New Orleans Saints Bounty Scandal: NFL Must Make Example of Gregg Williams

Former New Orleans Saints and current St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator wasn't likely the first or the only coach to employ a "bounty" system to reward players for big hits, but he was the first to get caught by the NFL and must be punished severely for it.

That may be upcoming, as ESPN reports that Williams has been summoned to New York to meet with NFL security officials Joe Hummel and Jeff Miller and discuss his violation of the league's rules that explicitly ban "pay for pain" arrangements. Executive vice president Jeff Pash may be involved as well, but there's no word yet as to whether or not commissioner Roger Goodell will be present.

All of this comes on the heels of the NFL's announcement this past Friday of the results of a long-running investigation into the use of bounties to motivate players to injure their peers during games. Williams is alleged to have employed such tactics with several teams for whom he's coached throughout his career, including the Saints, Washington Redskins and Buffalo Bills.

Williams apologized for his actions in an official statement released on Friday, saying:

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"It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it. Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it. I take full responsibility for my role. I am truly sorry."

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Apologies aside, the NFL must be sure to handle this matter in a manner that's befitting of their ever-more-concerned stance on player safety.

Which is to say, with tremendous gravity and the intent to set a strong precedent that will deter future activity. It's bad enough that the league's players so often operate with an injurious mindset of their own free will and accord. To reward them for that, to encourage players to pursue serious harm against their fellow union members in what's already a violent game by nature, is unforgivable and should be punished accordingly.

That's not to say that the NFL should spend the entirety of the meetings beating Williams over the head with the rule book until he knows what it's like to suffer through a concussion. Rather, it's imperative that league officials use this time to gather more information on just how widespread these practices are so they may root them out accordingly.

Once that's done, then the NFL can throw the book at Williams and make sure every other coach in football knows exactly how harsh a penalty awaits him in the event that the employment of a bounty system should ever cross his mind.

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