Bounty Hunting

Well I am beyond shocked to read what follows in Thursday's Times newspaper (Tom Dart). Sometimes situations in sport just take the breath away, and sadly, unlike watching Jessica Ennis, not always for good reasons. The sporting 'Hall of Shame' just acquired another inglorious candidate. Apparently, and this is according to the National Football League (NFL), The New Orleans Saints, had a policy which rewarded players for seriously injuring players of rival teams. This policy was directed by their defence coach, Gregg Williams. Williams is no longer with the Saints, he has moved on to the St Louis Rams, but seemingly his  'services' are much in demand as I learn that he has previousl y coached at Tennessee Titans, Washington Redskins, Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars in a career spanning 2 decades.
Incredibly in just 2 seasons with the Saints, the NFL claim that over 20 players are impicated in  'incidents'. There was apparently a 'team pot' into which rewards were paid for the usual successes such as interceptions, but the bonuses extended to 'cart offs' and 'knockouts' as well.  The terms perhaps speak for themselves, but in reality we are talking about potentially career ending injuries. The callous disregard for others is staggering. This is Roy Keane attacking Alf Inge Haaland on an industrial scale! Williams is quoted as saying 'it was a terrible mistake and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it'.
Due to the ruthless efficiency of the players, this fund is said to have swelled to as much as $50,000.
Shocked? Apparently this is common place and many within the sport think it is no big deal. What is Football if not a game of 'deliberate targetted violence'? Tom Dart reports that a $10,000 bounty was put on Brett Favre by linebacker Jonathan Vilma, to put him out of a championship game in 2010. More incredibly, Favre, who was in fact injured in that very game, albeit not to the point of not completing the game, does not believe that there is anything wrong with the practice. Large men are paid exorbitant sums to do violence to each other. This plays to the bloodthirsty cravings of fans.

Linebacker Shawne Merriman wrote on Twitter 'Why is this a big deal now? Bounties have been going on forever'.
Safety Matt Bowen stated 'I'm not saying it's right. Or ethical. but the NFL isn't Little League football with neighbourhood dads playing Head Coach. This is the business of winning. If it means stepping over some line, you do it... Win or else. that's the drill'.  

Read more here: http://www.macon.com/2012/03/09/1940187/banish-the-nfl-bounty-hunters.html#storylink=cpy

Welll personally I think this is a massive deal. Football has an image problem and the authorities have a duty of care to the games' participants whose lives could be messed up forever by career ending injury. In my view expulsion from the sport is the only way to radically change the sport's mindset.
The NFL is already on the defensive, facing a torrent of lawsuits claiming that players were not adequately protected by the league with regard to the effects of repeated concussive blows.

Disproportionate? I dont think so. Soft bellied Englishman? Get real!