Thread: Ex-Bears, Ex-Saint Brown on Player Punishments: "Dead wrong"

The person who is "dead wrong" is Alex Brown. Comparing what Ndamukong Suh did by stomping Evan Dietrich-Smith to the premeditated actions of a group of New Orleans Saints' defenders is like comparing apples to oranges. Suh's act was a one time thing that was strictly reactionary, albeit stupid nevertheless. What the Saints' players did was essentially pay player to act as assassins to seriously injure certain players for sport as much as it was for a competitive advantage.

Brown doesn't fully understand all of this because he probably was never let in on their schemes. He was the outsider, while guys like Jonathan Vilma and Scott Fujita were with the team much longer and thus had developed a close relationship with Gregg Williams. The extent of Brown's experience with the Saints was as a "revolving door" player; he only played for the team one year (2010), so he has no idea about whether or not Vilma paid out $10,000 to whomever put Favre out of the NFC Championship Game since it occurred in January of 2010, some nine months prior to his arrival in New Orleans.

This mentality makes guys more apt " look for it " - the opportunity to blast someone for the accolades and the money. It fosters a dirty player mindset. Brown is hiding behnd the ' it's a viscious game ' argument. Yeah no shit. But promoting it makes it more likely to happen. And it did. Did Kurt Warner REALLY need to be hit like that or could he have been blocked normally ? If they really wanted to ... guys on all teams could make hits like this way more often. But they don't cuz they know it takes away for the sportsmanship side of the game - and it makes it more likely it could happen to them. Play the game , don't do all the cheap shit that anyone can do.

Originally Posted by Jimmors

They werent punished for "playing vicious" Alex, they were punished for bounties. Sad that you cant comprehend the difference.

That's what I don't get, Jimmors. What is so fucking complicated and convoluted about this situation that there should be a greater punishment for a player stomping on an opponent in the heat of battle out of frustration (Suh), which is in no way acceptable, and severely punishing players and coaches who throw money into a pot in order to make wagers on taking out an opponent from the game? It's like Blue said, it's a matter of sportsmanship to play within the rules and to go out and, while making your point with a hard tackle, not do so in such a way as to be intentionally injurious. This whole scandal is sickening, and the best part is that the Saints organization isn't done with the shit that's been slung at them, as they are getting ready to really get the hammer laid down on them by "Saint Roger" over the eavesdropping scandal.

Frankly, I hope there is such a thing as a "death penalty" in the NFL whereby you remove a team's capability to draft for an entire year as well as to sign any new free agents or to make trades. Maybe then, the Saints' ownership will learn its lesson.

I completely disagree with Alex. I've read comments on other sites from people who defend Suh. It obvious some would rather play dumb and pretend to not know the difference between right and wrong. It's not difficult to understand what the Saints coach did and what Suh has done is morally f*cked. It is apples and oranges when trying to compare their actions, like Dags said. It's not respected in the league. "Pretty soon they will be playing soccer if Goodell continues" is what some have said. Well, I have such a great respect for Goodell who has put in the effort to protect players with new rules. I don't agree with the kickoff rule but if it proves to cut down the injuries then so be it.

They're all appealing this in court so we'll see if the NFL has enough evidence to make it stick outside of their own court room. I'd like to see them be less secretive about how it is that these three guys get dunned for it and no one else. There were eleven guys playing when it happened.

I don't like to think that what they're accused of may be accurate but if it was me and you were taking away my right to earn several million dollars you'd better bet my ass would be hauling your ass into court over it too. It is what it is for now but that doesn't mean it will stay that way.

If the courts granted an injunction against the suspending the William's boys over their steroid issue my guess is that they'll grant one in this case too. Peyton may accept it for the good of the team and the league but don't expect the players to.

It's not difficult to prove. Supposedly Vilma and two other individuals set up the bounty program and Vilma put forth $10,000 of his money into it. Any decent accountant can track that. And only Vilma has been suspended. I bet he was a little upset. I read that the league knew about it for two seasons and told them to stop the program. The source is an unreliable source but if that is true than there surely is paperwork of acknowledgement.

I like that Vilma wants a ring. I dislike the way he goes about getting it.

But you never know what is going to happen in court. They could duck the entire issue. In my opinion, it doesn't look good for the Saints players. And I hope some hefty fines are dealt to go with the suspensions.

Originally Posted by nelliewilson

It's not difficult to prove. Supposedly Vilma and two other individuals set up the bounty program and Vilma put forth $10,000 of his money into it. Any decent accountant can track that. And only Vilma has been suspended. I bet he was a little upset. I read that the league knew about it for two seasons and told them to stop the program. The source is an unreliable source but if that is true than there surely is paperwork of acknowledgement.

I like that Vilma wants a ring. I dislike the way he goes about getting it.

But you never know what is going to happen in court. They could duck the entire issue. In my opinion, it doesn't look good for the Saints players. And I hope some hefty fines are dealt to go with the suspensions.

What accountant nellie? These were payments between the players not from the team. This would be like the money that changes hands during a poker game on a long flight, undeclared income. If there's any books on those payments or someone itemized it on their taxes they're idiots. If you're gonna do something "dodgy" don't ever leave a paper trail.

Vilma got suspended and from what I read so did Hargrove and Fujita but for lesser periods of time. It's still gonna cost these guys millions. I'm assuming the NFL can meet the burden of proof but knowing Goodell who likes to shoot first and ask questions later I'm not 100% positive they can.