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WWW.GUILFORDIAN.COM
NFL lowers the boom on the New
Orleans Saints for bounty system
By Bryan Dooley
Staff Writer
To all Guilford students who are hoping to practice personal
injury law, you may have future clients in the NFL.
On March 2, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell unveiled an
investigation into the New Orleans Saints bounty program. The
bounty program was an incentive-based program, allegedly
instituted by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, that
paid players to injure opposing players.
"The scandal is somewhat embarrassing," said Chris
Rusiewicz, head football coach. "These guys (the NFL players)
already make enough money, and for a little bit more, they are
willing to hurt somebody?"
The scandal brought unprecedented punishments for Saints
Head Coach Sean Payton, former defensive coordinator Gregg
Williams and general manager Mickey Loomis. Payton received
a suspension without pay for the 2012-2013 season, and
Williams is indefinitely banned from the NFL, effective April 1.
"I share and fully support the league's concerns and goals
on player safety," the New Orleans coach said in a written
statement released by the Saints. Payton continued, "It is, and
should be, paramount. Respecting our great game and the NFL
shield is extremely important to me."
However, Payton is said to be appealing the ruling, according
to Sam Quinn of the Bleacher Report. It is highly unlikely that
Payton's appeal will be successful, because he will be appealing
directly to Goodell.
There is some speculation that Bill Parcells, famous former
NFL head coach of several teams, will be hired as interim head
coach.
The coaches are not the only ones to blame in the scandal.
Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma offered $10,000 of his own
money to any player who could injure former Vikings starting
quarterback Brett Favre and knock him out of the 2009 NFC
Championship Game between the Saints and the Vikings.
"The bounty thing is completely unprofessional," said
Carolina Panthers left tackle Jordan Gross, as printed by CBS.
com.
"Tm happy the league has made it known it won't be
tolerated. To think that something like that would happen —
guys trying to hurt someone to make a few extra bucks — is just
appalling. I mean, we have a lot on the line, every single one of
us.... You don't want to see anyone taken out a game."
Most coaches would agree with Gross.
"I think it's great (the punishment for the bounty system),"
said Rusiewicz. "The indefinite suspension, which could be
forever, for the assistant coach (Williams) was completely the
right thing to do. The head coach, who is supposed to be in
charge, probably knew about it, so he deserved the one-year
suspension."
Paris El-AIi, captain of the Guilford football team, also agrees.
"I strongly agree that football is a game of self-control and
self-awareness," El-Ali said. "Although contact and aggression
are emphasized at all levels, discipline is of the utmost
importance."
El-AIi continued, "Although football is an aggressive sport,
you will never be a successful youth, collegiate or professional
football player if you cannot play with integrity."
Goodell also banned Saints general manager Mickey Loomis
for the first eight regular-season games next season and
assistant coach Joe Vitt for the first six games.
The bounty system punishment marks the latest in a long
line of player-safety-related incidents handled under Goodell.
However, not everyone likes his handling of every situation.
"Goodell has a mixed record to me," said Bob Malekoff,
assistant professor of sports studies. "He's come out really
strong on this, but in the middle of the concussion issue, he
said let's have 18 more games instead of 16, which is two more
chances to get a concussion."
Malekoff continued, "It's important to remember that, as
a commissioner, his job is to balance the needs of the owners
and the players. But he is hired and paid by the owners. So to
suggest he is completely balanced is maybe naive."
If Goodell wants to clean up bounties totally, he might have
a long battle on his hands.
"The bounty system gained notoriety during the Buddy
Ryan era, although it was probably in existence before then
but not publicized," said Martin Collinson, former Guilford
assistant coach, in an email interview. "But recently I think the
NFL, Roger Goodell and the rules committee have done an
excellent job of keeping the game safe for the players."
According to NFL lore, a Thanksgiving Day game between
Buddy's Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 even became
known as "The Bounty Bowl" because Ryan, then Philadelphia
Eagles defensive coordinator, allegedly placed a bounty on
Cowboys quarterback Troy Aikman and Dallas kicker Luis
Zendejas, as printed in the Arizona Republic by Bob Young.
The current punishments could be seen as the NFL trying to
clean up its image.
"Player safety, competitive integrity and fairness are all very
important components," said Dave Walters, sports information
director and assistant director of athletics at Guilford. "Safety is
very important because the players who are winning and losing
the games make up the teams that fans support."
Walters continued, "I know that when players' careers are
shortened due to injury, obviously it is disappointing for the
players, coaches and fans. It also hurts the competitive balance,
depending on the quality of the player injured."
Everyone interviewed for this article agrees that the bounty
scandal is a terrible event for the NFL.
"Being a football coach, it's sad to hear this happening to
human beings," said Rusiewicz. "These players work so hard to
get where they are, to make the income they make, and then to
find out that for a lousy $1,000 to $1,500 dollars, you are going
to take away the other guy's millions of dollars — to me, being
a human being who cares about other human beings, this is the
worst part of the scandal."
Baseball swinging strong midseason
(Left) Senior Zach Montalbano drives a pitch down the
right side of the field for another hit. (Above) First-year Justin
Morrison flips a fielders choice to first base for the out.The
Quakers have a 17-14 record so far this season.
SPORTS
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Ashelv Boteler-
Softball
2 hits - 2 at bats - I run
-4 runs batted in
10 - I loss vs. N.C.
Wesleyan College
T/i
Lily Coliey-
Lacrosse
4 goals - 5 assists
18-13 loss vs.
Roanoke University
Ben Esser-
Baseball
4 hits - 5 at bats - 2
runs scored - 3 runs
batted in
11-8 loss. Roanoke
University
John Macon
Smith- Baseball
2 hits - 4 at bats - I
run scored - 2 runs
batted in
6 - 5 win vs.Averett
University
Liza Mettler-
Women's
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12
goal
0 win vs. Hollins
University
^Autumn
Yoder- Softball
2 hits - 3 at bats
3 - I loss vs. N.C.
Wesleyan College :
Players are listed in alphabetical order by last
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week's games and the final score of the game
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