Ex-Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler says Gregg Williams speech not too shocking - NFL News
Many players have expressed their shock and disdain over the recently released audio tape of a New Orleans Saints defensive line meeting headed by former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams.
Williams is heard telling his players to be unapologetic about the way they compete and make hits on opponents to injure them before a National Football Conference (NFC) Championship game between the Saints and San Francisco 49ers.
The defensive coordinator told his players to target 49ers running back Frank Gore by targeting the head. He also asked his players to “put a l**k” on wide receiver Kyle Williams who has a history of concussions.
The audio tape has sparked revulsion among analysts and former players but ex-Green Bay Packers safety LeRoy Butler is not surprised at all with the kind of statements made.
Talking with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Butler said.
“I have probably heard the exact same speech since I was in ninth grade, without the targeting of guys’ specific body parts. That was kind of crazy. But I’m not surprised. People are surprised by this, to me, they have always turned a blind eye to football.”
Williams had earlier received an indefinite suspension from coaching in the league by National Football League (NFL) commissioner, Roger Goodell, after a league investigation confirmed the existence of a bounty program.
With the release of this audio tape though it seems Williams career is as good as dead.
Butler went on to add that talking about opponents injuries during a team meeting is redundant and does nothing to help the team.
He says that players already have the scouting report for that.
“I’ve never heard about coaches saying to knock their head off or go after their knee but evidently it’s being done. When you target injuries, that’s criminal. You’re talking about peoples’ careers. To have someone target a knee injury, a head, a neck or
something like that, that’s going too far."
The Saints have received hefty punishments from the league for running the illegal program with head coach Sean Payton, general manager, Mickey Loomis, and assistant coach, Joe Vitt all suspended for one year, eight games and six games respectively.
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