Ex-New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper says bounty system existed only for big plays - NFL News
Friday’s investigation by the National Football League (NFL) revealed that New Orleans Saints defensive line was involved in an illegal bounty program that involved payments for injuring opposition players.
It was alleged in the report that the entire operation was undertaken under the aegis of then defensive coordinator Gregg Williams and a pool of $ 50,000 was maintained by both the players and the coach for three seasons spanning from 2009-11.
However, ex-Saints Safety Darren Sharper has called all such allegations “ridiculous” and maintained that no such bounties existed during his time with the Saints.
Sharper who played for the franchise from 2009-10 and won a Super Bowl with the Saints said that as with all franchises, New Orleans had an incentive system for making only big plays and not injuring opponents.
"I think this is something that, from when I got in the league in 1997, has happened thousands and thousands of times over. It's ridiculous that someone is trying to say that we made bounties on knocking guys out, when basically all it was is that when a
guy gets an interception, then he might get paid. That's something that guys do amongst themselves."
He also maintained that only big plays were rewarded and that if there was such a system that promoted injuring opponents he would have known about it.
"No, positively no. With an exclamation point. It's about making big plays in games."
Sharper joined the Saints in 2009 from Minnesota Vikings as a free agent and played a big role in their title winning season.
After the 2010 season though Sharper retired from the game as he did not receive a contract offer from any franchise ending his spectacular 14-year career.
The Saints are in line to receive severe punishments from the NFL with all 22 to 27 players involved in the illegal bounties set to be heavily fined and even suspended for their role.
Head coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis are also cited as knowing about the program and doing nothing to stop it and are expected to be fined as well.
More opinions are set to be voiced over the whole affair as the fallout continues while the Saints name has been sullied in the eyes of every fan for years to come.
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