Woodley believes NFL contracts have bounties

[mesaSteeler]

Woodley believes NFL contracts have bounties

By Dan Hanzus NFL.com
http://www.nfl.com/news/story/09000d...-have-bounties

Published: April 3, 2012 at 08:34 p.m.
Updated: April 3, 2012 at 10:06 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley wasn't surprised to learn about the New Orleans Saints' "bounty" program, but don't count him among the masses chastising Who Dat Nation for its sins.

Asked by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport if he could spot the difference between teams with pay-for-performance systems and teams without, Woodley reasoned it's difficult since NFL contracts offer their own rewards for aggressive play.

"If you think about it, when you say there's an extra incentive, the "bounty," that's like people having incentives in their contract," said Woodley, a five-year veteran with Pittsburgh. "You get a certain amount of sacks, you get an extra bonus. Is that considered a bounty?

"You're still going to go out there to make the plays in order to get some extra money. Is that putting that much more pressure to go out there and want to hit a quarterback because you know you have a $100,000 bonus coming if you do this?"

Woodley isn't sure the line is as definitive as others seem to think. Football is a violent and aggressive game. It's punish or be punished.

"When I'm going to hit the quarterback, I'm not thinking, 'I should hit this guy soft.' I'm thinking, 'I'm about to take this dude down to the ground,' " he said. "With a running back going through the hole, he's trying to lay a hit on you. I think everybody is out there trying to lay a hit on somebody."

The Steelers always will have a place in the story of the NFL's aggressive push to improve on-field safety (do "The Steelers Rules" ring a bell?). Woodley was around for all of that, and he plays in the same linebacker group with James Harrison, an eternal lightning rod in the debate.

But while Harrison essentially dared the NFL to throw the book at the Saints, Woodley comes off as someone who's unsure this should have ever been an issue at all.

[OX1947]

While I am in no way a Roger Goodell supporter and find him to be an utter scumbag of a commissioner. The NFL warned them, and they ignored it. Not only that, Gregg Williams is on tape telling his guys to injure players in the Niners game. Not good.

[TRH]

what Woodley and others continue to miss is that the bounties weren't for "hard hits" or being "aggressive" or "thats how the game is played".
They were for specifically injuring players and taking them OUT of the game. Thats a huge difference. Why is this so hard to understand?

[tanda10506]

Originally Posted by TRH

what Woodley and others continue to miss is that the bounties weren't for "hard hits" or being "aggressive" or "thats how the game is played".
They were for specifically injuring players and taking them OUT of the game. Thats a huge difference. Why is this so hard to understand?

Exactly. I wouldn't have a problem with it at all if it was for hard hits, but to purposely injure is crossing the line.

[tony hipchest]

this article is bullshit. nowhere does he say this is what he believes, and he most certainly doesnt say there are "bounties" in NFL contracts.

"You get a certain amount of sacks, you get an extra bonus. Is that considered a bounty?



he is simply pointing out the slippery slope of the so called "bounty gate" and drawing comparissons to contract incentives and bonuses.

another lame ass attempt by the media to make a steeler player look like a dumb asshole.

[Kingmagyar]

Heard some of Williams exact comments about targeting specific players heads and knees who had previous concussions and ACL tears.

This guy should be banned for life for encouraging and teaching young players this is acceptable behavior and the way to conduct themselves in this league. Young players look to their coaches and mentors to teach them right from wrong as in life, and this guy is an abomination.