The Bounty Program... Is there a double standard here?

Gregg Williams – Photo: AP

New Orleans Saints Defensive Coordinator, Gregg Williams admitted to NFL League Investigators yesterday that he was the ring leader of a bounty program that gave thousand dollar bonuses to defensive players for "knockout" or "cart off" hits for at least three years. What does this glaring and admitted violation of the "No Bounty Program" Rule in the NFL really mean?

Anyone who watches professional football on a regular basis cannot be surprised by this. Big hits are one of the reasons we watch this level of football. It's human nature to want to see this type of controlled violence. It goes all the way back to the Roman Times with the Gladiators and even today there are daily bull "fights" in Mexico in Colosseum-like arenas... We are entertained by violence... it's in our nature. We get a thrill out of seeing the shocking and amazing things that other humans do to each other and against each other in the name of competition.

If the NFL wants to push the "safety" awareness and does not condone big hits... the why does nfl.com post weekly "Top 10 Hits Of The Week" video montages? Why does it allow Fox and CBS to show big hits in the weekly promos? Why does this hypocrisy exist?

It seems as though NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell is trying to turn this massive ship around but if he is going to punish the Saints with fines and/or loss of draft picks and/or suspensions... he has to look inside his own house and make sure it's clean before he starts cleaning house in other places. The NFL also needs to take a hard look at their stance on helping former players who are dealing with the physical ailments caused by the impact injuries.

I don't agree with a Bounty Program. I don't think it's necessary in this sport. The violence is already there. Helmet stickers maybe?

One of the most violent players in the game, Ndamukong Suh, doesn't need a bonus incentive to give out big hits. When asked about the alleged bounty program in New Orleans, Suh told ESPN:   "I don't take part in those things and nor do my teammates and nor my coaches. We don't allow that," Suh said. "For me, personally, and I know my teammates, we don't want to put anybody out," he added. "Especially me, I would never want anybody to target me to take me out, so why would I do it against somebody else?"

Why would players who make unbelievable amounts of money, some millions of dollars per season, need a $1,500 or $1,000 bonus incentive to make a big hit on another player? They are already paid a base salary to do just that! It's not really about the money for them, is it? No, it's about the game within the game. Who can make the biggest hit and who can knockout the Quarterback on the other team. It's a competition within a competition.

Professional sports in America is, at its very basis, entertainment. Men and women are paid to play a sport in front of thousands of fans in an arena, who pay to watch and be entertained. Millions of people around the world tune in on their TVs and computers and even their phones to be entertained.

Should the NFL punish the Saints? Yes, they broke the rules.... but the NFL has to look at the big picture and itself. 

If Roger Goodell wants to limit big hits, knockouts, and cart-offs and make the NFL "safe" for it's players... get out the day-glo pink flags and let's call it The National Flag Football League.... then let's see if the money keeps rolling in.

That's what the NFL is all about in its core... it's a cash cow money maker and NOBODY wants that to go away! The owners don't want it to go away, the players don't, the agents don't... not even the beer man want's it to go away!

This is America! This is what America is all about!

Running out of options...

At the ripe old age of 38, I look back on my life and marvel at how remarkably dumb some of the decisions I have made were. I won't go into any detail, those are my lessons and my journey, I am no celebrity and don't care to be, so hopefully, they will remain in my memory. I know that my parents have probably tried hard to forget them, but good or bad, they are there for my benefit.

Tate Forcier

On the subject of questionable moves, I turn to Tate Forcier. This morning, rivals.com reported that 3 months after signing financial aid paperwork with the University of Miami, Tate has informed them that he, in fact, will not be attending "The U".

What happened Tate? Did somebody get a hold of your transcripts from Michigan? Apparently, when Tate decided that he knew that he wouldn't be attending Michigan for the 2011 school year, he stopped going to class.. or stopped doing classwork or stopped striving to get good grades... in any case, he quit. He decided that since he knew that he wouldn't be playing football, he didn't need to bother with class. He gave up.

This leads to my next question. Did Tate go to Michigan to get a Degree of some sort or did he go there to play football, to start at quarterback, to get noticed by pro scouts and then apply for the NFL Draft? Then when he realized that, at best, he would always be a back up to Denard Robinson at Michigan, he quit focusing on being a good student... I don't know what happened, I am not in his head. But I have to ask when did you give up on the school Tate? When did you give up on your on education? Did you think that another school, a football program I should say, that has had a history of being a traditionally "drop back and pass" program would be your ticket to the NFL? What is the focus here? Aren't these kids playing football in exchange for an education? That's why many people play football at Michigan. Many people who come from "football families" JUST LIKE THE FORCIERS play football at any school.. to get educated for the real world. We all know that the NFL is NOT the real world, recent events included!

Not many of the kids who play college sports go on to the pros.. the fact is, the percentages are VERY low.

Jarrett Irons

I remember when I was younger, every season I picked my favorite football player at Michigan and followed him. One year it was Anthony Carter, one year it was somebody else, but one season it was Jarrett Irons. A 6' 1" 230 lbs Linebacker from Texas. He came from a football family too, his father and grandfather both played in the NFL. Did he go off to the NFL? Actually he went un-drafted and signed with the Arizona Cardinals who cut him during training camp... boggles my mind to this day but that's another story. Did Jarrett go to another team and try to make it there? No, he went back to Ann Arbor and did his graduate studies.

My point is that, unlike Tate, Jarrett was able to go on to a career outside of football BECAUSE he was able to focus on school and studies. Does Tate have that option anymore? I doubt it. I am not sure what Tate will do next but his options are very limited because of his choices, there's a huge consequence.

STSW