'Bounties' for Injuries

[Mr. Ypsi]

I've finally gotten around to reading up on the Saints (especially Gregg Williams) long-standing paying of bounties for injuring opponents.  This is WAY beyond appalling; it is, literally, criminal.  Surely it is a major felony in every jurisdiction in the country to pay a person to injure a third person.  Williams will (according to SI speculation) probably receive an 8-game suspension.  May I suggest that he (and perhaps others) should be banned for life AND receive prison time.

I'm generally leery of legal authorities getting involved in sports (I make exceptions, of course, if MY guy gets assaulted! ), but this is a whole different animal.  For a coach to pay for injuring opponents makes him no better than a mafia don.  Where are the prosecutors?

[NCF]

Pretty sad for a coach of an NFL team to stoop so low.

[frank uible]

When there is more than a little at stake, many people in this world will lie, cheat and steal if they believe that they can avoid detection.

[NCF]

Ain't that the truth!

[Ralph Turner]

I need legal help with "Bounties for Injuries" issue.

Why does this not constitute the legal definition of assault with malice aforethought?

What would prevent a district attorney or federal prosecutor from calling a grand jury to investigate this for criminal intent and prosecution?

Thank you.

[Gray Fox]

I need legal help with "Bounties for Injuries" issue.

Why does this not constitute the legal definition of assault with malice aforethought?

What would prevent a district attorney or federal prosecutor from calling a grand jury to investigate this for criminal intent and prosecution?

Thank you.

This can get complicated.  What about "enforcers" in hockey?

[NCF]

I need legal help with "Bounties for Injuries" issue.

Why does this not constitute the legal definition of assault with malice aforethought?

What would prevent a district attorney or federal prosecutor from calling a grand jury to investigate this for criminal intent and prosecution?

Thank you.

This can get complicated.  What about "enforcers" in hockey?

just as guilty!

[NCF]

Fox News had a segment on this topic this morning. Maybe this issue will be addressed before the start of the 2012 season.

[Knightstalker]

Is a cash bounty for taking a player out of an NFL game any different than a helmet sticker for a HS or College player for doing the same thing?  How about the fact this has been happening as long as they have been playing football?  Buddy Ryan and the Eagles got caught doing this and it was supposed to be addressed and stopped back in the 90's but hasn't been.  The NFL will hang Greg Williams out to dry and a couple of others and this will continue to happen. 

[NCF]

I think there is a difference for a great hit and purposely trying to take someone out with a hit.

[Knightstalker]

I think there is a difference for a great hit and purposely trying to take someone out with a hit.

I know of a few HS and college coaches who have told players that special helmet stickers would be given for a hit that takes a player out of a game.  We had a skull and crossbones sticker in HS that was given for a hit that took a star player out on another team, there is no difference.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I think there is a difference for a great hit and purposely trying to take someone out with a hit.

I know of a few HS and college coaches who have told players that special helmet stickers would be given for a hit that takes a player out of a game.  We had a skull and crossbones sticker in HS that was given for a hit that took a star player out on another team, there is no difference.

Actually, there is.  According to media reports, Williams had a set fee for varying levels of injury.  In probably every jurisdiction in the country, paying a person to injure a third person is a felony.  Why prosecutors are not getting involved is beyond me (or perhaps they are, but it has not yet come to light).

[frank uible]

It is called prosecutorial discretion.

[NCF]

I think there is a difference for a great hit and purposely trying to take someone out with a hit.

I know of a few HS and college coaches who have told players that special helmet stickers would be given for a hit that takes a player out of a game.  We had a skull and crossbones sticker in HS that was given for a hit that took a star player out on another team, there is no difference.

IMHO,That is part of what's wrong in athletics today. No player should be targeting another player with the intent to take him out. Athletic competition is about developing sportsmanship. I just don't see how "targeting" another player, with the intent of injuring him is sportsmanlike.

[Knightstalker]

I think there is a difference for a great hit and purposely trying to take someone out with a hit.

I know of a few HS and college coaches who have told players that special helmet stickers would be given for a hit that takes a player out of a game.  We had a skull and crossbones sticker in HS that was given for a hit that took a star player out on another team, there is no difference.

IMHO,That is part of what's wrong in athletics today. No player should be targeting another player with the intent to take him out. Athletic competition is about developing sportsmanship. I just don't see how "targeting" another player, with the intent of injuring him is sportsmanlike.

This is not just an issue with athletics today, this was happening in the 70's at my high school and others in the conference we played in.