above 10 knows that the NFLPA is posturing and grandstanding with the “lack of real Evidence”. They certianly are not going to come out and say “we have seen the evidence and those NFL Security boys did one heck of a job, our players are busted”. No, they are going to minimize it, knowing that it will never see the light of day. As soon as the appeals are finished, the evidence will be destroyed. To the dismay of many in the media and the fan base attorneys that claim this will end of in Federal Court…. NOT A CHANCE IN HELL. The Union and players signed off on the CBA and Article 3 Section 2, in respect to Article 46 waives ALL rights to court action. The closest anything will be to court is Jonathon Vilma in Minnesota court room where he will be known as the DefenDAT, for the HIT he put out in the Metrodome. WHO DAT!!