Unless you have been living under a rock these past few weeks, especially in the last couple of days,
you are aware the Gregg Williams is a bounty hunter. Well, not really a bounty hunter, but the dude has some issues.
If you don’t know the story, Gregg Williams, former defensive coordinator with the New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Redskins has gotten into a lot of trouble recently with the NFL. During his time with the Saints, (and probably other stops along the way) Williams would offer up cash to his defensive players, if they injured someone during a game. At first I thought eh who cares, this kind of thing probably happens all over the NFL.
I mean, it isn’t like these players are playing two hand touch. What are you, as a defensive player trying to do when you rush the QB? In the end, you are probably trying to knock Rodgers, Manning or whoever else is back there out of the game.
However, recent news that has come out has changed my attitude. A new audio recording captured by documentary filmmaker, Sean Pamphillon details the chilling events by Williams before a playoff game between the Saints and the 49ers this past year. Among other things, Williams suggested that Michael Crabtree becomes human when you take out his ACL. Look, football is a dangerous game, it is a violent game, but this is a line that has been drawn way too far down. The NFL absolutely must do something about this, and clean it up.
However, it is going to be extremely difficult to know where to draw that line. How does the NFL combat this, and not make it a game of two hand touch?
Jones, I’ve heard a lot of people focus on the ACL issue. The reality is, targeting a player’s head is just as bad, if not worse. For proof, watch a replay of Muhammad Ali throwing out the first pitch of your Marlins/Cardinals game on Wednesday. That’s what happens when you repeatedly get hit in the head, which Gregg Williams was also encouraging. Going after somebody’s ACL is bad, but I think going after somebody’s head can be worse. No disrespect to Ali, he’s a great man and was a great boxer, and it’s really sad to see what’s happened to him.
I’d defer to sombody like Oddjob on this question. I don’t think you can take the danger out of football. It’s like skydiving, or riding a motorcycle, or scuba diving, or a million other dangerous activities that people choose to do every day. If you choose to do that, then that’s fine. Even in a normal non-bounty game of football, a person can tear their ACL or get a concussion. Make yourself aware of the possible dangers, and weigh those dangers against your desire to play the game. Personal Responsibility.
I’m OK with the league limiting and regulating illegal hits. Horse-collar tackles have been illegal for a long time. Chop blocks are illegal. The league needs to specify reasonable boundaries, and let the game continue. If James Harrison wants to whine and doesn’t want to change his crappy playing technique, then he can quit, and there are plenty of other players who will play by the rules and take his place. As a fan, I’m more excited about the offense than the brutal tackling.
I can tell you, any future Watts children won’t be going out on the football field. One, we have no athletic ability. Two, I can’t imagine putting my kids into that dangerous situation.