After an investigation, the NFL has found that 22 to 27 New Orleans Saints defensive players had a bounty program in place, run by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams from 2009-2011.
This type of thing comes at no surprise because players make bets all the time, in every sport. What separates this was that it is tied to an organization and jobs are “successful,” if you will, when a player is injured.
Friendly bets are one thing, such as scoring a touchdown, doing a celebration dance, or running through the defense. When you purposely set out to injure a player, that’s wrong. I know the player providing the punishing would be ticked of if he suffered a season or career-ending injury because the opponent had a bounty out for him.
Earlier this year on NBC’s ‘Football Night in America’, Tony Dungy discussed Manning’s injury and stated his belief that it stemmed from a hit (see below) he took in a game back in 2006 against the Washington Redskins. A defense led by, Gregg Williams.
The sandwich-hit forced Manning to land awkwardly and he was nearly decapitated.
Following the hit, Dungy recalled that Manning lot feeling temporarily and was shaking his throwing arm in hopes of regain it. Former backup Jim Sorgi said that it was one of just a few times Peyton told him to be ready.
Could it be that this hit was part of a bounty among Redskin players for Manning? Possibly, and we may learn more in weeks to come. Williams is currently the defensive coordinator on Jeff Fisher’s new staff in St. Louis. I’m guessing that will change here soon. And should.
Unfortunately, we may never know for certain if it was this play, back in 2006, that shortened the first ballot Hall of Famer.