Reports: QB Peyton Manning may be victim of Gregg Williams ‘pay for performance’-NFL News
As more theories have emerged around the covert ‘pay for performance programme’ run by the defensive co-ordinator, Gregg Williams, a talk on the possibility of Indianapolis Colts’ quarterback, Peyton Manning, being one of its victims has started gaining
firm grounds in the football officials’ community.
Manning was injured during the game against the Washington Redskins when Williams was their defensive coordinator, and Colts former coach, Tony Dungy, said he believed that the game was the start of the quarterback’s neck problem, which forced him out of
the entire 2011-12 National Football League (NFL) season.
While commenting on the initial phase of the player’s injury, which had come in the first half of the game, Dungy said:
"Then we sort of forgot about it at halftime, and Peyton seemed fine. He lit it up in the second half. He was on fire (throwing for 244 yards and three touchdowns). But that's the year we started cutting back on his throws at practice. Now, as I look back
on it, there's no doubt in my mind that this was the start of his neck problems."
Manning had a neck surgery in September 2011 and is yet to recover with ever increasing amount of uncertainty around his return.
Dungy apparently has not thrown a light on any indication that could point out if Redskins’ players, involved in roughing up Manning, received bounties from Williams, who was the defensive coach of the team then.
An investigation by the NFL has found Williams’ involvement in the illegal reward programme for injuring players at the New Orleans Saints.
About five former Redskins’ players have claimed Williams’ involvement in running of the programme while he served the team as the assistant staff, and the talk of Peyton Manning’s possibly being the victim has emerged in the same context.
Even though there is no independent confirmation of Williams running the illegal reward operation at Redskins, the NFL office is reported to investigate the matter.
The reports linking the operation to Peyton Manning’s injury has come following denial of a similar activity at the Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars. Williams has also coached these sides in the past.
Also, Peyton Manning has himself not commented on the reported link of his injury to the illegal reward programme. No official from the Indianapolis Colts has offered any remark either.
Meanwhile, more aspects of the programme are coming into the limelight, intensifying pressure on the mastermind, Gregg Williams.
The issue also hit the NFL with regard to its priority of the players’ safety. By any standard, it warrants an action from the office to avoid its happening or occurrence of other such methods on and off the field.
An action might also be needed from the coaches union as the issue has brought the element of officials’ integrity into question.
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