It’s clear that Gregg Williams’ bounty program traces back to his days with the Washington Redskins and now it looks like it might be the cause of Peyton Manning’s neck injury that almost knocked him out of football for good.
The Washington Post released an article back in September about the game in which Manning might have suffered the injury that kept him from playing this past season. In the article, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy indicated that he believed Manning’s neck injury originated from a hit he suffered against the Redskins back in 2006.
In that game Manning was brutally hit by former Redskins’ Philip Daniels and Andre Carter. During the game, Dungy was outraged by the hit and wanted a flag but didn’t get one at the time.
“Earlier in the game,” Dungy said back in September of 2011 per the Post, “I’m outraged that there was a flag for roughing-the-passer on Dwight Freeney for just grazing the quarterback’s helmet. So I’m yelling at the ref [Scott Green], ‘Where’s the flag! Where’s the flag!’ And I don’t yell much, but I did then. So I didn’t notice Peyton calling timeout and being shaken up. Peyton came to the sideline and said to [backup] Jim Sorgi, ‘Jim, start warming up.’ As the timeout went on, he said to us, ‘I can stay in, but we need to run the ball here.’ ”
“Then we sort of forgot about it at halftime, and Peyton seemed fine,” Dungy said. “He lit it up in the second half. He was on fire [throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns]. But that’s the year we started cutting back on his throws at practice. I’m not putting two plus two together. I just figure he’s getting older and he needs some time off, he’s made enough throws. But now, as I look back on it, there’s no doubt in my mind that this was the start of his neck problems.”
Daniels later claimed the hit was legal and that the only reason it was penalized and he was fined was because the hit was on Manning.
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Assuming that these bounty hits was across state lines, I wonder if the Federal Goverment will get involved. After all it’s a crime to assault someone. Like it or not saint fans, it was deliberate and they were PAID to injure people.
I agree with you. It will be interesting to see the NFL response to these accusations. If they only issue a few lame fines (we all know money means nothing to most NFL players because of their earnings) I for one will lose a lot of respect for the game of pro football. I can’t imagine that I am the only one that feels this way. This is a CRIME, and a mere fine should not be the punishment. Man up NFL and do what’s right
to punish the guilty!!
Greg Williams should be fired, fined and brought up on charges. The players also knew better – they should all be fined. If Coach Payton of the Saints knew about it and didn’t stop it, he should also be fined and fired.
Peyton is as much to blame although I agree with Dungy i remember the game. Manning needs to retire with his head held high, he has been a true hero. I do not want to see this man paralized i have an injury a little worse in same area football is not woth the price. He needs to think about his family or the defencive player who’s job it is to bring him down. I would not want to be that player that lays him out for good.
Peyton should be blamed for what?
Sean Peyton was the head coach, he knew it was going on and stood by because it helped him win games!!
Peyton is to blame? For what? For being injured? You will have to explain the logic behind that comment.
I think we have some confusion here because of the spelling of the names. Sean Payton is the Saints coach, Peyton Manning is the player. But this hit on Peyton did not involve the Saints, so Payton was not involved, but Gregg Williams was when he was with the Redskins. Hope that helps.
Maybe in this case, the NFL should turn a blind eye and let the other teams plan and calculate how to put Drew Brees out, hefty fines, Williams’ job and a suspension for Peyton, MINIMUM !!!
That is pretty effin ignorant.
Anyone who makes it a point to hurt someone is breaking a law, and if they do it for money it makes the crime even worse. So these people should not only be fined and baned from sports at all leavels but possiblely do time in prison. There is no difference , assualt with the intent to inflict pain and life threating injury is a crime be it on a professional ball field or on any street in america.
This game has always been a violent sport. For us to act like is it so abhorrent is not being honest with ourselves. Football is controlled violence within the confines of a whistle blow. Yes, they have cleaned it up a bit mostly for Wideouts and QBs but it is still a very violent sport. Now there are some of you like me who may say that they watch for its artform. I loved watching Peyton pick apart a defense. I loved watching Barry Sanders run or Deion Sanders bait and QB and snatch an interception. However, I still watched a number of plays where someone got their head handed to them. So I still watched violence. Just being honest.
I know everyone wants to blame Williams but it was the players that followed through with this. No skill involved to hurt someone but a lot of players are taught from the very begining as kids that you go out to win doing what ever it takes with the parents cheering them on.
Give me a freaking break & SMDH! Looking at Sports Center and the Media, Reporters, & simple minded washed up players speaking out on something that has been going on for ever in the league and will “NEVER” change… Don’t like it don’t play, dont’ watch it… There’s always Bowling…
I have to agree with James. All this crying is for the birds. If you played contact sports you know you always have a hit list on the other team. Nobody likes to lose, this is a hard hitting sport and not flag football. let’s stop and think for a moment. If a third string player would have complain would we make a big deal? the answer is “No” we would have told them to suck it up and play ball. Just because you a superstar then nobody can touch you. “Come on!” that’s why we watch this game for the hard hitting.
Maybe when these thugs get outta prison, coach peyton will supply em with brass knuckles, beat sticks an steel pointed cleats.
Dey gonna need em; who dat now ?
Please read people, all the players or sayn that this has been going on. Some of them from the 70′s. The saints just got caught. It’s not right about the money, but I’m sure all player want to crack someone for something that was done to them in the pass. Thus seems to follow Gregg so get him out of coaching all together.
I followed this link from Foxsports site that blamed the Saints in their title. This article has nothing to do with the Saints. Idiots!
Anyone who thinks that this only occurred on the Saints football team is foolish. Players and coaches move from team-to team and repeat the same practices. These bad habbits don’t change, only the faces on the teams. The Saints and Greg Williams did not invent this – come on people let’s not be in denial. If a thorough investigation occurs, the entire league will be found culpable!
Maybe should give up the super the Saints won.
I just hope the NFL doesn’t take over boxing. Or MMA. Imagine those evil people in the sport trying to knock out their opponent! How brutal. It is football people. I for one don’t watch or follow it as much as I used too because it has gotten ridiculous trying to keep good hits and hard hits out of the game. Trying to penalize players for doing what football is all about is only ruining the game and so be it. You can watch performances like the last Pro Bowl and see where the game is headed.
I am glad the truth has come out. Anyone who watched the Vikings-Saints game knows that if the Saints hadn’t nearly crippled Brett Favre the Saints would not have gone to the Super Bowl. It’s one thing to play hard ball, something else to have so little regard for players’ life and limb. If any of us deliberately injured someone, we’d pay criminally and civilly.
True that man football is a mans sport for a reason. I’m not saying go out there to hurt someone on purpose, but it is a hard hittting sport and always has been. On another note tho to put a price on someones head, thats just wrong. This really gets me to because im a saints fan and this isnt going to change that.
did those players that were the bounty hunters receive extra money?