Bounty hunting disgraces NFL

An investigation by the NFL’s security department last Friday confirmed Gregg Williams, currently the defensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams, illegally employed a bounty system during his three-year stint as coordinator with the Washington Redskins.

ESPN reports the bounty system included “financially rewarding defensive players for big plays, including knocking opponents out of games during the 2009-11 seasons.”

Reportedly, defensive players were paid $1,500 for forcing a player to leave the game because of injury and $1,000 for injuring a player badly enough that he had to be carted off the field.

This kind of malicious behavior is completely inexcusable.

In an already violent sport in which players risk concussions, serious leg injuries and even paralysis on any given play, a bounty system significantly increases the chances of severe injury.

When athletes can benefit from intentionally harming others, they are no longer athletes but mercenaries. Likewise, football seems to lose its dignified identity as a sport and instead becomes combat.

What else would one expect?

Imagine yourself on a football field competing against opponents you knew were literally trying to break your leg. All of a sudden winning doesn’t seem so important. Now, your primary concern is self-defense, and the game itself loses significance.

What might be worst about Williams’ bounty system being exposed is the apparent lack of ambivalence some players have demonstrated toward participating in this system.

Matt Bowen, who admitted to playing under a bounty system for Williams during his time with the Washington Redskins, wrote in the Chicago Tribune, “It was our gig, our plan, our way to motivate, to extra-motivate.”

Another one of Williams’ former players, Phillip Daniels, also defended Williams.
This kind of ignorance is almost impressive.

At least Williams was mindful enough to formally apologize for what he called “a terrible mistake.” But the players’ attitudes are striking.

They illustrate just how influential coaches are in the minds of players. Even while taking part in something so obviously wrong, they have failed to see any problem with it.

The NFL has made several rules during the past years trying to keep players as safe as possible, including essentially child-proofing kickoff returns.

If it is truly dedicated to the safety of its players, it will set a precedent with Williams’ punishment that will prevent bounty systems from ever happening in the NFL again.

­— aleblakl@indiana.edu