Bounties reinforce football's flaws

BobE · 03-08-2012, 01:32 PM

yay another article on the subject but I actually found this one to be very well written.

Quote:

Before he sends a message to his sponsors (or to members of Congress readying themselves for the day a constituent wants football abolished because his son was paralyzed due to a "bounty hit") by dropping Williams down a deep hole as a symbolic sacrifice, Goodell should go down to Cherry Hill, N.J., and watch some of the NFL Films library. He could see footage of Fred "The Hammer" Williamson, who made a career of all but ripping opponents' heads off. In one particular clip, the tables are turned, and Williamson is the one on the ground, a twisted wreck. The opposite sideline, wired for sound, hoots and hollers in glee. "Oooh! Is that the Hammer? We got the Hammer!"

That is the game.

Quote:

Gregg Williams didn't cheat. His teams have not been routinely flagged for being the dirtiest in the NFL. His teams haven't paid the most fines in the league. Targeting players for money is tacky and classless, but it isn't fundamentally different than targeting them by instructing a defender to key on a dangerous opponent. What Williams will pay for over the coming weeks is providing a glimpse into a clubhouse matter that was intended to stay private. His biggest crime was putting into words, into policy, what happens on the field every day.

New Orleans Saints bounties for injuring players exposes tawdry football culture - ESPN