New audio tape reveals ex-New Orleans Saints coach Gregg Williams urging players to injure San Francisco 49ers
On the same day that the National Football League (NFL) heard appeals from New Orleans Saints management team over the bounty scandal, a new audio surfaced, providing an inside view into the bounty programme.
The audio released by blogger and documentary filmmaker, Sean Pamphilon, is allegedly taken during a speech delivered by ex-Saints’ defensive coordinator, Gregg Williams, before the Saints divisional round game against the San Francisco 49ers.
The profanity-laden speech runs for around 12 minutes in which the coach is heard urging his players to knockout 49ers’ running back, Frank Gore, quarterback Alex Smith, tight end, Vernon Davis, and wide receivers, Kyle Williams, and Michael Crabtree.
Williams said during his speech to the Saints’ players.
"Kill the head and the body will die. We've got to do everything in the world to make sure we kill Frank Gore's head. We want him running sideways. We want his head sideways."
The defensive coordinator also went on to mention Kyle Williams’ history with concussions.
“The little wide receiver, No. 10, about his concussion. We need to [expletive] put a l**k on him, move him to decide. He needs to decide.”
Williams also told his players to hit Vernon Davis’ ankles and get him out of the game.
Williams continued to repeat that the Saints make no apologies about the way they play and that they would not apologise for the way they compete.
The Saints went on to lose the game to the 49ers after Alex Smith combined with Frank Gore on the final play of the game for the game winning touchdown.
William was let go after the game and went on to join the St. Louis Rams.
Pamphilon, in an interview to Yahoo! Sports, said that he would not have released the audio if the Saints bounty scandal had not reached public knowledge but he had to release it for the safety of players.
"If this story hadn't broken and been made public, I would not have shared this.
"If it weren't for the fact I feel deeply that parents of children playing football MUST pay attention to the influence of men who will sacrifice their kids for W's, I would not have written this. ...”
Pamphilon went on to emphasise that coach, Sean Payton, general manager, Mickey Loomis, and assistant coach, Joe Vitt, were not present during the speech.
Tags: