New Orleans Saints Bounty Scandal: Hypocrisy Surrounds NFL Player Safety Issue

The recent "bounty" scandal involving Gregg Williams and the New Orleans Saints has brought out many different opinions, but none have been more hypocritical than that of many current and former players who say it is just part of the game.

Let's take a trip down memory lane for a moment to reminisce about the way many people have responded to Roger Goodell's recent push to make the league safer for players, shall we?

It seems like the general consensus for most people has been that Goodell doesn't really care about player safety, rather all he really cares about is not getting hit with a lawsuit and that he's really only protecting the financial interests of the NFL.

There have been many who have suggested that the NFL has known for decades about the danger posed to players who pound away at one another, banging helmets for 60 minutes every week for a few months a year. 

James Harrison, the league's poster child for the new helmet-to-helmet laws, has voraciously gone after Goodell in public for the stiff fines he imposed on some of Harrison's illegal hits. Harrison gave an interview with Men's Journal back in the spring of 2011 where he called Goodell:

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(anti-gay slur), stupid, puppet, dictator...If that man was on fire and I had to piss to put him out, I wouldn't do it. I hate him and will never respect him. 

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Harrison went on to suggest Goodell's motivation was race-based, saying: "You think black players don't see this s--- and lose all respect for Goodell?"

Many players have defended the way Harrison plays. James Farrior, who was cut by the Steelers yesterday, seems to agree with some of what he says, too. He was on the Jim Rome Show in December 2011 when he said: "You know, we’re just kind of tired of being a target for the NFL, being the poster boy for these type of hits."

Players and fans alike have questioned the sincerity and motivation for Goodell's recent push for player safety.  

One of the things we learned about this current investigation is that Gregg Williams was running the same kind of bounty program during his time as the defensive coordinator for the Washington Redskins as well as with his time with the Saints. 

Former Redskins defensive back Matt Bowen, who played for Williams during that period of time, went on record to say he had no regrets for participating in the bounty program (see video here).

Kurt Warner and others have suggested that this kind of thing goes on all the time.

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I think you're crazy if you think that there weren't defensive linemen that sat at their locker before the game, saying, 'Hey, I'm buying dinner if we knock somebody out first.' Those kind of things have been around our game for a long time.

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This 'bounty' program happens all around the league...not surprising

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"— Damien Woody (@damienwoody) March 2, 2012"

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Why is this a big deal now? Bounties been going on forever. A "Bounty" left me with a torn PCL and LCL in my knee ... tmi.me/mB6pm

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"— Shawne Merriman (@shawnemerriman) March 2, 2012"

I think the worst one I saw was this one from former Philadelphia Eagles cornerback, Mark McMillian:

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Roger Goodell says #Saints bounty program involved payments for injuring opposing players. Who was the rat that told #DAMSHAME

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"— Mark McMillian (@MarkMcMillian29) March 2, 2012"

So, according to many players, this thing goes on all the time, some even suggesting it is acceptable, yet Goodell is the one being disingenuous?

Players and fans like the inherent violent nature of the NFL. We like the fact that there is the potential on any given play to see a player get hit so hard that his feet end up where his head was supposed to be.

We want to see it, and players want to do it.

Goodell has been tweaking our game. Whether his motivation has been to protect the NFL or to sincerely protect it's players or a bit of both matters not. We don't like change.

Goodell's decisions in the aftermath of this bounty scandal are going to shape the NFL for decades to come. He has the opportunity to inflict some serious consequences on the teams, players and coaches who have been implicated.

The biggest question I have for all of us is: Whether we agree with Goodell's motivations or not, is this a good thing for the future of the NFL?

Follow @JesseReed78