Shanle gives insight into Saints Pay for Performance system (1 Viewer)

[Swimmer]

I kind of wish Gregg had motivated Shanle to not let Vernon Davis run past him on that final play.

HaHa - Best post of the day

 

[SoggyBottomBoy]

Both a liability in zone coverage and media coverage.

Thanks Scott, another open mouth insert foot statement. Can't these guys just shut up?

This is one of the most honest explanations we've heard thus far. Sounds like that was exactly what was going on. If so, and the NFL has deemed this activity as their iron clad evidence to claim that the Saints took a common league practice to a new, egregious level, then it looks like a weaker argument than they made it out to be.

Unfortunately, the Saints are at the mercy of the NFL's interpretation and their ability to control the "evidence" and the release of information.

I have no problems with Shanle's explanation to the media. It shows the Saints weren't squeaky clean (as we've conceded to), but not participating in activities above and beyond the rest of the NFL. People will interpret it differently, but if this is what actually occurred then those with unbiased eyes should see the suspensions as extreme overkill.

Edit: Also, interesting to note the mention of losing money for screw ups. Merits AND demerits.

 

[Doug5984]

If that's the case, most of our players probably lost more money than they were awarded.

Since they are also throwing around allegations that pay for performance is a cap violation can we take all the "mental error money" as a cap credit. You know over the last few years we would've racked up some...hell the 49ers game probably has enough mental error money to pay Drew this year.

 

[kevinh]

The way Shanle's coming off here, it shows me exactly why the players have kept quiet for so long.

This story doesn't really seem to be helping anything at all. The way Shanle words it, it sounds like we were paying out specifically for injuries---just not intentional ones. I hope he clears this up soon.

 

[CCL36]

The "elephant in the room" is the fact that its not hard to take out an opponent's knee etc....and if we were running this "pay for injury" program for 3 years we must have the worst group of Professional Athletes ever assembled.

As for paying for injuries after the fact...maybe they were paying for physically whipping the opponent "accross from you" to the point where they were unable to continue (with the idea of injuries being incidental).

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

The way Shanle's coming off here, it shows me exactly why the players have kept quiet for so long.

This story doesn't really seem to be helping anything at all. The way Shanle words it, it sounds like we were paying out specifically for injuries---just not intentional ones. I hope he clears this up soon.

Yeah, I know this isn't a popular opinion, but that's kind of how I took it too.

If they weren't paying extra for knockouts and cart-offs, I don't see why they would need to differentiate between that and just a generic big hit label.

And again, it is true that the NFL has blown all of their "evidence" way out or proportion, their reaction has been extremely over the top, but I still don't see this as any kind of vindication for us like a lot of other people seem to.

I thought it was also a little concerning that Shanle wouldn't deny Vilma offering money towards knocking out Warner or Favre.

 

[V Chip]

What Shanle appears to be saying is that no one was paid for injuries, and these "knock out" and "cart off" tags were applied to big hits but almost as a side note.

It might be exactly that -- like JoLonn Dunbar's big hit that was a de-cleater block on Reggie's punt return TD against the Vikings. Had that occurred under this system, it might have been labeled a "de-cleater" but it doesn't mean the intention was to hit someone so that their cleats leave the turf -- just the end result of a good, legal hit.

And again this would fit into the NFL's word choice of "plays on which opposing players were injured."

 

[bobad]

Shanle only confirms what we already know: No football player wants to injure another player. Sure, players get mad occasionally. Sure, at any given time there are 2-3 perverts in the NFL that want to injure people like Bibineaux did to Pierre. But to say the Saints want to injure people is ludicrous.

 

[bornnraisedwhodat]

Triplett just gets it.

 

[saintly_mission]

Perhaps Shanle is doing a little damage control with his own reputation amongst teammates, perhaps he knows his name will come up as someone who cooperated with League investigators and wants to be able to say "look guys I didn't tell em anything different than what I've been telling the media", when in fact he probably told them a little too much.

Hear me Scott, your daddy shoulda taught ya this a lonnnnggggggggg time ago....always reserve your right to ****!!!!!

 

[St. Geezy]

The way Shanle's coming off here, it shows me exactly why the players have kept quiet for so long.

This story doesn't really seem to be helping anything at all. The way Shanle words it, it sounds like we were paying out specifically for injuries---just not intentional ones. I hope he clears this up soon.

There is a big difference between a program that gives rewards for big hits that result in injuries and "paying to injure."

The whole incentive for knockouts/cart-offs was just bravado-talk and a motivational ploy to promote nasty/physical play, sort of the same thing as college teams that reward helmet stickers for the same thing; These guys weren't out there like maniacs trying to hurt their fellow-football brethern like the media is protraying them to be.

Being a former player myself, if an NFL player truly has a goal to take a player out of the game, a.) he wouldn't have much of a problem doing it and b.) there would be clear signs that he is trying to do it when looking at the film.

 

[kevinh]

There is a big difference between a program that gives rewards for big hits that result in injuries and "paying to injure."

You know that, and I know that. But how fishy does it sound for Shanle to say, "yes, we rewarded people for big hits that resulted in injuries, but that wasn't an incentive to make big hits that injured people"?

 

[Gore]

The way Shanle's coming off here, it shows me exactly why the players have kept quiet for so long.

Exactly. I said the same thing after some players apparently talked to Freeman and gave the some information that didnt help the Saints' case either. It's nice to get that information because we all like to know what happened but the lawyers were wise to tell the players not to talk to the media.

 

[whodataholic]

i refuse to read the ESPN comments

 

[dirtybirdfan2]

The NFL overreacted but it doesn't matter. Our players will circle the wagons.

I'm calling it now: Super Bowl.

I think we should just stand up and hold ourselves accountable for our mistakes. Let's just move on and take our punishment like men. Falcons Rise Up!!!!