Roger Goodell: Coming Soon as the Bounty Hunter

I have one question about this latest dust-up involving America's most popular sport: Why does Gregg Williams or any other defensive coach need an incentive plan for players to do their job?

Aren't defensive players supposed to hit hard but clean? Does anyone really need a college degree to deduce that the Patriots are less explosive if Tom Brady is on the sidelines or the Vikings less imposing if Adrian Peterson is trying to remember his own name?

What is a bounty then, if not code for intent to injure? What kind of motivator is Williams, a well-respected defensive coordinator, if he needs to grease the palms of his players?

This is not like making March Madness a little more interesting by joining the office pool. 

It's actually an absurd concept. Think about it from the offense's point of view. Would Andre Johnson of the Texans get an envelope with a little something extra if he caught the game-winning touchdown with Darrell Revis of the Jets guarding him? Does an offensive tackle earn a few Benjamins for knocking Jared Allen sideways.

Wasn't a game ball the customary show of appreciation?

Does any football fan think that James Harrison of the Steelers or Ndamukong Suh of the Lions needs to be rewarded with $1,000 or even $10,000 to  do what comes naturally?

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell knows what the score is. He has to protect the brand. He cannot afford to compound the injury problem by ignoring the perception that a bounty is an intentional attempt to injure by any means.

He knows that you cannot legislate injuries out of football. It is a violent sport with a short career expectancy. He has to do whatever he can to keep the marquee players on the field.

Fans sitting in the comfort of their man-cave or watching safely from their season-ticket locations are the first to complain about the sport going soft. As Bob Barker used to say, "come on down" and see for yourself what it's like to be hit by a 245-pound runaway train posing as a linebacker.

Fans love it when the opposing quarterback is knocked loopy, but how do they feel when their quarterback is sent to the sidelines—and with him the team's playoff hopes. How many fans are paying to see Sage Rosenfels on Sunday?

The salary cap has made it increasingly difficult for most teams to stockpile quality backup players.

So Gregg Williams has left Goodell with no choice. He said he is sorry and knew that bounties were wrong. You can't help but think, however, that he is only sorry because he was caught.

The commissioner has been on a crusade to make the sport as safe as possible. Let the fans and former players hobbling around with walkers complain about the NFL becoming flag football.

The last thing Goodell needs to see is the golden goose being carted off on a stretcher.