One day later and I have to say that I just really don’t care about what people are saying about our image.
I care only about the punishment.
This is just more of the NFL being two faced and everyone in the League knows it. They want people to believe that this can be a non-violent sport when they have not made all of the available equipment changes for safety and they sure don't have a good track record of taking care of ex-players who have sacrificed their bodies for this sport. Those same old school players are probably laughing about this. By all means, try to make it safe but it still has to be football.
If we have a few less fringe fans after this then good; it helps to know who the real ones are.
We aren't going to get the “Gentlest Team” award – good.
I know that we have great players that are great people and they went out and played the game the same way it is played everywhere the way they all play it since they are kids.
I know that they played aggressive but they played in front of the same officials that all of their opponents did.
I'm only worried about the hits they'll take to this year's draft. They need all their picks this year to help supplement the Free Agency hit they're taking... I firmly believe (not as a blind fan but as a football watcher) that they could conceivably win another superbowl this year. And after that... who will really remember all of this "bounty" talk?
I went to work today, called some friends, worked in the yard, played with my kids, and I STILL DON'T CARE. Games were played on the field, and penalties for vilating rules have already been assessed by the refs.
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Sections 647 & 602: Terrace seats rock!
Season ticket holder since 2003.
Personally I'm thinking I might just start liking this. Badaz Saints instead of "those lovable baffoons". SB winners instead of perinial losers. Screwdriver anyone who wants to take on our Saints! Let's take the medicine we have coming, but I say keep the rep that makes all other teams hesitate that one second!
Exactly this!!!.....................Maybe the thug rap will make other teams think a bit more than they should and hesitate that one split second that it will take for Chris Ivory to run over them like a Ford over a rooster!!
This sort of thing has been going on since the beginning of football and will not end here. If anything it will make teams be a little more careful and quiet about it.
It's like people are thinking that the Saints invented this or something and if they want to believe that then let their ignorance show it's true colors!!
I AM AND ALWAYS HAVE BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE A WHODAT FAN SO THE REST OF THE LEAGUE AND ALL THEIR FANS CAN GO AND TAKE A FLYING LEAP AT A ROLLING DONUT!!!
I love the righteous indignation from other teams' fans, especially Vikings fans still bitter after their NFCCG loss (you see these in comment sections after news stories). They are so happy with this news. But this will blow over (even if the league decides to make an example of us), and they can go back to their querulous ways. We will be able to laugh at them again
Well said OP. I think the punishment, whatever it will end up being, will be ridiculously out of proportion with the 'crime'. The media coverage resembles a cage full of chimps after someone threw in a peanut - monkey rage. In the end, it's something that you see at all levels of football, in one form or another. Who knows what the actual details are but punishing someone so much they quit or are forced out of the game is the physical domination every football player strives for, or certainly in those positions where there is alot of contact.
I think fines for some of the main culprits and for the organisation is reasonable. Gregg Williams should probably be the only one who faces suspension. That should maybe result in the practice being curtailed around the league.
All the talk of tarnished titles, cheating and all that are just ridiculous. Sadly, Goodell will probably be influenced by the media's reaction.
This whole thing will die after the league issues their "decision" from on high like some gods handing down punishment to us mere mortals. I really don't care about it anymore. At least the disgruntled fans and players will finally get their pound of flesh and that'll be it.
What can you do? We, the fans, didn't do anything. Nearly every player in the league is saying, Duh. Loomis can't draft worth a crap anyways. Take the lumps and move on. It seems the biggest proponent has already skipped town and it wasn't that big of a loss. Patriots have "Spy Gate". The Steelers have their "Phantom" touchdown that beat the Seahawks. And now we had some nimrod trying to twist sore ankles. When you get big and cause a lot of butthurt tears - you get some hate.
I agree with what has been expressed in this thread.
Lots of players have come out saying that this is normal. The Saints were just the ones caught.
This is not the worst thing a team could have done and at the end of the day, it's not a huge deal.
Some have speculated that this happened all because New Orleans denied the media darling Favre a shot at the Super Bowl.
If that's the case, then it's hilarious and impressive that we angered them on this level.
Now when's Drew gonna sign that contract?
Your comment that "this is not the worst thing a team could have done" got me thinking.... what is the worst thing a team can do? When it comes to ethics, can you think of something a team has done that is worse than this? I know other teams do it but we are now the official face of it. I personally don't think it is a huge deal, but as far as public perception it has to rank pretty darn high. This is probably the biggest professional football story to come out in a long long time.
Agree. What's really amazing is the dirt about Gregg Williams and the dirt from other teams that's coming out. That doesn't make what the Saints did right, and it doesn't excuse other teams who did the same thing. Why are other teams' players speaking out? Is the "fraternity" of NFL players that strong?
For those who can't understand why a player would risk a $20K fine for a $1500 bounty, you have to remember that these players are first of all competitors. Every competition won is a matter of personal pride, and professional sports players exhibit this quality to the enth degree. There may have been serious competition for getting one of these bounty prizes, sickening as it is and as contrary to the NFL regulation it might be. I recall one of st dude's posts from yesteryear describing a scene at a racketball court where one of the neighboring matches was marked by a really competitive guy who was absolutely and almost violently dead set on trouncing his opponent--and that guy was Danny Abramowicz.
If everyone is speeding, and you get caught, that's too bad--but it's the risk you take. Conversely, if someone speeds by you and then gets caught, you can snicker all you want--and the fans of other teams's fans will do that to us. We had better be prepared for a LOT of abuse on this board from fans of other teams.
Tom Benson is right. Let's get this over with--just like the Will Smith suspension. Whatever the punishment is, we'll have to deal with it.
I lol'ed (in a loving way) when I read what he had to say. He's always so positive and almost in a child-like and innocent way. It was just so typical of Benson to add "putting this behind us and winning more championships in the future for our fans" only the "huh" at the end was missin
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"...we embody all of Louisiana not just football..." New Orleans Saints LB Jonathan Vilma
One day later and I have to say that I just really don’t care about what people are saying about our image.
I care only about the punishment.
This is just more of the NFL being two faced and everyone in the League knows it. They want people to believe that this can be a non-violent sport when they have not made all of the available equipment changes for safety and they sure don't have a good track record of taking care of ex-players who have sacrificed their bodies for this sport. Those same old school players are probably laughing about this. By all means, try to make it safe but it still has to be football.
If we have a few less fringe fans after this then good; it helps to know who the real ones are.
We aren't going to get the “Gentlest Team” award – good.
I know that we have great players that are great people and they went out and played the game the same way it is played everywhere the way they all play it since they are kids.
I know that they played aggressive but they played in front of the same officials that all of their opponents did.
It’s us against the World again. No problems.
Well said Zack and when it comes down to it in Football I would rather be feared than liked.
I think the media is making so much more of this than there really has to be. They love negative stories. There is much more sensationalism when something negative comes out than something positive. I for one don't give a crap about the so-called bounty incentives.
Besides, this is football. I'd rather our team be known for bounties than tampons.
.........pull my chain Mr Commissioner.........I dare you
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