New Orleans Saints QB Drew Brees talks about bounty scandal during press conference - NFL News
New Orleans Saints quarterback, Drew Brees is still shocked by the hefty suspensions received by his head coach, Sean Payton in relation to the bounty scandal.
Brees talking to the media to promote his charity golf tournament was asked about the bounty scandal and its repercussions.
He told the gathered press pack that the punishments handed down were.
"A shock to all of us."
When asked about the recently released audio tape of former defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, in which he is heard telling the Saints defensive line to go out and injure San Francisco 49ers players before the 2011-12 divisional round game, Brees said
it was.
"Hard for everybody to hear,"
Coach Sean Payton, general manager, Mickey Loomis and assistant coach, Joe Vitt have all been suspended for a year, eight games and six games respectively for hiding the bounty scheme from league investigators while also doing nothing to end it.
Brees though questioned the year long suspension Payton received in a tweet following the announcement from commissioner, Roger Goodell.
Speaking to the media he clarified that he had just asked for an explanation and he was yet to receive a reply from the league.
"I was talking about my head coach. I wasn't referring to anybody else,"
The quarterback also said that the game is violent as it is and every defensive player in the league takes the opportunity to hit an opponent.
"I know this, that when a guy has an opportunity to take a shot at the quarterback, he's going to take it. I'm not saying that he's trying to end your career, that he's trying give you a concussion or what have you, but between the knees and the neck, they're
trying to take you out every time. I know that for a fact, every defensive player that's trying to hit you. That's just football. We play a violent game."
He also added that he does not condone the bounty system and that there is a difference between paying players for making plays and paying players to go out and injure opponents.
Goodell on Tuesday dismissed the appeals filed by the Saints over suspensions received by Payton, Loomis and Vitt and all three will now have no contact with the team during their suspension periods.
Tags: