Former Pro-Bowler, Cris Carter reveals he placed bounties on opposition players to "protect himself"
With the recent punishments handed down by the National Football League (NFL) to New Orleans Saints players involved in placing bounties on opponents has led to a host of revelations about the entire programme which ran from 2009-11.
Another revelation about the extent of bounties in the NFL was revealed on Tuesday but surprisingly it has nothing to do with the Saints.
Cris Carter a former All-Pro receiver and future Hall of Famer talking on an ESPN radio show revealed that he too was involved in providing cash bounties to teammates during his NFL career from 1987-2002.
Carter was one of the best players of his time when he played for the Minnesota Vikings from 1990-2001 and said that he used to place bounties on opponents during his time at the franchise.
"I'm guilty of (bounties) -- I mean first time I've ever admitted it -- but I put a bounty on guys before, I put bounties on guys. If a guy tries to take me out, a guy takes a cheap shot on me? I put a bounty on him right now!"
The eight-time Pro-Bowler admitted that he paid cash to his teammates but said that it was all because he wanted to give his teammates some extra motivation to protect him from dangerous hits from opponents.
Adding further he said.
" ... But you have to realize the league we grew up in, the bounty was based on protection, or a big hit, excitement or for helping your team win. It wasn't to maim or hurt the dude. When a guy said he was going to hurt me, my recourse was to put a bounty on him to make sure."
It was never in doubt that bounties were used by other NFL franchises to give that extra motivation to their players but the New Orleans Saints took it to a whole other level by specifically trying to injure and maim their opponents.
The NFL recently suspended four Saints players for their roles in the bounty scandal and had earlier delivered harsh punishments to the Saints front office and coaching staff for their involvement in the programme.
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