Michael Lombardi is reporting that NFL security has called for a meeting with former Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. The news comes on the heels of the revelation that Williams had implemented a program that would compensate defensive players for injuring key players of the opposing team. Frankly, the news that the NFL wants to meet with Williams doesn’t surprise anyone. In fact, I’m surprised it took this long.
The real news will come when the NFL hands down punishment for the so-called “bounty program.” The NFL has a serious dilemma, especially in the age of player safety. On one hand, they don’t want to destroy the Saints’ offseason by handing down obscene punishments, but on the other hand, a light sentence would be viewed as a joke by everyone, and it’d make the NFL look hypocritical, especially in the eyes of James Harrison.
My problem with the bounty program is that it actually disturbs me. Yes, I realize that the Saints and Williams probably aren’t the only ones that instituted such a program, but it doesn’t take anything away from my initial impression. It still disturbs me.
The NFL will likely punish the Saints and Gregg Williams in separate ways. Frankly, one of those decisions is simple. Gregg Williams needs to be barred from the NFL. Yes, that’s just one guy’s opinion, but it sends the message that such blatant disregard for opposing players won’t be tolerated. Don’t worry about fining the man. Just toss him. That’s all it takes.
The issue of punishing the Saints is far more difficult. While ultimately it’s the Saints’ problem that the bounty program was instituted, there are many people on the team and in the organization that had no idea it existed — probably.
Yes, a large fine should be included in punishing the Saints. That much seems pretty obvious, and it should be a big fine. Sean Payton should be fined as well. He should be suspended. He may even deserve to lose his job. According to the report released by the NFL, Payton did nothing once he learned of the bounty program. That can’t be tolerated, but I think I would be satisfied by a league imposed suspension.
As far as the team goes, the Saints should lose their first round draft pick in April’s draft. Make no mistake, taking a team’s first round pick will send a loud and clear message to every team in the league. I realize that we’re not taking a top of the draft first round pick with such a punishment, but what if it had been the Colts that had instituted a bounty program? First round picks matter, and the Saints shouldn’t be allowed to retain their pick.
I’m a writer. I don’t play the game, but I refuse to listen to anyone saying, “If you played, you’d understand.” No. That’s not true. I would never purposely injure a competitor, and it’s completely unnecessary. No matter how you look at it, football, even at the pro level, is a game. This type of issue should never be tolerated, no matter how much money is on the line.
