'Bounties' for Injuries

[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.

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.

That still doesn't make it right. Any time in any sport an athlete deliberately plans to injure an opponent-just doesn't seem right.IMO I can't justify that type of action. Football is all about the hard hits-not intentionally trying to hurt someone. We can go round and round on this issue and never come to a resolution-but at least we can state our opinions.

[Mr. Ypsi]

I agree that ethically there is little difference between helmet stickers (or other team incentives) for injuring an opponent and a coach specifically paying for it.  Rightly or wrongly, legally there is a major difference: paying a person to injure a third party is a felony.  Williams apparently did so.  If that is correct, Williams is not just a scumbag, he is a felon.

Frank, there are two meaning of prosecutorial discretion.  In technical terms, it refers to the ability (and duty) of prosecutors to decide which cases to pursue.  In everyday terminology it also could mean discretion in the sense of not speaking until one needs to speak.  I suspect you meant the former, but wonder if anyone has a sense of whether they have decided not to prosecute, or have simply chosen not to reveal their cards before getting in the game?

[NCF]

I would suspect the latter.

[ExTartanPlayer]

I agree that ethically there is little difference between helmet stickers (or other team incentives) for injuring an opponent and a coach specifically paying for it.  Rightly or wrongly, legally there is a major difference: paying a person to injure a third party is a felony.  Williams apparently did so.  If that is correct, Williams is not just a scumbag, he is a felon.

+1.  Well stated.

I've been talking with friends about this; since day one, I've said that Williams should get a lifetime ban from coaching in the NFL, no questions asked.  So what if he's the "fall guy" and other people have been doing it for years?  To me, this is a chance for the NFL to make a strong statement about player safety, especially with the recent concerns about safety.

Unfortunately I think that Williams is going to be protected a bit by the "other people are doing it and we don't really want to open this can of worms" logic...which means he'll get maybe an 8-game suspension, IMHO.

[NCF]

I agree that ethically there is little difference between helmet stickers (or other team incentives) for injuring an opponent and a coach specifically paying for it.  Rightly or wrongly, legally there is a major difference: paying a person to injure a third party is a felony.  Williams apparently did so.  If that is correct, Williams is not just a scumbag, he is a felon.

+1.  Well stated.

I've been talking with friends about this; since day one, I've said that Williams should get a lifetime ban from coaching in the NFL, no questions asked.  So what if he's the "fall guy" and other people have been doing it for years?  To me, this is a chance for the NFL to make a strong statement about player safety, especially with the recent concerns about safety.

Unfortunately I think that Williams is going to be protected a bit by the "other people are doing it and we don't really want to open this can of worms" logic...which means he'll get maybe an 8-game suspension, IMHO.

If that. This wil be handled as quietly as possible-unfortunately.

[Mr. Ypsi]

Not so quietly, after all:

http://nfl.si.com/2012/03/21/nfl-hammers-saints-gregg-williams-for-bounty-scandal/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

HC Payton suspended for entire season, 2 other coaches for 8 and 6 games, team fined $500,000 and forfeits two #2 draft picks.  Williams is suspended 'indefinitely', and will not even be reviewed until after next season, so AT LEAST one full year.

My kudos to the NFL.  But at least for Williams, it is also a felony - will prosecutors get involved?

[NCF]

Not so quietly, after all:

http://nfl.si.com/2012/03/21/nfl-hammers-saints-gregg-williams-for-bounty-scandal/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp

HC Payton suspended for entire season, 2 other coaches for 8 and 6 games, team fined $500,000 and forfeits two #2 draft picks.  Williams is suspended 'indefinitely', and will not even be reviewed until after next season, so AT LEAST one full year.

  But at least for Williams, it is also a felony - will prosecutors get involved?

Agreed!! I am surprised they did not try to sweep it under the rug and look the other way. It looks like NFL made the right call. Wonder if now any prosecutos will get involved?

[Mr. Ypsi]

A correction to my earlier post: the 8 game suspension was not another coach, but the GM.

No word yet on any punishment of players, but I would anticipate a heavy fine/suspension of Vilma, who reportedly put a $10,000 bounty (of his own money) on anyone knocking out Bret Favre in a 2010 playoff game - again, not just a violation of NFL rules, but a felony.

[NCF]

A correction to my earlier post: the 8 game suspension was not another coach, but the GM.

No word yet on any punishment of players, but I would anticipate a heavy fine/suspension of Vilma, who reportedly put a $10,000 bounty (of his own money) on anyone knocking out Bret Favre in a 2010 playoff game - again, not just a violation of NFL rules, but a felony.

Everything will eventually come out now that they got the ball rolling.

[NCF]

 After listening to the news, sound like the NFL will look for more-could be very interesting.

[pg04]

Agreed with Ypsi and newcardfan, I was impressed by the punishment.  Glad the NFL took the stance.  Just because something has been done since the beginning of football's inception, that coaches place "stars" on helmets for it, or that everyone does it, does not make it appropriate or right. 

[NCF]

Agreed with Ypsi and newcardfan, I was impressed by the punishment.  Glad the NFL took the stance.  Just because something has been done since the beginning of football's inception, that coaches place "stars" on helmets for it, or that everyone does it, does not make it appropriate or right.

At this point, the NFL had to make a stance. Now they have to follow through with their investigation.

[Ralph Turner]

Remember why President Teddy Roosevelt "nudged" the NCAA into creation?

[hickory_cornhusker]

Remember why President Teddy Roosevelt "nudged" the NCAA into creation?

The offense at the time was the flying wedge and players were dying because of it.

[Mr. Ypsi]

The second shoe drops - hard!

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/football/nfl/05/02/saints.suspensions.ap/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_t11_a0