Gregg Williams Facing Severe Punishment
Added on Mar 05, 2012 by Scott in
No Comments
Current Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is in some hot water over his role in the “bounty” rings he allegedly instituted in New Orleans, Washington and Buffalo. To recap, Williams utilized an illegal pay-for-performance system that rewarded cash bonuses to defenders who delivered knockout hits. Depending on what the league’s investigation team uncovers, Williams could be suspended for up to half a season as punishment.
The most egregious violations seemed to occur while Williams ran the Saints defense from 2009 to 2011. As many as 27 players were reportedly involved in a $50,000 “bounty” pool that rewarded game-ending injuries and “cart-off” hits, along with interceptions and forced fumbles. Head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis knew the program existed but turned a blind eye to it.
In addition to Williams’ exploits in New Orleans, he is also accused of running similar schemes while the head coach of the Bills from 2001 to 2003, and as Redskins defensive coordinator from 2004-2007. He has admitted guilt to some of the incidents and issued a letter of apology, but it may fall on deaf ears in the league offices.
Needless to say, commissioner Roger Goodell — who is making a concerted effort to reduce needless violence in the game — is none too pleased with the idea of coaches handing out bonuses for inflicting purposeful injuries. Coaches are supposed to lead by example, not encourage players to hurt other players.
If Goodell is true to his cause, then he’ll drop the hammer on Williams. If James Harrison and Ndamukong Suh can be slapped with fines for questionable hits, Williams should be fined and suspended. Anything less makes Goodell look like a hypocrite.
What’s worse, a linebacker laying out a quarterback in the heat of moment, or a coordinator instructing a linebacker to lay out a quarterback in order to get a bonus?
One would have to be naive not to think bounties have been going on for years. Back in 1989, then Eagles coach Buddy Ryan was accused of placing bounties on Cowboys kicker Luis Zendejas and quarterback Troy Aikman in the infamous Thanksgiving Day “Bounty Bowl.”
Ryan was never punished and to this day claims he never placed bounties on anyone. Ironically, Ryan was Williams’ boss in 1993 with the Houston Oilers.
Source: NFL.com
