On Friday, it was announced that the New Orleans Saints had a "bounty program" over the last few years, in which the coaching staff would pay players for injuring opposing players.

It was big news.  Fans couldn't believe what they were hearing.  Coaches collecting money and having target lists for each game.  If no players on the target list were knocked out of their game against the Saints, the prize fund would grow, like the lottery, and the next week, there would be a new target list.  Players would be paid for what they called, "knockout shots", which were hits that took an opposing player out of a game.

"Outrageous!" said fans.  "I can't believe a league like the NFL would have anyone that would do that", they said.  Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was at the center of the storm.  Who knew?  The mild mannered former head coach of the Buffalo Bills was actually the Don Corleone or John Gotti of the NFL?  That Williams was walking into Sean Payton's office and saying about his defense before a big game, "I'm gonna make 'em an offer they can't refuse".  Players trying to whack other players....unbelievable!

Now, word out of Buffalo is that this wasn't just a Saints thing.  Former Bills safety Coy Wire and two other former Bills who played for Williams in Buffalo from 2001-2003, said that Williams had a system of bounty rewards then too. 

"It's real" said Wire, "That happened in Buffalo too.  There was financial compensation", Wire told the Buffalo News.

Bills CEO Russ Brandon disavowed any knowledge of any bounties when Williams coached the Bills.  Well duh!  Brandon could know that the defensive backs are executing human sacrifices for voodoo rituals in the practice facility and he wouldn't admit to it. 

So, if Williams had a bounty program in place for the Bills, and he had it for the Saints, you would have to think he would also have had one when he was the defensive coordinator for the Redskins and the Titans too.  Let's just say it wouldn't be a stretch.

He has admitted it about the Saints, so once a bounty organizer, always a bounty organizer right?  Anyways, what I am saying if he was guilty of having a bounty program in place for every team he ever coached, then so what???  What is the big deal? 

I will tell you this....Gregg Williams and the Saints are NOT the only team in the NFL to have a program like this.  They are just the only team TO GET CAUGHT!

Paying players to injure opponents has been around as long as the game has been played.  In fact, I don't think it is even just professional leagues with the problem.  I bet it has happened in collegiate football programs.  Perhaps even in high schools. 

Football is nearly a blood sport.  Lives are on the line every time you lace 'em up.  How many stories do you hear, each and every year, about football players at all levels being paralyzed or sometimes even dying on the gridiron.  It is a dangerous sport, and bounties have always been a part of it.

Buddy Ryan got in trouble for placing bounties on players when he was coaching back in the 80's.  You know some of the old-timers like Curly Lambeau, Paul Brown and George Halas probably had them. 

I realize that saying "well everybody does it" is like a teenager who is trying to explain why cigarettes were in their pocket, and their parents found their jacket.  It doesn't make it right.  I realize that, and I am not saying it is a good thing....for a coach to tell his players to hurt someone intentionally.  What I am saying is that I don't think it will make a bit of difference if the NFL cracks down on bounties now. 

I realize that Roger Goodell has to act insulted that his game has fallen to these levels.  He has to decry the practice, and say how the NFL won't stand for something as barbaric as that.  It's his job.  He has to come across as having a hard line stance so that the fans respect him, the game, and the job he is doing.  I also bet that even he really knows it is not going to stop the practice.

It's like many other things in sports.  Baseball players stealing signs.  Football players stealing the opponents playbooks.  Slow-footed baseball teams letting the grass on their diamond grow higher than most other stadiums.  Videotaping opponents practices.  You think Spygate ended that practice?  I highly doubt it.  Whenever a team can find any way possible to gain some kind of edge over another, things like this will happen and you can bet years from now, some coach is going to tell his defensive charges, "Hey boys, if you get a really good shot at that quarterback/running back/wide receiver, TAKE IT.....and maybe I'll slip you a couple bucks or promote you to the first team.

It's unfortunate, but that's competition.  Wherever there is competition, and people being paid large amounts of money to do so, you will always find people and teams trying to get an edge.  We like to deceive ourselves, and tell us that sports are pure, and everything is always on the up and up. 

Sadly, that's just not true.  Gregg Williams and company are just proving it.