The 'aints

You wonder how such a lovable team with such a charismatic coach, in a city marked by devastation could turn out to be a team built on a conspiracy.  This is such a disappointment. Over the course of the last month or so, I have not been able to word my emotions about the New Orleans Saints. When Hurricane Katrina hit the New Orleans area, the city needed something to turn to- Saints football. A year after the hurricane the Saints went all the way to the NFC title game, by 2010, they were champions, in a celebration marked by Drew Brees cradling his young, headphoned son. While everyone was giving bravado to Sean Payton and the Saints team, there was something going on in the locker room. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was putting bounties on opposing star players, with the biggest hitters receiving a highly anticipated cash reward. I always wondered how ironic it was that the Saints ultimately ended the careers of Kurt Warner and Brett Favre, and every time I watched the Saints at least one player had to have medical assistance on the field. I thought it was the aggressive style they play with, or their linebackers were no match for the offense. At times, the defense wasn't even that good. Darren Sharper, the Prince of Picks, was renowned for his interceptions, most of which were catalyst efforts towards Saint efforts. How can that be related to this scandal? He was the best player out there during the worst time of the scandal.

Up until the recordings of Williams' pregame speech for the 49ers playoff game were released, I thought that the NFL was overreacting. Although I knew what the Saints did was wrong, but it just seemed like football. How can hitting the quarterback hard, be so controversial? Besides hockey, football is the easiest sport to cover-up the dirty work, between the hitting and the pileups, it probably hard to resist the urge to go a little hard when you know there is a $10,000 check waiting for you in your locker. Anyway, back to Williams. When the tape was released, about going after concussion prone, Kyle Williams, targeting Frank Gore's legs, and taking Vernon Davis' ankles out from underneath him, along with hitting Alex Smith in the chinstrap area and making sure he needs help getting up. Along with the expletives, Gregg Williams tarnished the Saints' good name. What is really surprising, is that while all this is going on, the Saints allow a filmmaker into their locker room! This filmmaker is the reason the tape was released. If a filmmaker was allowed to film and observe the Saints' locker room, the organization and Payton either didn't know what was going on, or they didn't think it was bad. These guys are very intelligent, and wouldn't let some kid with a camera into their locker room when they know something like this is occurring. To be honest with you, if it never came out now, Williams would be safe for a while, because he probably would do it at his new job at St. Louis, and those players don't have the aggression, drive, or ability of those involved in Bountygate.

I guess, it is just hard to grasp at the fact that the Saints aren't who we all thought they are. Other than Falcon fans, I would think everyone has, or rather had, a soft spot for the Saints. How could you not like them? The Saints- God's team. This entire scandal is hurting the team, and careers and reputations of Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Gregg Williams, and possibly involved players. But after this you wonder, "How do we know that other teams aren't running similar bounty pots, the Saints hid it successfully for a few years?" The NFL better come up with an agency to look into what goes on in NFL locker rooms, to thwart possible bounties or penalize similar scandalous activity. At the end of the day, did people get hurt? Yes. Did people die? No.